In case you missed it, Tom O’Brien is on the hot seat

'10 Football College Football Tom O'Brien71

In more football news, apparently Tom O’Brien is on the hot seat. Thanks to 99.9 FM’s Joe Ovies for bringing this to my attention this morning via Twitter.

O’Brien’s ‘rebuilding’ window is closing fast

Three seasons ago, Tom O’Brien surprised more than a few people by jumping abruptly from Boston College to N.C. State. At best, it looked like a lateral move: O’Brien went from an up-and-coming squad riding a six-year bowl winning streak to a division rival coming off three straight finishes of ninth place or worse in the ACC.

But if the switch was a lateral move for O’Brien, it’s starting to look like it might have been for the Wolfpack as well. NCSU’s final three seasons under Chuck Amato featured one winning season and one bowl win; their first three under O’Brien have tallied zero of either. Particularly in a fluctuating division devoid of any true powerhouse teams, that’s not going to cut it, and the pressure is on O’Brien in year four to demonstrate some kind of progress.

Whether you think O’Brien is on the hot seat or not, it goes without saying that 2010 will be  hugely important for the overall direction of the program. A successful season (say 8-4 with a bowl trip) and it will be tough to argue against TOB’s approach. Another 5-7 campaign or worse and the seat will get warmer throughout the year.

Let us know what you guys think. Should TOB be on the hot seat?

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'10 Football College Football Tom O'Brien

71 Responses to In case you missed it, Tom O’Brien is on the hot seat

  1. 61Packer 03/26/2010 at 4:20 PM #

    Let me get this straight- Tom O’Brien, who has beaten UNC all 3 times he’s faced them, is on the hot seat, while Sidney Lowe, who’s on an 8-game losing streak against UNC, isn’t?

    Welcome to the insane asylum we call NC State sports.

  2. packfan03 03/26/2010 at 4:26 PM #

    I think we are going to be really good this season. Everything seems to be coming together at the right time. Health, experience, Jon Freakin’ Tenuta, Nate “Teachey” Irving, Mr. Wilson – the cards are starting to fall in the correct order, my friends.

    Throw in a couple of blue chippers who have been riding the pine while red shirting, and I think we’ll be just fine this season.

    Please still be the starting QB at UNC, TJ Yates. We like circling one guaranteed win on the schedule, every season. We can’t make that commitment until we know you’ll be suiting up.

  3. bradleyb123 03/26/2010 at 4:27 PM #

    I don’t think TOB is on the hotseat yet, but I think it’s getting warm. Another bad year, and I think he will THEN be on the hotseat. Well, as much as a coach at NC State can be on a hotseat. We don’t ever fire ANYBODY.

    In year five, we should be able to expect more than I think we’ll get on the field. I believe our defense will be bad again, and that doesn’t bode well for TOB. I don’t think he’ll be fired, though, unless we finish 3-9 or something ridiculous like that. Five or six wins will get him on the hotseat for 2011. That’s what I think.

  4. Alpha Wolf 03/26/2010 at 4:31 PM #

    So, some writer decides that Tom O’Brien is on the hot seat, and just because he did, supposedly it’s true?

    Please, Doug Gillett, show us some real quotes from people in the decision-making loop proving your point. You won’t, because you can’t.

  5. bradleyb123 03/26/2010 at 4:36 PM #

    Relax people. Tom will turn it around. He is gradually doing what he did at Boston by beefing up the lines. He didn’t put a program like BC on top without knowing what he’s doing. What we need to concentrate on is Lee Fowler. Nuttin’ personal Lee, but you’ve gotta go….along w/ Sidney Lowe.

    So, TOB is doing it right, beefing up the lines. So you’re patient with him. Sidney is doing it right, too, getting a couple of 5-star recruits at the guard position, but you want him fired. I sense some inconsistency there.

  6. JKL 03/26/2010 at 4:48 PM #

    I have a hard time understanding how NC State has SO many injuries every year. I think we’re starting the spring with 8+?!?!

    I understand that injuries occur on EVERY team, but it’s been ridiculous. Is it conditioning? is it the types of players we recruit? or is that i just pay more attention to NCSU injuries than other teams?

    Someone please answer this for me!

  7. Gene 03/26/2010 at 5:26 PM #

    “i also believe NCSU has a higher ceiling than BC.”

    I remember reading this, but historically BC’s football program has out preformed ours. Their historical winning percentage is around 60%, while ours is around 50%.

    I don’t think TOB should be on the “hot seat” this year, because one really has to wonder how much of a difference Nate Irving would’ve made on this team. The season before, when Irving came back from injury the defense played much better and we won enough games to make a bowl game. If Russell Wilson didn’t get injured, in the bowl game, we might’ve won considering we were leading at the time.

    I like the offense and hope the defense can come around with better personnel, though I’m doubtful Mike Archer is going to be an effective DC.

  8. VaWolf82 03/26/2010 at 5:28 PM #

    Sidney is doing it right, too

    There are plenty of reasons to doubt this assessment.

  9. john of sparta 03/26/2010 at 6:06 PM #

    +1 packof81.
    if not TOB, who?
    we’re not a “destination” program.
    stepping stone, ok. retirement, that too.

  10. GoldenChain 03/26/2010 at 6:56 PM #

    Yep, about time to start reaping the rewards of discipline the running off of the ‘bad apples’. And if the seat gets too hot, I’m not worried about who. Like I tell my adult sons, don’t get excited about a car or a house, there will always be another one out there.
    Same with coaches, when you don’t think there is one then a Skip Holtz will pop up or something. Heck Lou Holtz came from W&M. Plenty of decent (and better) coaches around. Not saying that I’m ready to throw TOB out, just saying that if he can’t get the job done there will be someone else.

  11. whope90 03/26/2010 at 7:04 PM #

    It is hard to say if TOB is on the hot seat? Year four, i think there has to be definate improvement. His first year, he won with a patchwork team(5-7). His second year, we finished strong to the bowl game but with Wilson hurt,probably beat Rutgers and then the defense collapsed last year while the offense soared. I think the team will be solid and go 8-4 but if
    this team limps to 2-10 for 3-9,whoa 2-10 no matter who is coach should get you fired. Heck even Florida state ran Bobby Bowden out and he won a bowl game loll!!

  12. FunPack 03/26/2010 at 7:04 PM #

    I don’t think he should be on the hot seat, but I can certainly see why it might be getting a little warm. I still have high hope for TOB, haven’t given up on him yet, but I’m starting to lose a little faith that this will end well. I think Archer may be what (who) finally brings him down — it’s hard to imagine the defense being good enough next year to keep the seat cool.

  13. Wolfy__79 03/26/2010 at 7:16 PM #

    the recruiting may not please all of our fanbase, but it’s not a bad job. he’s redshirting kids and developing them. it won’t be long before that alone pays off. the tenuta hire was HUGE. noone really cares for the results since he’s been here, me included. the defense is young and talented. especially at linebacker. we may not get bluechippers on the dline right now, but our linebacking core is awesome. our secondary has to improve this year, they were downright pitiful. so to avoid adding to this fire anymore, TOB is not on the hot seat.

  14. CStanley 03/26/2010 at 7:34 PM #

    He’s a solid coach, his track record speaks for itself. But he’s got to produce this year. And he’s already off to a bad start with the suspensions.

  15. TheCOWDOG 03/26/2010 at 8:16 PM #

    Hell yes he’s on the hot seat. Mine anyway.

    Too many game mgmnt blunders to make me feel he should be shielded from reality. Bouncing players from the squad means nothing to me in lieu of losing track of down and clock in real time.

    Not saying that he’s incompetent, but something about the sidelines hasn’t been right. It’s been a theme and needs severe correction. For real.

    And then there’s the kicking game. Something that Obie has struggled with quite regularly.

  16. 66pack 03/26/2010 at 8:23 PM #

    agree with john of sparta /tob said when he was hired that he planned to retire here but he did not say when he would retire,he may have already retired..as to stepping stone to a better program ,in the history of ncsu football their has only been 2 coaches desired by another school – Bo and Lou.

  17. Wolfy__79 03/26/2010 at 9:09 PM #

    i don’t see NC STATE as a stepping stone anymore. the ACC gets more credibility with miami, vt, gt, fsu, clemson even bc being our conference media favorites. adding the carolina marketing hype, they join that list too. we fall into that picture, only under the radar. of the aforementioned teams, we’ve are atop the list with facilities & fan support. with TOB’s recruiting, adding depth around the board and leading the team with two top notch qb’s. i find it hard to believe that things aren’t on the right track. even if TOB were to leave tommorrow, the successor would be handed a capable team of winning the conference in the next couple of seasons.

    obrien’s ‘rebuilding’ window is closing fast..””

    i would define the rebuilding process as adding talent and depth to all roster positions. should we go through the roster line by line to highlight a very basic definition of rebuilding. he’s not claiming to be a “butch the builder,” he’s rebuilding the team consistent with his career record. the last thing this program needs is a flash in the pan like the poofers down the road. hell, he’s owned the tarheels since he’s been here. and none of the games were flukes either.

    the 2010 season is full of oppurtunity and i’m not trying to make light of the losing seasons or redefine progress to suit anyone’s point of view. but the program is heading in the right direction. we’ve got #1 kickass fans, #2 a solid coach, # kickass facilities, and a great roster.

  18. Wulfpack 03/26/2010 at 9:19 PM #

    Regarding Nate Irving. I love the guy and hope he comes back a terror. His presence alone will influence the team. But you cannot tell me our defense was THAT bad (one of the worst) because of one guy’s absence. It was a big loss, sure, but we’ve got a ton of other issues.

    Just like Sid, it’s time. No reason why it should take this long. He’s a very experienced/proven coach but so far I would have to say I am not impressed.

  19. section2chuck 03/26/2010 at 9:40 PM #

    It’s been nice to win 3 straight over the Holes, but come on folks, I want to win more. I would like to see 9-3 or 10-2 and a loss to Carolina any day of the week, forget Carolina win the Division.

  20. Pack Mentality 03/26/2010 at 10:06 PM #

    Year 4 is time to quit talking about program building and start to prove that you can do it. Maybe if you’ve had good seasons previously you get some kind of a pass, but if you have had 3 straight losing seasons it is time to show us what you got right now.

  21. turfpack 03/26/2010 at 10:51 PM #

    In two years this conversation want come up again.
    As my old coach said C and L = Character and lineman
    Some good football players with character and damn good lineman will win you some championships- it worked for him 266-62-2
    The character part is becoming harder to find these days.

  22. Wolfy__79 03/27/2010 at 12:03 AM #

    i like the c and l! i think if anything, TOB keeps the trouble makers off of the roster. good example this past week with our new punter hitting the road. unfortunately we have to deal with ruiz again. but maybe the supporting cast on special teams will be improved. i still think there are guys out there with good character.. and i think redshirting freshman not only adds experience and size but also developes the character a bit too. we’re missing out on some of the stellar dlinemen chuck was getting, but we’re still not too bad in that category.

  23. Wufpacker 03/27/2010 at 1:31 AM #

    If the only difference b/w being on the hotseat and not being on the hotseat is beating Carolina, and we as a fanbase are willing to give a coach a pass on everything else, as long as we beat Carolina….well, suffice to say that we never will do much more than beat Carolina. And even that won’t last long.

    Don’t get me wrong, I want to beat those arrogant baby blue pricks with all of my being. But not as a trade off for overall program success. Beating them should be a PART of an overall successful program, not a consolation prize for not having a successful program.

    And, while I wholeheartedly agree with the “C” and “L” concept and believe it will pay dividends, this coming season really is pretty big with regard to judging the overall direction of the program. The expectations that many (most?) folks had this past season were WAY too high. That coupled with a season that saw the team get worse as the season progressed instead of better, I think left a bad taste in a lot of folks’ mouths.

    Seasons 1 and 2 under O’Brien went pretty much as expected I think. The regression last season was a bit eye-opening, even alarming. Even those of us who didn’t agree with some of the lofty pre-season prognostications still expected better than 5-7 with only three of those wins coming against FBS opponents. I think right now folks are willing to give TOB a bit of a pass for last year’s train wreck, mostly because of the 3-0 mark against Carolina I suspect. But clear improvement will be necessary this coming season or else beating Carolina will quickly cease to be a “saving grace” of sorts, as it should.

    So I guess in conclusion, while I don’t believe TOB is on the hotseat right now, I think he is standing next to it and is poised to sit (fall) down. He certainly will be seated squarely on it if this coming season does not produce improved results, even with a victory over Carolina. If this coming season does not produce improved results AND he loses to Carolina, he might skip right past the hotseat and end up in the unemployment line.

    If he expects to be successful, something is going to have to change with regard to the sidelines (clock, TO’s, down & distance, etc.) and with the defense. The Tenuta hire is huge, but if he (TOB) just uses him as a position coach and allows Archer to continue as DC he is going to minimize the impact of a pretty great hire. Not to mention the fact that it won’t take long for another program to hire him away to be THEIR DC. How TOB handles the Archer/Tenuta situation could be the difference between turning the corner and building a nice successful program OR taking early retirement after closing out a pretty decent career with 4 or 5 straight losing seasons.

  24. Broccoman 03/27/2010 at 5:52 AM #

    TOB’s seat is warm, not hot to me. If no 7-5 this year, then it becomes hot. He’s had some horrid luck, and it’s not all his fault, but you judge on results in the end.

    I don’t pin this one on Fowler- it is a good hire, just one that might not have worked out.

  25. JT 03/27/2010 at 9:00 AM #

    His seat is warming rapidly, the line his “rebuilding window is closing fast” is dead on. Last year was really disappointing. He has a couple more years but his sterling rep is going downhill. I guess he’s gotten his passes b/c of that reputation.

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