Blogosphere Comments on TOB

General NCS Football Tom O'Brien268

From one of the best independent blogs out there – Eagle in Atlanta (Link)

I love StateFans Nation. They supported me early and have guest blogged here in the past. They are now reporting that TOB is the No. 1 candidate for the NC State job. I have not provided any info or rumors to them. And they seem pretty excited about TOB and his potential there. No one over there asked me, but here is my opinion on TOB going to NC State.

From a great blog entry by Tom Suiter at WRAL-TV (Link)

I think State needed to hire someone who had been a head coach and had run his own program. The last two Wolfpack head coaches came from the assistant ranks, and while some assistant coaches have resumes that are appealing — especially those from big time programs — the right move at this time was to hire a proven head coach, and Tom O’Brien is certainly that.

It’s all there for N.C. State to have a winner, it really is. What the program needs without question is a hard-nosed coach who will instill discipline and who knows how to put together a staff. It needs a coach who has won at the highest level and knows what it takes to win now. History shows that Tom O’Brien has done that.

You never know until they hold the press conference, but I’ll say it here — Tom O’Brien to N.C. State would be a winner for the Wolfpack.

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General NCS Football Tom O'Brien

268 Responses to Blogosphere Comments on TOB

  1. highonlowe 12/07/2006 at 11:01 AM #

    We have the infrastructure/facilities in place, now we just need to win consistently (which he can do), then we can step towards ‘elite program’ status. Chuck tried to do this all at once

  2. MadWolf92 12/07/2006 at 11:18 AM #

    Also from Dave Glenn’s comments:

    http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=19838088&postID=116545503351941302

    “Many of you have asked my opinion of the Tom O’Brien hire. I have a lot of thoughts on that, but for now I’ll just say I agree with all of these posters:

    “We didn’t get a Herb Sendek. We got a George Welsh, which isn’t all bad.”

    “We go from style to SUBSTANCE! BC is perhaps the classic example of a well coached team that has high performers on the field and graduates its players.”

    “I like the decision. He puts out a lot of great offensive linemen and develops qb’s, which is what State needs.”

    “Nine wins in four of the last five seasons? I could go for some of that.”

    “Maybe it’s not a home run, but this guy has proven that he can consistently bring 9 win seasons and keep academics up at the same time. This is something we would LOVE to have.”

    “I agree that winning championships is a great thing, but I’d be a lot prouder of my team consistently at 9-3, running a clean program, and graduating kids as opposed to being ACC champion and reading about the thugs that are consistently in trouble and tarnishing our name. To each his own, but give this guy a chance before you burn him at the stake. We’re not hiring him to tapdance and tell jokes- we’re paying him to win games and do it the right way!”

    The other thing is that you can’t really compare any new coach to an “imaginary” candidate. If you preferred Paul Johnson over Tom O’Brien, that’s one thing. (Reasonable people could disagree there.) But to just hammer the hiring of O’Brien without pointing out another candidate (besides Johnson) who WANTED THE JOB seems kind of silly to me. Would you have rather had Mike Sherman? Norm Chow? Jimbo Fisher? Go ahead and make those arguments. But to just compare O’Brien to an “imaginary” candidate is living in fantasy land.”

  3. oldflyingfarmer 12/07/2006 at 11:19 AM #

    I am behind our new coach, TOB, 100% plus. Let’s all celebrate and look forward to a bright future.

  4. packpigskinfan23 12/07/2006 at 11:31 AM #

    I give him all respect and am 100% behind our new coach as well!! should be an interesting game agaisnt Carolina this year… 2 new coaches.

    anyone have any info on Butch vs Tom?! have they ever faced each other. I am sure they have when O’Brien was in VA, but any matchups Miami vs BC?

  5. quypack93 12/07/2006 at 11:31 AM #

    whatever you want to say about coach amato. please be fair, he was largely responsible for making nc state football relevant. he was largely responsible for our facilty upgrade. he didn’t win enough and he wasn’t a good head coach. he was important for us because he sold us to the country. one of the main reasons why this job is so attrative to many during this search is because coach amato made so.

  6. TopTenPack 12/07/2006 at 11:32 AM #

    Form all the things I read TOB will be perfect for state. He will build a respectable program both on and off the field. This is all I ask…

  7. RealEstateWolf 12/07/2006 at 11:39 AM #

    Amato was responsible for the excellent facilities that we can now show potential recruits. Unfortunately, he was unable to get it done on the field and our lack of discipline was troubling. I am very excited about TOB and look forward to him building us into a solid program. I really think we can consistently win under TOB with the potential for 10+ win seasons on occasion. Asking for anything more, would be highly unrealistic.

    Question – Does anyone know when an official announcement will be made?

    Also – I hope to see a StateFansNation take on todays column in the N&O by Barnett. Personally, I think he is “offsides” and should rethink the logic behind his argument.

  8. highonlowe 12/07/2006 at 11:43 AM #

    I wasn’t digging at Chuck. Believe me when I say I love the guy and thank him for all he’s done for NCSU.
    My point was, you don’t become an elite program overnight like we all wanted. You have to take calculated steps to reach that goal, and with this hire, we’re on the right path. The infrastructure is set, the national media is listening, now we just have to win consistently and put ourselves in position to be a regular contender in the ACC (like O’Brien has done at BC the past 3 yrs). Once we’re regarded as cream of the ACC, we can take steps towards national championships.

  9. packbackr04 12/07/2006 at 11:44 AM #

    great posts over the past couple of days SFN… I am already anxiously awaiting your breakdown of the overall search based on your “contacts” in wolfpack country.
    I am almost willing to say Foulup did a good job with this hire but something inside me says his hands were tied with this and it ultimately wasnt his decision. Which is a good thing. again, cant wait for your post hire analysis! great work guys

  10. highonlowe 12/07/2006 at 11:46 AM #

    hope to see a StateFansNation take on todays column in the N&O by Barnett. Personally, I think he is “offsides” and should rethink the logic behind his argument.
    My favorite part is when Barnett discounts UNC doing the exact same thing in the 60s.

    Separately, is this a done deal? Does the ACC Board have to approve anything?

  11. partialqualifier 12/07/2006 at 11:48 AM #

    I think NC State is on the edge of greatness!! Programs work in stages. To build a truely dyanmic football program certain steps must be achieved.

    You must:

    1-Upgrade your facilities to lure recruits
    2-Expand your recruiting base to decrease the chances of the “well going dry”
    3-Increase the fan base and raise excitement and expectations
    4-Increase national exposure by winning a few games
    5-Instill discipline and consistancy into the program
    6-Further improve the recruiting base, the fan base, and national exposure by proving you can win 8 & 9 games per season
    7-Establish yourself as a contender year in and year out in your league
    8-Win the BIG GAME!

    I think Amato achieved 1,2,3, & a little of 4 (Notre Dame & FSU). What we needed desperately was a guy who could do 5, 6, & 7!! Too many people are skipping those steps and jumping to 8. The reason I believe we are on the edge of greatness is because this is going to be O’Brien’s last job. He will coach here for 7 or 8 seasons and will accomplish 5, 6, & 7. Even if he doesnt accomplish 8 he will leave the program at the best level NC State has ever been to. I think he will accomplish 8 as well, but even if he doesnt imagine the type of coach our program will be able to get when all we lack is Step 8!!! WOW!

  12. packbackr04 12/07/2006 at 11:54 AM #

    OK Obrien, call chuck and ask him to do you a favor and stay on at NC state. You need him, He recruits like a man possessed. i for one would love to see a tom obrien coached team with chucks recruits. its scary to think about how good it could get for us. Come on Chuck, keep on prowling the sidelines in those red shoes, be the players friends and not their coach like you always wanted to do. take all the notes you want, wear those sunglasses. And leave the coaching up to “the Major”

    GOOOOO WOLFPACK!!!!!!!!!!!!
    BTW::: GO SIDNEY AND the mens BB team. they palyed well last night, we just dont have enough ammo this year.

  13. packpigskinfan23 12/07/2006 at 12:07 PM #

    I would LOVE to have Chuck on the sidelines still!!!!

  14. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 12/07/2006 at 12:15 PM #

    Let the games begin…. Congratulations to the new coach.

    Chuck is dead, long live Tom.

  15. packpigskinfan23 12/07/2006 at 12:18 PM #

    ^now thats just fucked up

  16. packpigskinfan23 12/07/2006 at 12:19 PM #

    do you realize how fast Tom would be able to get things rolling in Raliegh with Chuck to help him get it started?! and imagine the defense we could have if Chuck devoted all of his time to that!!!!

  17. ATL_eagle 12/07/2006 at 12:20 PM #

    Thanks for the link. To all State Fans out there…you’ve got a guy who will win consistently. However there will be frustrations like beating FSU and BC every year but losing to Wake and UNC. He won’t clown it up like Amato, but he will slip in excuse after excuse into his interviews, basically under selling the program. I think he’ll win, but I don’t think it is the perfect marriage.

  18. highonlowe 12/07/2006 at 12:25 PM #

    I posted this on the other thread but I want to answer it here too (links will stay over there, too much trouble).
    The latest from Fox Sports
    NC State likely would not make a formal announcement Thursday, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been approved by the school’s board of trustees. The board’s personnel committee has a teleconference scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday.

    Also, the ACC will not be involved. From Glenn
    There are three main reasons the ACC didn’t get involved in this move within the conference.

    (1) It would be illegal to do so. Preventing a coach from moving from one ACC school to another would be a violation of federal antitrust laws. In America, you have to have a very, very good reason, and work within very limited parameters, to unilaterally impose restrictions on someone’s right to make a living as he sees fit. Remember, the NCAA once tried that with the “restricted earnings position” (for assistant coaches) in men’s basketball, and they lost a multi-million lawsuit as a result.

    (2) Tom O’Brien wanted to leave.

    (3) Boston College, as a whole and as an administration, wasn’t upset to see O’Brien leave.

    Given those three facts, there was absolutely no reason for the ACC to get involved here, even by privately “pressuring” against such a move. Bottom line: When nobody is complaining, you stay out of it.

    Thanks ATL_eagle for your input. Both programs are and should be excited about their new directions

  19. ldr of pk 75 12/07/2006 at 12:45 PM #

    Chuck deserves alot of credit for where we are today both good and bad. But be serious, it’s not a remote possibility to get a man just fired back on staff IMO. All the talk here during the season wishing for a Cowher HC/ Amato DC or Pick a coach HC/ Amato DC were pipedreams. There’s too much emotion and ego involved. Let TOB start fresh with no baggage in the background. We’ll be fine, wait and see.

  20. choppack1 12/07/2006 at 12:51 PM #

    So do you think we’ll hear announcers talking about what terrible fans BC has and how their expectations are a little too high? Yea, me neither.

    I agree w/ Dave Glenn except for one point. The reason why this hire doesn’t have some of us teaming w/ excitement is because we’ve actually seen BC play a good deal recently. You respect what he’s done and how he does it, but it’s not really exciting football, and the upside isn’t as great as Paul Johnson. Jimbo Fisher, while never a HC, would have brought a dynamic to the sideline and program as well. Jimbo has also won some big games – albeit as an assistant.

    He’s pretty much the exact opposite of Amato – – but off the field, Amato’s kid’s didn’t embarass us too badly. (Isn’t funny that DG never called out Bunting for the revolving prison door that was UNC football for the last few years.)

    I’ll support TOB – he’s certainly earned it – and I’ll give him time to try and get to the ACC Championship. Hopefully, w/ the changes he’ll have moving to our program – he can do it.

  21. RealEstateWolf 12/07/2006 at 1:03 PM #

    Amato’s players did ok off the field. Unfortunately, all their mistakes and lack of discipline was displayed on national tv. I am relieved to see that we hired a solid guy with a history of good teams and an excellent academic record.

    Anyone who would actually think Amato would come back as an assistant for his replacement is living in fantasy land. Assuming you were wealthy, would you go back to your job after being fired only to report to your replacement? I don’t think so.

  22. slushy1975 12/07/2006 at 1:14 PM #

    I must admit that once I realized that a hiring “curveball” had been thrown (given how much speculation was out there), it became clear that this is a tremendous hire!

    Like so many other posters who didn’t see this one coming, it took night’s rest to “digest” the notion of hiring a coach who was underpaid and winning in facilities that guarantee a definite ceiling on football success.

    This is a grand slam, but more like an “inside the park” grand slam where you sit, watch, and say “What just happened?”

  23. Sam92 12/07/2006 at 1:25 PM #

    I think Paul Johnson would have been a good hire — but O’Brien is certainly solid.

    It’s a conservative hire — 58 yo proven head coach, pretty consistently winning 8 or 9 games a year.

    with the better facilities and fan base we have, O’Brien should be able to do at least as well as he did at BC, and maybe better.

  24. wolfball 12/07/2006 at 1:27 PM #

    I would have to disagree strongly that Amato “helped” build the facilities at CF. Most if not all the buildings were in the planning stages BEFORE Amato was hired. He did sell tickets and get the fan base energized, but I also think Rivers has just as much influence. AMATO could not control his team.

    We should never be satisfied with a just a winning season, we should dominate and be feared. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE ANOTHER TIME WHEN THE VISITING TEAM HAS MORE FANS IN THE STADIUM THEN US.

    I rant.

  25. C Dog 12/07/2006 at 1:38 PM #

    Packpigskin23

    TOB is currently 0-6 against Butch Davis.

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