Paper: Little love lost for Chuck Amato

'06 Football Chuck Amato General74

An interesting article in the Charleston newspaper this morning:

CLEMSON – Normally, cheering in press boxes is strictly forbidden.

Apparently there’s an exception when North Carolina State loses to Akron.

When the Zips’ 20-17 victory over the Wolfpack was complete Saturday, a few scribes covering Clemson’s game at Boston College expressed their joy with whoops, claps and high-fives.

Just a hunch, but we’re betting this departure from decorum was perpetrated in a few other ACC press boxes as well. While the behavior was unprofessional and ultimately unacceptable, it was also telling because it highlighted a truth that has become undeniable:

People just don’t like Chuck Amato.

So much for the old comraderie of pulling for your ACC bretheren.

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'06 Football Chuck Amato General

74 Responses to Paper: Little love lost for Chuck Amato

  1. beowolf 09/14/2006 at 11:08 AM #

    Look, when the “Voice of the Wolfpack” radio network runs ads PRESEASON for the upcoming coach’s show, and the teaser calls they run are people saying “lose the shoes, lose the sunglasses” and “I’m sick of the mediocrity” — we’ve got a serious media problems.

  2. redfred2 09/14/2006 at 11:10 AM #

    I don’t care how badly CA appeared, LF looks even worse for not stepping up. He could have apologized, admonished his own coach a little for everyone to see, and then gone on to talk about the human side of the blunder, playing up CA’s passion, and teasing him for PR work.

    Simple AS F’N HELL in my mind. But I don’t know the workings of NCSU, they don’t work on plane that is understandable to the normal human being.

    So therefore no press conference, we couldn’t understand anyway.

  3. cfpack03 09/14/2006 at 11:10 AM #

    That John Delong article is a must-read if you missed it above. At least someone is trying to give Amato’s comments some context.

  4. Wulfpack 09/14/2006 at 11:13 AM #

    Let’s all start our own public relations campaign. Redfred for AD! (No knock on you Red, seriously, I like your thoughts. Simple, clear, and with a firm backbone). Now any bloggers up for an interview with Redfred to lead this program?

  5. Girlfriend in a Coma 09/14/2006 at 11:14 AM #

    [quote]

    a bunch of highschool nerds who never played sports but write well.

    [/quote]

    Please tell me you actually don’t think they write well.

  6. Wufpacker 09/14/2006 at 11:20 AM #

    Amato’s problem is Amato. I don’t think some of you realize this. Yes, our media relations/sports information dept. is abhorrent, and yes, there are media biases in place that will affect perceptions regardless of who is coach. But Amato came in here talking big and ruffling feathers from day one. That was all well and good when it brought momentum to the program…we saw him as a renegade of sorts that was going to take us to the top and who cares what everyone else thinks. Circle the wagons around CTC and just win baby.

    Well, 6 years later with results less than expected, all CTC is doing is losing his cool. He’s written checks that apparently his coaching abilities can’t cash and he’s become the laughing stock of Div. IA coaches. Recruiting is down from his first few years, and he can’t keep asst coaches on staff to save his life. Why is this folks?

    I’ll tell you why…he is not a good head coach. He doesn’t have the mindset to deal with all the things (I hesitate to say the cultivation of relationships) that he needs to. He doesn’t get along with people, and if that was ONLY the media that would be fine. But obviously he isn’t getting along with hardly anyone, not even his staff. When the captain of the ship is pissing on the crew, mutiny follows.

    We are a sinking ship folks, and will be until Chuck either gets it, and learns how to deal, or he moves elsewhere, either by his own accord or is forced to go.

  7. for2n8son 09/14/2006 at 11:24 AM #

    Everyone should read that article especially the last few paragraphs. Give me a guy with a little fire in his belly EVERY TIME.

    I don’t want a coach who loses well and I don’t give tinker’s damn what fans of other universities think of NC State! I especially don’t care what the press thinks.

    There is only one journalism school anywhere near Raleigh, so don’t think for a moment we’ll ever get a fair shake. The press’ bias against us goes way back before CA came on the scene. I still remember when Chuck and the “men in white shoes” made it to #3 in the poles. Sports Ill. refered to our campus as a ugly pile of bricks with a railroad track running through it!

    Toughen up and stay focused on the goal.

  8. Mike 09/14/2006 at 11:49 AM #

    Great article in WS Journal. Seems one guy finally reported the true facts. Just goes to show if you take something outof context how foolish and blown up things can be.

    For example, team X leads the NCAA in pass defense. They must have the best pass defense in the country. Actually, take a look – their run defense is so bad, teams only run against them. They average giving up 0 yards passing per game, the pass defense must be great. When teams ru for 500 yards, why pass? See how quickly things can get taken out of context and blown out of proper proportion.

    Chuck is not a bad guy, he just says it like it is. I beleive he wants the best for our university and for each and every kid dressed in the red and white. And yes, sometimes he speaks his mind. I heard some comments he made that were complimentary, but those are rare to hear unless you are in the PC. The press only takes what they want and makes him out to be a fool.

  9. highstick 09/14/2006 at 11:49 AM #

    Just curious if the Tar Heel fans had to have Chuck’s comments about the non qualifiers translated. I sincerely doubt they understood what “abilities being inversely proportional to grade point average” meant.” That goes a little beyond basic math that it taught in Chapel Hill!

  10. choppack1 09/14/2006 at 12:01 PM #

    “I don’t want a coach who loses well and I don’t give tinker’s damn what fans of other universities think of NC State! I especially don’t care what the press thinks.”

    I don’t either – but if you are going to act like this, you damn well better win. Parcells can be a jerk – he’s won Super Bowls. He’s proven he knows what he’s talking about. The same w/ Bobby Knight. Coach K can send his assistants to be interviewed by the sideline reporters.

    If you are going to be a jerk – you had better be effective. Amato hasn’t proven that he’s an elite coach. Quite frankly, he hasn’t even proven he’s a good overall HC. He has shown that he has an eye for talent – and he’s shown that he has an ability to development these folks on an individual basis. He has shown he can build solid defenses. He is a fighter – he’s the classic little brother.

    Most of us have good qualities and bad qualities. Our key to success is either having the good outweigh the bad or being able to minimize or work around our shortcomings. The good news for Amato is that he’s at a place that will tolerate treating the media like this – because we don’t like them either and because he’s an alumn. The bad news for Amato is that we want better than 3-5 in the modern ACC.

  11. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 09/14/2006 at 12:02 PM #

    “I expect journalists to maintain professionalism”

    I hope you are joking. I doubt the cheering had to do with Amato more so than the fact that NC State lost to Akron. The tools like D. Glenn and his fellow ilk have always been pulling against the pack no matter who the coach is- with one exception. They enjoyed sucking on the Arizona State coach because he was destroying NC State bball tradition for those who where never able to figure that out.

  12. redfred2 09/14/2006 at 12:38 PM #

    choppack1

    “I don’t either – but if you are going to act like this, you damn well better win. Parcells can be a jerk – he’s won Super Bowls.”

    Bill Parcels is Bill Parcels. Always has been, always will be. Phil Simms said to this day that Parcels makes him feel like a school boy and still intimidates the life out of him as a grown man. He didn’t just pop out one day and decide to be a tyrranical, overbearing perfectionist. He was that way when the NY Giants, Dallas Cowboys, whomever hired him for his services.

    The difference is, they don’t turn tail and run or deny ever knowing the guy at first sign of trouble. Those are professionally run organizations who stick by their personel until they decide, OUT OF THEIR OWN fruition, that it is time to make a change.

    CHUCK IS CHUCK, WAS CHUCK, ALWAYS HAS BEEN CHUCK. NC State hired Chuck Amato for Chuck Amato. When he’s out there just being himself, don’t try to act you didn’t know, or try to act like you’re totally above his behavior and distance yourself and the university from everything about him.

    He is all yours, punish him, let him know, but stand up for him when he is down.

  13. BoKnowsNCS71 09/14/2006 at 1:05 PM #

    well said Red

  14. Packaholic1 09/14/2006 at 1:09 PM #

    If FSU had replaced Bobby Bowden after 6 years (and he had his ups and downs there too) where would they be? Anyone that fails to see the strides this program, OVERALL, has made since 2000 is smokin’ somethin’.

  15. choppack1 09/14/2006 at 1:16 PM #

    rf – Amato’s or Parcell’s being themselve is beside the point.

    The simple point is this – if you’re going to be a jerk, you better be really good, because you’ll have no defenders. If you don’t think that’s the case, let’s have this conversation if we only win a handful of games this year.

  16. BoKnowsNCS71 09/14/2006 at 2:18 PM #

    Coach Logan took up for Chuck today on his show.

    Said Chip (UNC) Alexander’s questions was loaded and unfair. It was like asking “Have you stopped beating your wife?”

    Any answer gets you in trouble.

    Amato could not answer the question without looking like he condoned losing or agreed he and the team failed. Chuck fought for his team and inserted foot in mouth

    Logan suggested this advice. Always answer a question like this with a question. If that had happened, it would have gone like this:

    Chip: “Coach, should an ACC football program such as the Pack’s lose at home to a team like Akron?”

    Chuck: “Chip, have you stopped beaing your wife? Next question.”

  17. Rick 09/14/2006 at 2:25 PM #

    “NC State has to have the worst media relations department in the country, bar none”
    And yet nothing is ever done to fix it. That would require LF actually doing something constructive.

  18. Rick 09/14/2006 at 2:26 PM #

    BTW I have pretty much decided there is no reason to get mad at Chuck. If the management does not care then why should we?

  19. BoKnowsNCS71 09/14/2006 at 2:29 PM #

    ^Rick

    We’re just flies on the elephant.

  20. packbackr04 09/14/2006 at 2:43 PM #

    Lee was too busy in his pillow biting session to get caught up in actually having to do some work. its much easier to lay back and take it in the pooper than it is to stick up for what is right for your university.
    I want to walk up to Lee and give him my favorite line from Uncle Buck….
    “Heres a quarter Lee, i want you to go downtown and have a rat knaw that disgusting (insert whatever bothers you about Lee here) off your face” and then flip him a quarter and walk away
    I would insert mustache

  21. old13 09/14/2006 at 2:52 PM #

    Foulup has done exactly the same thing re: PR, only in far different ways! As he is still at NCSU, do you honestly think there will be any actions taken with CTC!

  22. redfred2 09/14/2006 at 3:04 PM #

    ^Just to add. If that last sentence isn’t part of the administration’s plans right now, Mr AD, and his all of his flunkies, had damn sure better have a plan “B” in effect, and immediately.

    Not this, Huh, what happened. You mean Chuck mouthed off/ Herb went to Arizona state? Didn’t for the life of me see that coming. What are we going to do.

    Or the only bowl appearances we’ll ever be seeing in our lifetimes will involve putting the lid down and striking a match before we leave the arena.

  23. BoKnowsNCS71 09/14/2006 at 3:11 PM #

    Chuck needs to try an warm up to the media also. Bunting plays the cuddly teddy bear with the media weekly.

    If CA would call up one ot twwoof the talk shows on a regular basis and strike up a friendly dialogue — that would help a lot.

    I just think being the talking head is tough for CA. He’s all business and media masaging is just a distraction.

  24. Packaholic1 09/14/2006 at 3:35 PM #

    Right on Rick!

  25. Cardiff Giant 09/14/2006 at 3:36 PM #

    What I can’t figure out is this: EVERYONE seems to agree that our media relations department absolutely rots, yet we continue to tolerate the situation. I am beginning to think it is time some of us made our voices heard on the subject.

    I mean, compared to Vaughan, Mark Bockleman was of Clinton Spinmeister quality.

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