N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien is beginning to show the strain.
O’Brien came off tired, disappointed, irritated and — for the first time this season — a bit dispirited Saturday. The Wolfpack had lost to Florida State 27-10. Tailback Andre Brown had suffered a broken foot and was lost for the year.
The Wolfpack (1-5, 0-3 ACC) outplayed the Seminoles much of the first half and trailed just 17-10 after three quarters at Doak Campbell Stadium. But again, there were too many turnovers, penalties and mistakes that could not be overcome.
With the score tied 10-10 late in the first half, the Pack was called for an illegal block, then had an interception in the red zone. Another interception was returned for an FSU touchdown, and a roughing-the-punter penalty against State set up another FSU score. A holding penalty wiped out a long kickoff return by Jamelle Eugene.
By game’s end, the Pack had four turnovers, nine penalties and allowed six sacks. What could have been a close game wasn’t.
“Once again, we didn’t give ourselves a chance,” O’Brien said. “We played so hard, but we still don’t play smart enough. … As I told the team, we’re still making the dumb mistakes that we’ve got to stop making.”
