State/Clemson Live Blogging

Pre-Game:

Some simple, painful truths – Clemson under Bowden always shits the bed when it has an opportunity to take the “next step” – but with it’s collective back against the wall, they almost always win, and win easily. Naturally, we get version 2 of the Tiggers today.

Even worse, the temperature will approach 90 degrees as the game wears on. That means dehydration, cramping, and more playing time for 2nd (and even 3rd) string players. Giant advantage – Clemson.

My goals for Clemson game, repeated from last night’s thread:

1) Don’t get Wilson hurt.

2) Don’t get Irving hurt.

3) Don’t get Andre Brown hurt.

4) Don’t get shut out.

Accomplish those tasks and I’ll be as happy as the proverbial pig in shit. Live blogging will commence now.

First Half:

12:02 – Holy shit! We have HD coverage! I predict this is the happiest I will be all afternoon.

12:11 – Is there really only one Nate Irving on the field? He’s everywhere. One play, and it’s 6-0 Pack. Extra point is blocked, so he still might be the only State player to score today.

12:19 – Clemson moving at will. Not good.

12:21 – State catches break, as Harper misses wide open WR for six on first down. But State gets no pressure on Harper on 3rd and 8. A lot has been said about Clemson’s inexperienced OL, but they are acquitting themselves well so far. 7-6, Clemson.

12:27 – The first drop of the afternoon belongs to Andre Brown. But Wilson scrambles for a first on 3rd and long. Thank God he got out of bounds.

12:30 – Run, Russell, run!!!

12:32 – Time to punt. When Clemson blitzes, we are fucked.

12:33 – Punt goes 17 yards. It’s ankle-grabbing time for the Pack.

12:37 – Wow, Tiggers go 3 and out. This would be good news, except the ball is downed around the 4. A safety may be forthcoming.

12:41 – Wilson gets helmet knocked off. Shit. At least he got up. Time out, State.

12:45 – Underwood really playing well.

12:47 – Wilson’s pocket awareness is light year’s ahead of Beck and especially Evans. Offense isn’t threatening, but it is picking up first downs and giving the defense a breather. I am very pleased with the effort and execution so far.

12:56 – We sure do love jumping offsides today.

1:00 – Holding Clemson to 3 here would be huge. If we do it, there’s still a good chance that we can keep the score respectable.

1:03 – Mission accomplished. 10-6, Tiggers.

1:09 – Nice edge rush from Clemson, State punts, Tigger ball on their own 40. Gut check time.

1:11 – Fucking offsides AGAIN, Clemson gains 30 on the free play. Lack of discipline may open the floodgates.

1:14 – Yep, floodgates open. 2 play TD drive, 17-6 Clemson. The ass kicking is in full swing.

1:19 – Pre-planned series for Beck?

1:21 – Pierson shanks again.

1:24 – Just like after the last shank, defense holds. Maybe we will get to the half only down 11. Wilson returns.

1:27 – One can’t overstate just how shitty our OL is. Clemson almost throws another pick.

1:32 – Finally, we get a hit on Harper.

Halftime:

Everything went about as well as could reasonably be expected. In the morning Gameday thread, I predicted 34-10. Clemson is halfway there, State is 60% there. We’re certainly not going to win, and may not be able to keep our finger in the dike much longer (i.e., semi-respectable score). But I am satisfied – this is certainly a team that can beat Boston College, and maybe challenge the jackhole Pirates next week.

Second Half:

1:58 – Graham tries to do too much on kick returns.

2:05 – Big spearing penalty keeps Pack drive alive. Maybe Tammy should focus his guys on playing football, instead of killing our QB. Just some friendly advice.

2:11 – Bite me, Josh. This will completely deflate us.

2:13 – Why the fuck didn’t we pick up that fumble and run with it?

2:17 – Clemson continues to head hunt. Fucking assholes.

2:19 – If you had Curtis Crouch in a “first knee injury” pool, congratulations! Can our OL get any shittier? We are about to find out.

2:22 – Great 4th down throw. Thank God no field goal try.

2:29 – Inexplicably, we kick a FG on 4th and 1 from the 4. 8 point game after 3 quarters, but State has clearly blown its chances to be in position to win. Damn it all to fuck and back.

2:34 – Nate joins the fuck-up parade, drops sure pick. Tiggers get 3 for a 20-9 lead. The only remaining suspense is whether Clemson can get a backdoor cover in garbage time.

2:41 – Wilson has made great decisions all game long. In the second half, he’s made some really great throws as well. That’s the positive to take into next week.

2:44 – INT, but a chance Wilson had to take. And it works like a great punt, spotted at the 4.

2:47 – It must be hotter than hell – the officials aren’t calling anything. Missed a clear false start on Clemson and a late hit on us (same play).

3:08 – Wow, the last play of the game was exciting for gamblers, wasn’t it? Pack holds on for the 1/2 point cover!

Final Score: Clemson 27, NC State 9.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

'08 Football General

210 Responses to State/Clemson Live Blogging

  1. Wulfpack 09/13/2008 at 12:54 PM #

    Run Wilson run…

  2. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 12:55 PM #

    huge play!!!!!! 25 yard reception for andre brown on third and 8

  3. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 12:56 PM #

    got to quit killing ourselves with penalties! false start on O

  4. RBCRowdy 09/13/2008 at 12:57 PM #

    What is the record for false starts and offsides in a game? We are on a mission to break it.

  5. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 12:57 PM #

    another shot down field, incomplete but i like it….

  6. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 12:58 PM #

    wow, personal foul turns a 4th and long to a first down….lucky

  7. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 12:59 PM #

    i really wish we had baker to pound it up the middle a few times…brown is having a good game….underwood not doing bad either

  8. Trip 09/13/2008 at 12:59 PM #

    oh crap we might score

  9. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 1:00 PM #

    2nd and 7 at the 10, please come up big here…..

  10. Wulfpack 09/13/2008 at 1:01 PM #

    What was that?

  11. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 1:02 PM #

    bad snap, wilson dropps it, picks it up and runs for 2 yards.
    third down we throw the ball away. surprise
    just take a shot on 4th….
    3 points doesnt do anything for us

  12. BoKnowsNCS71 09/13/2008 at 1:03 PM #

    No kicking game it appears.

  13. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 1:03 PM #

    especially when we have a inexperienced kicker who misses the kick.
    obviously would have been better taking a shot on 4th

  14. Trip 09/13/2008 at 1:03 PM #

    looks like we don’t even get to score. what is wrong with our kicking game?

  15. wolfpackdawg 09/13/2008 at 1:03 PM #

    Special teams are fucking abysmal.

  16. BAC79 09/13/2008 at 1:03 PM #

    Problem is we cant get three points even from 25 yards.

  17. st8family 09/13/2008 at 1:04 PM #

    Kicking game….

  18. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 1:06 PM #

    defense is falling apart…..

  19. Trip 09/13/2008 at 1:07 PM #

    So have we developed technology to clone Irving yet?

  20. Wulfpack 09/13/2008 at 1:07 PM #

    Good lord we are bad in so many ways. It’s hard to watch. Shoot ourselves in the damn foot time after time. What is it with all of these discipline penalties?

  21. tvp1 09/13/2008 at 1:08 PM #

    Do we have the worst fucking receivers who have ever played football???? Are they NEVER open? Or can Wilson just not see them?

    I mean Jesus H Christ its not hard to throw the ball. ANYONE can throw the ball. Louisiana Tech and Florida International can throw the damn ball. Why can’t we????

  22. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 1:09 PM #

    pack gets a fumble of harper

  23. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 1:10 PM #

    screen pass has been working for us. underwood on a big one just like brown just had on the last drive

  24. Wulfpack 09/13/2008 at 1:10 PM #

    What in the hell kind of offense is this? Seriously.

  25. inhoc... 09/13/2008 at 1:11 PM #

    i HATE watching us throw the ball away so often, better than pick sixes though…

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