In an amazingly tone-deaf article, Scott Fowler wants us to rejoice in the glory of today’s football possibilities. Of course, Fowler would be expected to be blissfully ignorant of the pulse of Wolfpack nation – he’s not from the improving N&O, but rather, the dogged Tarheel fluffing Charlotte Observer. This was my newspaper growing up, and it appears to never have gotten any better. There are now two worthless Ron Greens, instead of just one. And thanks to media consolidation, I get to read their excrement again from the Raleigh suburbs.
If you are a State fan (and since you’re reading this blog, the shoe probably fits), today is about nothing short of disaster avoidance. It’s a very real possibility (maybe even a probablility) that ECU beats the Pack and drunkenly tears our stadium apart yet again. Making matters worse is the knowledge that Fowler will welcome them back with open arms, regardless.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – entering the season, Virginia Tech was the only Coastal Division team that looked to be anything more than mediocre. But after a loss to ECU and a very underwhelming home win against Georgia Tech, the Hokies look decidedly average at best. This revelation, coupled with a 32-point win at Rutgers, has the Chapel Hill football bandwagon full again. With a win today, UNC would be in the driver’s seat for a spot in the ACC title game. With Roy Williams already leading the basketball program to perhaps its greatest era ever (while the Pack’s 20+ year journey in the basketball desert continues) – this would be the straw that broke our collective camel’s back.
Even Wake Forest – who most Wolfpackers like and admire – would just be another glaring reminder of NC State’s futility, despite its numerous institutional advantages.
At the end of the day, you could have Wake and ECU knocking on the Top Ten’s door, with UNC in the 15-20 range. State could be left with its record, pride, and football field in tatters – looking forward warily to a November 8th date with rejuvenated Duke, with true “red-headed stepchild” status on the line. Ready for a drink yet?
And like I noted earlier in the week, a Wolfpack win (and/or a Hokie triumph) would bring no real joy – just a sigh of relief for the abject disaster that was narrowly avoided.
