2007 Football Schedule Update

'07 Football General92

Each year we run one entry that serves as our “schedule entry” entry and we update it as time passes and related news (like television schedules) evolve. Most fans usually use the entry as an opportunity to chime in with some preseason predictions. (Just yesterday we updated our evolving ‘basketball schedule’ entry when ESPN announced the match-ups for the Old Spice Basketball Classic over Thanksgiving.)

We also try to ‘byte’ some observations regarding the schedule. How about some of these fortuitous gems from last season’s entry?

* A seven-win or six-win season in 2006 will indicate the program has AT BEST stalled. Less than six wins and the program is in very deep trouble.

* The last time that NC State ended a football season with back-to-back games against North Carolina and East Carolina, NC State fired coach, Mike O’Cain.

* For real shits-and-giggles, ‘what if’ Skip Holtz was having a fantastic year at East Carolina and Chuck Amato was having a horrible year at NC State. Could we be watching Skip’s last game on the sideline in Greenville prior to taking the head job in Raleigh? It is not beyond the realm of possibility…but, it is nothing more than fun fan talk right now.

* To ^that same point – is it 1999 again? Remember in year seven of Mike O’Cain’s tenure at NC State the Wolfpack ended the season with back-to-back games against Carolina and East Carolina. State lost them both. O’Cain was fired. After three years of under-achievement compared to talent and expectations, is Chuck Amato on strong enough footing to weather a similar fate if he were to lose both of these games?

We do something very similar with the Wolfpack’s future out of conference schedule that can be seen by clicking here.

This year’s “official foootball schedule entry” was a little disjointed because we were working hard to piece together as much of the schedule as possible BEFORE it was released. Since NC State has announced the kickoff times and television situation for the Wolfpack’s first three games of the 2007 season, we thought this would be a good place to consolidate our “2007 Schedule Entry”.

2007 NC State Football Schedule

Sep 1 vs Central Florida, 6:00pm (ESPN 360 on internet)
Sep 8 at Boston College, 2:30pm (ESPN2)
Sep 15 vs Wofford, 6:00pm (ESPN 360 on internet)
Sep 22 vs Clemson
Sep 29 vs Louisville
Oct 6 at Florida State
Oct 20 at East Carolina, 4:30pm (CSTV)
Oct 27 vs Virginia
Nov 3 at Miami (FL)
Nov 10 vs UNC-CH
Nov 17 at Wake Forest
Nov 24 vs Maryland

* This is a tough schedule by any measure. Not the world’s toughest, but not a walk in the park.

* The Sporting News has ranked the ACC schedules. It’s not their best work, but it will do.

* There is ALWAYS significant variance between the actual performance of teams and the pre-season projections of teams. You have to think that the likelihood of variance that a team could end up being a lot better than projected (see Wake Forest and ECU last season) or a lot worse than projected is usualy about equal. For some reason, I feel like we have a better chance that the teams on our schedule could end up being worse than projected than if they ended up being better than projected.

* The schedule could quickly get better if Wake fails to repeat its performance from this past season and ECU struggles to break in a new quarterback

* If I had to pick 2 or 3 ‘wild cards’ of teams whose performance could vary the most from pre-season expectations then I would choose Carolina, Wake and Maryland. Interestingly, these three teams line-up in consecutive weekends at the end of our schedule.

* Back-to-back home games against Clemson and Louisville create a very attractive week in late September. If State finds a way to pull an upset at BC on September 8th then TOB will REALLY see that fan support that he was so impressed by during his visit to Raleigh last season.

“Just to walk into (Carter-Finley Stadium), and the enthusiasm in the stadium here, is incredible,” O’Brien said. “I’ve taken teams to State College and beaten Penn State there in front of 100,000 people. I’ve taken a team to Notre Dame when they were No. 4 in the country and came out in the green jerseys. The excitement that fateful night I was here in September (for the BC-NCSU game) was as good as any place I’ve ever been.”

* Speaking of the September 8th match-up in Chestnut Hill — that is going to be one of my designated, “ULTRA hang out all day, eat wings, drink beer, indulge myself in football days” of the season. In addition to the Pack’s game, just the ACC offers the following television line-up of action: Miami at Oklahoma, 12 pm, ABC; Nebraska at Wake Forest, 12pm, ESPN; Duke at Virginia, 12pm, LFS/R; Samford at Georgia Tech, 1:30, ESPNU; UAB at Florida State, 5 pm, ESPNU; North Carolina at East Carolina, 6pm, CSTV; Virginia Tech at LSU, 9:15pm, ESPN. WOW!

* The stretch between September 30th and November 9th sees NC State play only one home game in Carter-Finley (October 27th vs Virginia). After the coaching turnover within the conference last season, Al Groh may be the closest thing we have to being on the ‘hot seat.’

* Will NC State EVER play Duke again? Hell, if Chuck Amato could have just replaced annual Coastal-division losses to Georgia Tech with games against Duke then he probably would still be employed.

* Maybe Lee Fowler should stop worrying about pleasing Terry Holland and working so hard to elevate ECU’s Athletics Program and start helping our ACC brethren out. NC State and Duke could play football every year even if it didn’t count in the ACC standings. We’ve been touting this idea for years and for some reason it gets no traction. It must be way too innovative for the stuffed suits in Raleigh.

* The Wolfpack and Blue Devils could schedule out of conference match-ups and do battle in a historical rivalry that would help both programs. When State travels to Durham the Blue Devils see as much attendance as any game that they schedule. Why doesn’t Fowler support Wolfpack faithful by giving us a game that we can attend in Durham (in an easier journey than Greenville that brings much less physical risk to the average fan) that would also serve to support the coffers of one of our league brothers?

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'07 Football General

92 Responses to 2007 Football Schedule Update

  1. Mr O 06/05/2007 at 9:42 PM #

    I am one of the people who thinks the ECU game makes a lot of sense. I ordered(hopefully will receive them) tickets for that game, so maybe I will change my mind after attending the game.

  2. redfred2 06/05/2007 at 10:50 PM #

    So Bo, or anybody for that matter, what the hell does an AD’s job entail then. I mean, they can hire, or at least take all the credit for it, but they don’t have much say so and can’t fire those same people after the fact. Or at least they don’t want the burden or the blame for it. If what you are saying now, and my old buddy Wolfpack4ever used to try to tell me is true, then, just what is his job description?

  3. packwolf90 06/06/2007 at 12:18 AM #

    Anyone up for tearin down some goalposts this year? I’m sick and tired of not being allowed to storm.

  4. kool k 06/06/2007 at 7:22 AM #

    IT’S DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL!

  5. TNCSU 06/06/2007 at 8:29 AM #

    ^^So Bo, or anybody for that matter, what the hell does an AD’s job entail then.

    Make money….and run a clean program…usually that entails winning, because the more you win, the more tickets you sell. An AD is more “business” than “athletics” — look at the AD at Florida – I think he was a psychology major that started in the ticketing department of the U of F Athletic Department about 20 years ago — Now he’s got back to back National Championships….Not Bad.

  6. Mr O 06/06/2007 at 9:02 AM #

    By my count:

    Favored to win: 3 games(Central Fla, Wofford, UNC)
    Toss up: UVa (could fall into either category)
    Underdog: 8 games

    I would predict somewhere between 3 & 5 wins at this point.

  7. noah 06/06/2007 at 9:05 AM #

    If it’s a good idea to play ECU, then play ECU. But don’t play ECU because some idiot state legislator thinks that he can financially blackmail you. It’s as STUPID as the UVa AD voting for ACC expansion because of what may or may not happen to VPI as a result.

    If you are the AD at NC State, then your job is to do what’s best for NC State. ECU has their own damn athletic director and you need to let him do what’s best for ECU.

    And I don’t give a flying f… what anyone says. If you can’t b…-slap that stuff into the second-row of leftfield, then who are you and why are you still getting a paycheck??

    Back room? I don’t give a damn about any back room. State legislators are ELECTED. I’ll pull that motherf… into a back room. People don’t understand public financing.

    You know what they do understand? Football schedules. And they understand basketball arenas. People don’t really give a damn about some highway that gets built or doesn’t get built somewhere they don’t live.

    They DO give a damn about stadiums that get built or don’t get built for the teams they pull for.

    And if this sparrow-fart-in-a-hurricane actually did amount to something? The AD ought to be calling the game the “Tax Game” or the “Toll Game.” Everytime the schedule comes out….”Well, we’re really proud of 10 games on our schedule. Ought to be a lot of fun. Of course, we have to also play our General Obligation game. Thanks Sen. Dumbass!” And I’d be scheduling a lot of WPC meetings in that senator’s (or house rep’s) district.

    “Hey, it’s great to be back here in Bumfart County! This is a great place and we love visiting here. You know why it’s so great here? Because you’ve solved EVERY SINGLE problem. There’s no crime, there’s no pollution, there’s no traffic snarls. All the schools are great, taxes are fine and people are damn happy. You know how I know this? Because your state representative’s have nothing else to do but schedule football games for us! They’re so bored up in Raleigh that they thought they’d give us a hand. We’ve invited State Legislator Doofus here tonight. We thought maybe he’d like to bus some tables or help serve drinks since he’s so bored. Aren’t you glad that your tax dollars are being used so well? Because that’s what good government is all about….not properly funding education so your kids can go to great in-state colleges…but scheduling a god… football game! That’s what you want, right?”

  8. foz 06/06/2007 at 9:26 AM #

    I don’t understand the problem with playing ECU and not Duke. I thought we wanted to play better opponets and ECU is definitley better than Duke at this point.

    As for the scheduling -I don’t think pressured is correct. They were most likely shown the “benefits” of scheduling the game. The media hype just gave the schools an excuse to pass along.

  9. BoKnowsNCS71 06/06/2007 at 9:27 AM #

    Fred — its got nothing to do with the ADs job. It has more to do with the political influence exerted by ECU folks who want more for that school. They got a med school for one thing. Does that make sense. They are putting a dental school in the rural northeast counties of NC — does that make sense? On those issues — it’s redistribution of tax money to build up that part of NC and their economy. Those same people want the prestige of playing the in-state schools. We ignored them for years and the bottom line is they used subtle political pressure and they won. To the powers that be that tell the AD what do — this ain’t a fight worth fighting. And everyone falls is line. No Ad is going to spit into the wind on this one.

    Noah — truth hurts doesn’t it? You are arguing for all the right reasons. But the schedule has been set for many years to come — for all the wrong ones. And we can whine till we all turn blue – but we and UNX will be playing home and aways for many years to come with the boys in purple (absent another big riot maybe)>

  10. RAWFS 06/06/2007 at 9:28 AM #

    Noah, no offense, but you’re really off in left-field on this one.

    ECU does indeed have powerful friends in the legislature, and keep in mind that around that time the governor’s veto power had yet to be restored. In short, Marc Basnight and his crew would meet in private, divvy up the pie and the Democratically controlled legislature would rubber stamp it.

    It has been that way for years. It is almost certainly still that way. Witness the way the lottery was passed, for example.

    AD’s have very little control over such things, it is at a minimum at the Chancellor level, who is going to look at the big picture and tell the AD to schedule the game rather than cause his/her school a lot of grief and ire downtown where the Down East contingent is demanding theirs.

  11. noah 06/06/2007 at 9:38 AM #

    Then the Chancellor at NC State is a total fool.

    Sorry, you’re never going to convince me on this one.

    Could the legislature force this issue? Sure! Could I make it so costly that it would only happen once? In my sleep. A baby could do it.

    If I were AD, I’d make sure that every reporter always asked me about it. Every chance….every…single….chance. And they would. And they’d print it, because I’d give them great copy.

    And would I be in that district campaigning for the other guy? Damn straight. It’s my right…hell, it would be my DUTY…as a citizen.

    “Ladies and gentlemen…I have no opinions on Senator ExcrementForBrains’ plan for new roads or jobs. Neither does he. He’s too busy doing my job and scheduling football games. And when he doesn’t get his way, he thinks it’s a good idea to throw a tantrum and cut funding for a college that you pay for. And how many tax dollars does NC State take for its athletic department? Umm…zero. And how many tax dollars does UNC take for ITS athletic department? Uhhh, let’s see…carry the one….yeah, that would zero as well.

    “A vote for Senator HeadUpHisAss is a vote for the ECU-State game. Nothing else. Not a damn thing else. It’s a statewide, multi-million dollar referendum on a single football game. Remember that next time you get your paycheck and notice that difference between the gross and the net pay.”

    It would NEVER….EVER end. Force my hand on it and it becomes your legacy. It’s the only thing anyone will ever remember about you forever.

  12. noah 06/06/2007 at 9:39 AM #

    You gotta remember…the only power ANYONE has is the power people give to them willingly.

  13. BoKnowsNCS71 06/06/2007 at 9:46 AM #

    Few people know our final budget is pulled together by a handful of powerful legislators in the House and Senate. Most votes are straight party line. Deviating from that based on “priniciple” gets you admonished and no funding for your pet projects and none of your bills get out of committee. A few years down the road and you get voted out for being “Ineffective” (i.e. not playing the game).

    And while many of us don’t want to even play ECU much less a home and away in football and basketball — where is the media outrage and coverage? The print media doesn’t care. The sports talk radio media doesn’t bring it up. (Are you out there Adam?) There is no expose’ or investigation into the “why” of all this.

    This topic is just one that infuriates many/several of those who actively blog here and who are passionate about our Wolfpack. But if it is so important — why no press? We have to listen to hours of blab sports radio for hours each about inane topics like Billy Donovan changing his mind and the travesty and evilness of that. But if this is such a great story — it would be getting print and air time. But it’s not.

    Heck there ought to at least be a good story called “How ECU hogtied NCSU, ECU, and other(?) schools into playing them home and away” but who’s going to write it?

  14. foz 06/06/2007 at 9:49 AM #

    Not supporting ANY politician here, but if making this happen in any small way gets support – it will happen. I don’t see any chancellor making waves over something that to them is probably not that big a deal. Again not to defend, but I’m sure “road and school” legislation was not pushed into the wastebasket to make a football game happen.

  15. lush 06/06/2007 at 9:50 AM #

    “Make money….and run a clean program…usually that entails winning, because the more you win, the more tickets you sell. An AD is more “business” than “athletics””

    Where does ol Lee fit in to any of these responsibilities? Whether its true or not, our football program had a terrible rep. under Chuck, Herb was the one who was praised for running a clean basketball program, and Bobby Purcel is supposedly the #1 fund raiser in the country. So Lee is in charge of what exactly?

    I see him being a manager along the likes of Lumberg.

    “Sidney, whaatts happpeninggg? Yeeeaaah, im going to need you to go ahead and come in on saturday, we lost some people a few months ago and we’re behind on some recruiting, so we need to play catch -up. umm k. oh, and i almost forgot, im going to need you to go ahead and come in on sunday too, thanks.”

  16. noah 06/06/2007 at 9:51 AM #

    “Heck there ought to at least be a good story called “How ECU hogtied NCSU, ECU, and other(?) schools into playing them home and away” but who’s going to write it?”

    The reporter who gets great quotes.

    You know why they aren’t getting good quotes? Because the chancellor and the AD at State and Carolina totally caved and they are ashamed of it and they won’t talk about it. They got schooled by amateurs.

  17. RickJ 06/06/2007 at 9:52 AM #

    Interesting conversation – I tend to agree that we are coerced into playing ECTC but to tag along Noah’s argument in a different way, why do we have to play them more than UNC? In football UNC has played them 10 times to our 24. In basketball, I can’t ever remember UNC playing except maybe one time in the NCAA tourney. Aren’t they under the same pressures? If we are more malleable to the pressure, that’s on us.

  18. foz 06/06/2007 at 9:52 AM #

    I really don’t understand the problem playing ECU in football – basketball I see, they suck, but footall?? Seriously, enlighten me.

  19. noah 06/06/2007 at 10:01 AM #

    There is no problem. I don’t care if we play them. We can schedule Furman. We can schedule Florida and Ohio State too. I’ll watch.

    I have a problem with being told that our athletic department, which receives ZERO tax dollars, is suddenly beholden to the whims of some hick in Pitt County….and it’s play ECU or suddenly, there’s no money for the library.

  20. foz 06/06/2007 at 10:06 AM #

    Ok, so its not a competition issue, but a freedom of choice issue.

  21. noah 06/06/2007 at 10:09 AM #

    Yep. I’d send Rep. Headuphisass a copy of War and Peace with the part about the Napoleonic War highlighted. I’d bookmark it with a folded copy of Plutarch’s essay about King Pyrrhus.

    Too subtle perhaps?

    Maybe send him a bullet-proof vest with a fish in it?

  22. noah 06/06/2007 at 10:11 AM #

    Actually, it’s not “freedom of choice.” Sen. ExcrementForBrains is free to do whatever he wants.

    It’s a “Do your g..d…. job issue.”

    The job of the athletic director at NC State is to run the athletic department at NC State. It’s not to look out for ECU.

    The job of a state legislator is to represent the people of his district in the general assesmbly on the matters outlined in the state constitution. It’s not schedule freakin’ football games.

  23. foz 06/06/2007 at 10:23 AM #

    Nitpicking, but I would agree with RAWFS above about this not being an AD decision – “AD’s have very little control over such things, it is at a minimum at the Chancellor level, who is going to look at the big picture and tell the AD to schedule the game rather than cause his/her school a lot of grief ”
    I would venture to add that the Chancellor probably does not even think that this is a big deal – or any size deal. Someone wants a football game as a favor – sure we play football.

  24. BoKnowsNCS71 06/06/2007 at 10:26 AM #

    Noah – respectfully – your view is as it should be. It isn’t that way in the real world. It’s an evil place out there. It’s why we have pork barrel funds. If you were right, pork would be non-existent.

    As for the line “The reporter who gets great quotes.” Nope — it’s the reproter who cares enough to investigate the topic deeply, find the facts, find the dirt, get the facts.

    Jim Black gave great quotes? But the media dug up enought dirt on him beforehand that law enforcement picked up the case.

    I really don’t want to get in p—g match with ya. You live in your world and I’ll live in mine. And if the truth ever comes out — maybe one of us can say “I was wrong” to the other at that time.

    In the meantime, go fire the AD, we’ll still play ECU home and away. I don’t like it but that’s the facts and I don’t see it changing cause we don’t like it.

  25. gopack968 06/06/2007 at 10:43 AM #

    “I really don’t understand the problem playing ECU in football…”

    The problem is that ECU has little relevance on the national level and so a win is not worth much in terms of either RPI or national rankings. Granted, the past few years we have been terrible as well – but we are in a BCS conference and have a realistic shot at steady national rankings in our future.

    However, Pirate-land will get up for this game like a band of maniacs, pinning their whole season’s success or failure on the outcome. David and Goliath time. This, and bad coaching, have beaten us way too many times to go looking for such a collision every year.

    An occasional game against ECU, on our terms and at our house (the way games against sub-conference foes are played by BCS conference programs), would be not big deal. In fact, we should play them every few years. But mandatory home and homes and playing them year-in and year-out? Stupid.

    And before anyone yells we are afraid of ECU – It is not about being afraid of a fight. There are just better, and more valuable, opponents out there to challenge with the few non-conference games available.

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