NC State 27, Duke 17

'08 Football General58

Some quick thoughts and “good news” items:

– NC State WRs really stepped it up today. Jarvis Williams made 2 excellent “jumpball” catches on deep throws. Anthony Hill made a SportsCenter caliber catch on 3rd and long, setting up his TD catch on the next play. Darrell Davis made a nice catch on the sideline setting up the FG that iced the game.

– Russell Wilson made plays with his legs and arm. He’s getting better at using his mobility to buy time for receivers to break open, rather than always choosing to tuck and run. You may consider this heresy, but I believe he’s playing better and smarter than Philip Rivers in his freshman year (of course, he didn’t have the luxury of a redshirt).

– Mike Archer gets the last laugh (for once) regarding “bend but don’t break.” Today, it worked to perfection. The defense made big plays when it had to, ending drives at the State 10, 1, and 11.

– NC State provided about 30% of stadium capacity today. One hell of a showing for a team that was 2-6 (0-4) entering the game. Great volume on the WOLF-PACK cheer several times. Unlike the Devil boosters, our folks mostly stayed to the end, and gave the team a noce standing ovation at the end. The kids really seemed to appreciate it. “Bad fans,” my hairy ass!

– NC State will not go winless in ACC play.

– NC State will not lose 10 games in a season for the first time.

– NC State is 2-0 vs. NC’s other Division 1-A teams. Wake and the Holes are up next. 4-0 is a goal to play for.

Duke Notes:

– David Cutcliffe may be a good program builder, but he doesn’t know what he’s doing, strategically. Even after a false start penalty made it 4th and 8 from the State 18 (down 17 with 5 minutes to go), Cutcliffe passes up a very makeable field goal and turns the ball over on downs, effectively ending the game. Had Duke made it a 2 possession game, they only needed one onside kick to have a shot at OT (they had 3 timeouts left).

– The Duke campus is wholly unsuited (logistically) to host any kind of event. Traffic police sent us around in a long circle without passing one single parking lot or deck open to the public. Good thing we were an hour early.

– Calling Wallace Wade a podunk town high school stadium is an insult to podunk high schools everywhere.

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

58 Responses to NC State 27, Duke 17

  1. redfred2 11/09/2008 at 11:53 AM #

    You can play out how the QB debacle affects the kid’s from either angle, Wilson’s or Glennon’s. I will say that it’s great news to hear that remark about Glennon’s abilities, but I also have to take into consideration that a lot of Wilson’s success right now is due in large part to his ability to move around and provide a constant threat to either throw the ball, with accuracy while on the run, or just plain run for positive yardage when no one is open. That, more than anything, has helped to offset the problems we witnessed earlier in the season on the OL. For those reasons, I do not see Russell Wilson stepping down anytime soon, nor do I see Glennon coming in and taking over the position early on either.

  2. ncsslim 11/09/2008 at 12:04 PM #

    It’s great to have a team that can be competitive with the last three (quality) teams on our schedule, even in the crazy ACC universe that has Carolina and Wake as 2 of those 3. Looking forward to Sat, which has been a long time coming.

    As unkind as the early season was as far as injuries, the recent schedule has been of great advantage. Especially given the experience that some younger players have gotten in the interim. Program looks to be in solid (exciting?) shape for the future, with the db’s being my only question.

    Shock the world (whoever’s remotely paying attention) and win out.

  3. BJD95 11/09/2008 at 12:20 PM #

    I came very close to using a tree while my kids were in the womens’ room near Section 9. It would have much more civilized than the piss trailer I eventually found. Duke seems like a place that could arrest you for that, though.

    Wilson may only play one more season before being drafted into MLB. I know he loves playing football, but his professional future isn’t there. I could see gioving Glennon a series per half next year to get his feet wet, knowing he is likely to take the reins in 2010. Still, he’s likely to be first or second team all-ACC in his freshman season (he would get my first team vote). That’s pretty damned impressive.

    Our focus now should be ruining UNC’s title hopes. It’s very important to keep them out of the ACC title game, and I don’t want to rely on VT winning out.

    I continue to be convinced that this coachong staff is getting the absolute maximum out of what they have to work with. They are doing a spectacular job.

  4. redfred2 11/09/2008 at 12:21 PM #

    I’ve been there many times, but I can’t remember the bathrooms for the life of me, probably too many beers so it didn’t matter to me anyway. But going off of the descriptions provided here on this thread, and knowing that I don’t claim to be a plumber or a rocket scientist even, but just in general, are subterranean, cave type areas, normally considered good areas for run off and drainage?

  5. redfred2 11/09/2008 at 12:47 PM #

    REALLY H-A-T-E to say this, but unc is looking pretty good. If TOB and Our Gang, could beat Butchy boy and his crew, that would be sweet enough to hold me until next season. Either way, I agree with many of the comments on this thread, even with all of the setbacks and having to insert this player one week, and this player the next, they are already getting just about the max of their personnel at present. And that my friends, is a very positive sign for the future.

  6. Noah 11/09/2008 at 1:00 PM #

    Remember — this is the stadium that a few years ago made the opposing teams get dressed and undressed…in a tent.

    Last time we played there was when Rivers was here. They were building the Yoh center and State had to use port-a-potties and a big catering tent as a locker room.

  7. highstick 11/09/2008 at 1:02 PM #

    I guess the bathrooms in Riddick were pretty bad back in the 60’s too come to think about it. I know I’ve shared this story, but I lived in Riddick for a couple of months my freshman year during football season. Broughton played there Friday nights and State on Saturday. We’d knock out a few windows in the womens rest rooms so we could watch the Broughton cheerleaders change clothes!!

  8. redfred2 11/09/2008 at 1:22 PM #

    highstick, um, all three of my daughters are cheerleaders right now, so I don’t know if I really wanted to read that.

  9. Greywolf 11/09/2008 at 2:04 PM #

    Off subject but no highjacking…

    Some guy says to a TarHole fan, “There’s nothing but sluts and football players at Carolina.”
    “I’ll have you know my daughter goes to Carolina!”
    “The hell you say!. What position does she play?”

  10. Rochester 11/09/2008 at 2:26 PM #

    ^Missionary.

  11. redfred2 11/09/2008 at 2:44 PM #

    Uh Rochester, that’s generally considered a traditional, man and woman, kind of thing. I don’t know if they even consider “missionary” a position anymore, not over in Chapel Hill anyway.

  12. McLovin 11/09/2008 at 2:44 PM #

    Very funny Greywolf

    Well I just looked at scout.com to see what kind of football recruits TOB is looking at. Saw that a 4-star WR from NC chose the Tarholes over State. Disappointing so I looked at all the top players from NC to see where they wanna go next year. What did I find?

    11 of the top 16 players from NC wanna go play for BMFD….

  13. redfred2 11/09/2008 at 2:55 PM #

    Please strike that last comment of mine, that was BAD.

  14. redfred2 11/09/2008 at 3:53 PM #

    McLovin, too bad that it has to be that way, but this is the heart of powder blue heaven BABY!!! Everything that they read, everything they hear, is telling them that unc is above and beyond any and all reproach, and that it’s a perfect euthopia regardless of what they want out of life. They can’t escape it, not if they live here, so you can’t really blame the young kids in this state for believing that crapola. There’s the media of course, along with any number of adults who’ve never even visited Chapel Hill for any reason, steering them in that direction also.

    We also have had one coach in particular, along with past and present NCSU administrations in general, to thank for their political correctness run amuck, and not having any interest in promoting the rivalries that once made NC State stay focused on the target in this state. We have to face it, right now, and because of it’s past and current leadership in several areas, NC State is a BORING, non-factor. The media doesn’t help, never has, but it’s this, and past administration’s fault for not seeing that IT IS THE PAST that has paved the way for them (the administration) to accomplish what they’ve been able to accomplish at this time. Population increases are a given, more students will always be ready to enroll, but if the culture isn’t changed, the NC State of today, will no longer afford that same good fortune for it’s future administrators to toy around with. It’s all relative, unc will forever increase their own piggy bank, and so will NC State, but the percentages are going to change even more in the favor of our FORMER rivals.

    As an example, here’s one definition of the word “rival”:

    equal or better competitor: somebody or something that can equal or surpass another in a specific respect

    I’d say that is pretty much past tense in case of NC State athletics, wouldn’t you?

    Sorry, I just had to mix in one ole good, LONG, rant in there somewhere this weekend.

  15. WV Wolf 11/09/2008 at 4:57 PM #

    The ACC and/or NCAA really should have some minimum standards for the visitor locker rooms and force Dook to make some upgrades. I remember Rivers and his small bladder having to go in the woods because the locker room was too far away.

    I think Dook’s secondary might be just as bad as ours. Wilson got away with some passes that he probably wouldn’t against better competition. They cover better than our guys but didn’t make many plays on the ball despite being near the receiver. Give our receivers some credit too for being the guy to make the play.

    And you gotta love before the game Dook students walking in the opposite direction of the stadium talking trash. You stay classy, Durham.

  16. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 11/09/2008 at 5:04 PM #

    I think it would make sense for Duke, Central and the city of Durham to build a stadium downtown. This would allow for these three groups to work together which has recently been a goal and an area for improvement. Though there are always negatives I think this could be a win, win, win.

    I’m not crazy about the idea but they could build the stadium so it could be used for soccer too so it could be a draw especially with the growing Hispanic population in the area. Not to mention a decent large venue for concerts that could serve beer.

  17. highstick 11/09/2008 at 5:39 PM #

    Fred, in the early 60’s, the cheerleaders wore a lot of clothes, i.e. long skirts, heavy sweaters, etc. Now they wear virtually nothing anyway, so watching a cheerleader undress had much more interest back then! LOL!

    Three daughters? Wow! Not sure I could have handled that. One of each gave me all the challenges of parenthood that I needed. But, I will say, the daughter was much easier.

    Was at a neighbor’s house this afternoon and he’s a ’61 Chem Eng. grad. He’d picked up a couple of books that had I think had been recently released(I’m guessing on that though). It had some really interesting pictures of the buildings at State back in the early days.

  18. cowdog 11/09/2008 at 7:42 PM #

    Coming in way late boys and girls, but interestingly enough, since we moved (myself, back here )from Socal the family has enjoyed passes to WW games for 5 years. We use them when the Pack is away.

    To a member, the family enjoys Wade more than the Rose Bowl, Colosium and if pushed C-F. ( All agree that when the noise level rises C-F can’t be topped. )

    We always sit on the Duke 20 front row. The game sounds are fantastic. Makes me want to pad up again every time we go.

    Now, granted I am probably as much a relic as that stadium, though not near as old, but my kids 20 and 16 understand the purity of watching a game there, too. ( Wife very much included, but don’t dare bringing such terms as relic into the equation. )

    Here’s to Wallace Wade standing as is ’til it crumbles.

  19. Greywolf 11/09/2008 at 8:01 PM #

    “Here’s to Wallace Wade standing as is ’til it crumbles.”

    I think I can wait THAT long. LOL

    redfred, Did you know that the Cheerleaders were on scholarship back then? My golf buddy, who played fullback when Roman was there, told me. I thought we brought them in from the NCSU Cherry Farm up Hillsborough Street a ways, they were so pretty. Hmmm maybe it was ‘down’ Hillsborough Street. Anyways I am pretty sure it wasn’t ‘out’ Hillsborough street.

  20. redfred2 11/09/2008 at 9:05 PM #

    Highstick, nothing to it. Although, I will admit that it’s pretty tough to get a word in in my own home these days, as well as difficult to find the time to fish or hunt, or to find an unoccupied TV in order to keep up with any sports around here, or pay attention even when you do because the phone is always ringing off the hook, or get a hot shower that last for over a minute, or find a clean towel afterwards, or any toilet paper, or have a bowl of my favorite ice cream before it’s all gone. Looking back though, what were once perceived as trade offs, weren’t trade offs at all.

    Scholarships eh greywolf, even that far back? That is a real surprise to me. If anyone is involved with cheerleading nowdays, they know it’s become a big business, even to the point of exploitation. Anyway, I’d think that the legitimate cheerleading scholarships available have to be about as hard to come by as the scholarships in most other college sports. There’s always hope though. I just told all three of my daughters to start getting get ready for bed, but on second thought, maybe I ought to make them go back downstairs and go through their cheerleading drills for an hour or two.

  21. packof81 11/09/2008 at 9:42 PM #

    highstick,

    I remember the concrete urinals you mentioned. I howled when I saw your post.

  22. Alpha Wolf 11/10/2008 at 6:15 PM #

    Fred, a friend of mine at work told me “the good news” that he’s getting married. And that he and his wife were going to be different and that she was going to make sure she respected his space and make sure that he had time with “his boys” to do “man stuff” like hunt and fish.

    He wondered why I laughed out loud.

    “Things change” was all I would say to him. Well, that and “remember I told you…things change.”

    I love my wife and I sure am glad I met her, so don’t think I am saying that it’s all bad. It’s not. In fact, all in all I would say it is pretty damned good. But if I ever thought that I would have a TV, a room, or even many days to myself, I was kidding myself. And that dude is too, he just doesn’t know it.

    He’ll know when his man-room gets “cleaned up” and stuff he values is gone. Or when “the big TV” is glued to some melodrama when the big game is going on. Or when he has to go to some friend of his wife’s wedding or shower on State-Carolina day.

    Yup, things change.

    I guess my wife would tell you that things changed for her too, and that she’s given up plenty, and I guess that she has. But things are different after a few years of marriage and if anyone believes there in an “I” in “team” their probably need to consider their home life if they have been married five years or longer.

  23. redfred2 11/10/2008 at 9:12 PM #

    Alpha, I don’t know, I must have been channeling Erma Bombeck up there or something??? What the hell.

    Anyway, I’ve tried to type a reply several times, but I’ve ended up sounding like a blubbering, overly sentimental, Dr Phil every time.

    Where’s the Midol?

  24. highstick 11/10/2008 at 10:04 PM #

    Greywolf, if I remember correctly most of the cheerleaders in 63 were in the Pershing Rifles or some other form of ROTC. Remember Cathy Cannady?

    Who was your fullback bud? Saw and talked to Roman a few years ago and even surprised myself that I could still name the entire Mafia backfield from the 63-64 team without even thinking. Tony Kozarsky, Pete Falzarano, Joe Scarpetti, and I’ll let you name the QB!

  25. Greywolf 11/10/2008 at 11:14 PM #

    highstick,Roger Moore was the fullback. Also punted and played some Linebacker. Remember Hoot Gibson? Went on to play for the chargers.

    The QB? I can’t remember what I had for lunch. LOL Was he polish with a last name starting with a W? Ron W*********ski? Recreation and Park Administration was my major at that time and consequently I got to know quite a few ‘student athletes.’

    I do energy efficiency contracting (16 years and over 2500 houses) and got a call from a woman to give her a price on doing her home. She saw my Redneck Blazer (yes,it’s red) with the NCSU & Strutting Woif magnets and told me she had meen a cheerleader. I laughed and said I didn’t recall any girls as attractive as she was and asked how she would up at “State College”. That’s when she told about being on scholarship. Not bad looking for 65 years old, either.

1 2 3

Leave a Reply