Cutcliffe: This Might Be O’Brien’s Only Year to Chirp (Updated 2:15pm, Grobe’s Comment)

'08 Football Future Opponents Tom O'Brien52

With all due respect to the Duke football program, I found this little gem laugh-out-loud funny:

“If I were Tom O’Brien, I’d be saying that,” Cutcliffe said. “This might be the only year he can ever chirp like that. When you’ve got chirping right, you better chirp.

Thing is, if there’s any football program in the country that ought to have a huge dose of humility, it is Duke. While Cutcliffe might have Duke improved, the Blue Devils are still at the base of the mountain and are looking up at the four other D1 programs in North Carolina and probably the Mountaineers of Appalachian State too.  If I were him, I would have stayed dead silent and not made many waves.

UPDATE 1:

Yesterday on local sports station 850 The Buzz, host David Glenn asked Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe his thought on O’Brien’s comment of NC State being the ‘best program in the state.’  Grobe said

“Well they beat us and beat UNC pretty bad. I think he can say whatever he wants. I don’t have a problem with it.” 

That’s an interesting take, because Grobe’s Demon Deacons are the only North Carolina D1 program to win the ACC and to play in BCS bowl.

'08 Football Future Opponents Tom O'Brien

52 Responses to Cutcliffe: This Might Be O’Brien’s Only Year to Chirp (Updated 2:15pm, Grobe’s Comment)

  1. redfred2 11/26/2008 at 12:46 PM #

    First off, I love the fact that TOB was that fired up after beating unc and that he also had the b*lls to come stake claim to a “state championship”. It’s refreshing to see a FB coach who can back up his words.

    As far as Cutcliife’s comments, yeah, they were sharp and pointed directly at NC State and TOB, but you gotta love that. That is the stuff that fires up both fans and players, and the Duke fans should be glad that he did.

    Um, from the way the coaches are behaving recently, I wonder if any of them are even interested in capturing the coveted “Mr Congeniality/Class Act” award for this season?

  2. GAWolf 11/26/2008 at 1:15 PM #

    ^^ (Redfred) OR even just a coach who waits until after the games have been played to talk about them.

    On a sidenote:

    I’m as optimistic as the next guy, but some words of warning: Gator Bowl Parade. I heard a lot of this after that:

    “And, this is the first time in a long time I can really say with full confidence that we will not only compete to always be the best program in the state but also compete to be the best / one of the best programs in the ACC about an N.C. State team (football, basketball, whatever).”

    I’m not knocking the excitement, just asking us to temper our opinions of what this means. It’s a great step in the right direction, but we’re a long ways from here to “there” (competing for conference championships). Frankly, this does two things: 1) makes us look silly and irrational and 2) sets us up for the inevitable disappointment of a hiccup season hereafter AND the backlash that directly results therefrom due to unreasonable expectations.

    Just be careful, grasshoppers.

  3. SEAT.5.F.2 11/26/2008 at 1:21 PM #

    My take on TOB was this;

    10% Post game emotion of putting the royal smack down on State Rival (he goes back even further w/Davis)

    15% Recruiting. More ’10 class, guys like Creedy, Crisp and maybe a few that are coming out verbals for a Coach leaving, Raper for instance.

    75% those players in the locker room who came together after the bye week and really showed TOB that they were capable of playing his style of football. In a way he kind of said to them, “you know recruits coming in are my picks but you that were here already are doing the job that’s expected.

    The reason I beleive this as the biggest factor is motivation going into the bye week. I think that TOB knew that the only way to get from 2-6 to a Miami win away from a Bowl game was “State Championship” talk at meetings and on the practice field. He had to get their mind off of each game being elimination and the only way to do that was by convincing them that taking it to 1) Duke 2) WF 3) UNC in consecutive weeks meant everything to this program right here and now.

    It was him telling the media what he had been asking of them for the past 4 weeks, so someone should ask what a player like Andre Brown thinks of the statement and screw what Cutcliffe said. Cut needs to figure out how to turn 5 to’s into more then 3 points

  4. buttPACKer 11/26/2008 at 1:30 PM #

    More and more, when i see BD, I see CTC. . . the “top level” recruiting, the focus always on him, the “illusion” of program building, the insistence on new facilities in order to succeed, etc. etc. etc. . .

    I am really glad we have substance over style this time around–and, at least chucky would have been happy to remain should he have taken us to national prominence!

  5. buttPACKer 11/26/2008 at 1:37 PM #

    good advice, GAWolf!

  6. BJD95 11/26/2008 at 2:04 PM #

    If this season is the high point of the Tom O’Brien era, I’ll eat my mouse pad. Keep dreaming, buddy!

  7. GoldenChain 11/26/2008 at 2:07 PM #

    Well listen, the Wolfpack Nation has had plenty of disappointment in the last couple of decades. And plenty of grandstanding.
    However I don’t see anything wrong with a fired up comment after a huge win against an archrival. And what he stated was in fact the case this season anyway. If we had squeaked by unx, maybe not.

    A hole fan on another board posted that “program” meant 2or more seasons. If that’s the case then why did BD or Cut even say a word?
    The best thing either could have done is just have taken care of business against State. Neither did.

    Furthermore, Cut will likely get it handed to him this Saturday as Duke looks like they’ve exhausted their early season energy and unx is a better team than they played like last week and will be looking to make amends.
    Cut lost to State, to Wake, did not play ECU and even if he were to beat unx (and frankly nothing would make me happier) he would only be 33% against instate D1 schools…..so….why doesn’t he shut-up!
    Win some games then come back and take some shots at TOB.

  8. Alpha Wolf 11/26/2008 at 2:14 PM #

    Article has been updated to include Grobe’s riposte to the comment.

  9. choppack1 11/26/2008 at 2:18 PM #

    Personally, I think TOB is po’d. He sees the media’s love fest – national and local (but especially local) with the Tar Heels, and sees his clock being cleaned in recruiting.
    There’s a historical precedent here. Sheridan used to get frustrated over the same thing. Sheridan didn’t vocally express as TOB did. Of course, when Mack finally beat State, it was mentioned what a great moment for his program it was since Sheridan consistently rubbed in the truth that State was beating those Tar Heel teams w/ talent ranked inferior in the “objective” Poop Sheet.

    I understand why TOB is po’d. He’s used to be second fiddle to the pros, but he probably wasn’t expecting the blatant bias that dominates the local media. Here in Winston, the game is long gone. When UNC and the Wolfpack play b’ball on the same night, UNC’s game is on the front page w/ a picture, NC State’s is on page 5.

    There’s been some NC State football coverage, but had UNC won the game, you’d bet that there’d still be plenty of UNC football coverage. Up until this NC State game, the
    story in the media had been the “Tar Heel” turnaround. Of course, this was done solely based on their record – not necessarily accomplishments:

    I mentioned in another post that for NC State’s 6 common opponents thus far from last year, we have performed better against ALL of them.

    OTOH, when you look at UNC’s results against their 6 common opponents, they
    performed better against VaTech, GaTech and arguably UVa, but worse against
    UMd and NC State. (Miami is kind of a push.)

    It’s easy to see why TOB is frustrated. I mean, who else can say that they’ve improved in all 6 of their conference gmaes this year? All I can say TOB is welcome to our world. Just because we have great fans doesn’t mean the media “plays to us”.

  10. ncsslim 11/26/2008 at 2:32 PM #

    I was surprised at the TOB statement; it seemed out of character. I hope that it was mainly a statement to recruits, but I have no idea what turns their heads. Hopefully more than talk.

    Do not think for a second that Cutcliffe is ready to take a backseat in competing in the state. He’s been there one year and has been very competitive against us and Wake, and there’s no reason for him to feel he could not have won them both. I believe, admitted or not, that Duke will relax their football requirements, or at least bring them in line with bball (they may already have, even though they will universely deny). As far as the Duke behind AppSt, don’t drink that koolaid. With TLewis, Duke smacked JMU, who beat App. There is a HUGE difference in the competition between the two levels.

  11. wufpup76 11/26/2008 at 2:42 PM #

    Point made, GAwolf

    But if the TOB era turns out like CTC’s I’d be mighty surprised … I really am confident in what a TOB program will bring to the table

    And I realize we’re not there yet … but I’d rather feel confident as opposed to waiting for the other shoe to drop all the time

    Chuck’s dreams were good, and needed at the time … but of course went unfulfilled … At the risk of seeming or being irrational, Chuck was right about not accomplishing anything w/out believing that it can happen … Confidence was never his problem, style over substance was

    And w/ TOB, I see substance weighted far greater than style … I certainly don’t mind being thought of as silly – I’d rather be confident and thought a fool as opposed to waiting and expecting failure to happen

    I know that wasn’t your point, but some confidence and dreaming aren’t always bad things

    Go Pack

  12. wufpup76 11/26/2008 at 3:04 PM #

    ^Also wanted to add that I don’t think winning the ACC is an unreasonable expectation … It should be EXPECTED … Like TOB said: “We expect to be here.”

    At the very least Tom O’Brien is taking the challenges head-on as opposed to making excuses as to why he “can’t” accomplish this, that, or the other … I’m more than tired of N.C. State the excuse making school … Can’t compete w/ Duke or Chapel Hole in basketball … etc, etc, etc

    Tis better to fight and be disappointed than to have not fought at all (We CAN’T do it, so why try?)

  13. Ismael 11/26/2008 at 3:39 PM #

    “suprised” at TOB’s comments? After all the talk of the “in state” championship, the media asked him after each win and what did he say: “we have to win one before we can win 4”. So not only do we beat UNCCH, but we pummel them. So what does the media ask (4min into the post-game presser btw) “What does this mean….” I only watched the press conference this particular time just to hear him say it: that we have beat, fair and square, every team of significance in the state of NC. “I am lion, hear me roar azzholes!” #15 EZU, who had beat two historically good football teams, destroyed WVU and everyone thought, including us, that they were gonna clean our clocks. Then Duke, then a ranked WFU and a ranked UNCCH who were favored by 11.5 over us. With a team, as people have said, of walkons, converted defenders, a redshirt freshman QB who got knocked out of his first game. Most pivotal play of the game arguably was made by a RFr-QB and a Walkon-TrueFreshamn Fullback. If your “program” isn’t any good, there’s no way you can plug in people like this and they succeed. I ain’t apologizing to anyone because we kicked that azz.

  14. redfred2 11/26/2008 at 4:45 PM #

    If it’s like some people have suggested, that TOB has already had his fill of the media bias in North Carolina, and he’s not afraid to say something about it, then GREAT!!! I’d love to see any D1 Coach who has just recently relocated to the state of NC, someone who is a person who comes off as very respectable and a no nonsense type of individual like TOB, start pointing fingers at this joke they call sports journalism in this region.

    If that’s actually TOB’s reasoning, then he is TOTALLY justified in saying what he said, AND MORE!!!

  15. CarnifeX 11/26/2008 at 4:55 PM #

    curious as to the recruiting aspect. sounds like this will help. But I’m fearful as to TOB’s power to convince players like Mario Williams, Alan Michael Cash, Nate Irving, John McCargo to come here. He’s not flashy which is obviously what got those guys here, is this defense that we’ve been riding this season going to dry up of this sort of talent?

  16. Ismael 11/26/2008 at 5:39 PM #

    CarnifeX – remember, Amato didn’t even want to give Nate Irving a scholarship, he had to be arm-twisted by that super duper Wolfpack club guy. Mario was a big deal coming out of high school, but i don’t think it was “flash” that necessarily brought him here. OTOH, AJ Davis and the signing day surprise sounds like all amato.

  17. redfred2 11/26/2008 at 5:47 PM #

    Maybe I wasn’t paying enough attention, but just by signing, and having a guy like Mario Williams in the program, that didn’t really seem to be the answer, did it?

  18. ChiefJoJo 11/26/2008 at 5:56 PM #

    I like it. Of course the others are technically right that the measure of a program is over several years and not one season, but who cares? TOB’s really the only one who can come close to making that statement based on results this year, so why not? Of course he was talking directly to recruits and fans. Maybe this will help him win a few in-state battles.

  19. wolfpackdawg 11/26/2008 at 9:51 PM #

    Cutcliffe is a competitor and in his first year at Duke…He’s going to defend his program and has pride. The Chief can KMA though.

  20. highstick 11/26/2008 at 10:57 PM #

    Glad you guys mentioned the media. What’s your take on Tysiac’s comments this past weekend? Still in denial was my take and never once acknowledged what a “beatdown” it was Saturday which was typical!

  21. Greywolf 11/26/2008 at 11:10 PM #

    Does anybody know how many pre-season All ACC players TOB had at his disposal when he beat Chief’s 4**** and 5***** loaded team last Saturday? Tongue-in-cheek question, yes. But it does point to something. TOB and his staff can teach. In the face of adverstity State Fans won’t have to be “waiting until our next great recruiting class comes to the rescue.”

  22. Greywolf 11/26/2008 at 11:19 PM #

    Last time today…
    A lot of us are comparing TOB to Sheridan, and rightfully so. We can go further back than that. Earl Edwards had us 8-0 playing at Penn State in the days when 4 home games was a lot. We were stopped 4th and 1 inside the 10 yd line. Earl did it with a great defensive coach named Al Michaels and a good hard-nosed OL. By the way Earl Edwards wasn’t a stand up comedian or Mr. Emotions, either. About the funniest Earl got was his post game comment, “I thought we handled William pretty good.” when State College lost to William and Mary 7-6.

    Frankly, I don’t give a shit WHAT TOB says, I got his back.

  23. McLovin 11/27/2008 at 12:19 AM #

    I don’t care about what TOB says to the media or what other people say about him in the media. Why? Because no matter what happens in the media, this man appears to have his players under control. My brother was telling me that he talked to Jamelle Eugene this past week. Jamelle told him that if anyone on the team did something stupid in a game (dumb penalties, turnovers, etc) or off the field, they’d better be ready to run come 4 am. Look at Curtis Crouch. Despite being a good OL man, Crouch apparently didn’t live up to TOB’s standards and TOB cut him.

    I have all the respect in the world for TOB. I just hope that I can still be praising him like this on Sunday.

  24. SEAT.5.F.2 11/27/2008 at 8:40 AM #

    The best thing about TOB’s comments to the media, any of them, is that he could give a rat’s what people say about him.

    He has on more then one occassion said that he has confidence in himself that he’s doing the right thing, if there is any second guessing then it’s talked over with all his Asst Coach’s to ensure that any hesitation from moving the program forward is minimized.

    Point is, the man stay’s on track. Not to pick on Bowden when’s he’s down but compare the railroad analogy to the trainwreck at Clemson.

    Couple parting shots;

    70 is the new 65 I’ve heard.

    TOB has played and asst coached at an Academy, asst at a prestigous LA Univ and HC at one of the most visible Catholic colleges.

    Now that he is at a Land Grant one he is saying the right thing to the very proud fanbase. “we are the state university, we expect to be the best”. IMO, that resonates throughout every student (athlete or not), faculty member,alumni and on DOWN to the administration. You can’t read between the lines of that ButchCut.

  25. BoKnowsNCS71 11/27/2008 at 9:15 AM #

    My read on is comments was IMO that he was thinking team and said Program instead. We do have the best team in NC based on head to head games. As far as best program — if I was ranking them I’s probably put Wake Forest first and all the rest “to be determined”.

    Clearly all the local programs are seeing an upswing and are winning more games but whether that is a flash in the pan or there will be continuous improvement is yet to be seen.

    As far as Cutcliffe — I think he said it right. TOMFB has chirping rights and the time is right. Whether Coach was pushing buttons is for him to say. I find it funny that with all this conversation about the statement, I’ve seen no radio, print or other media person attempt to ask Coach about it in a follow up. It tells me the statement created controversy and they like that just the way it is — not clarified.

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