Maybe it’s unfair, but I have routinely compared Sidney Lowe’s performance with Tom O’Brien’s performance, at least within my circle of Wolfpack faithful. The debate can often become colorful and I usually, and admittedly, find myself on the outside looking in on the popular response. Now that we’re more than a few years in to both coaches tenure, it’s time to ask the question. Who has the highest threshold for success between the two?
A little (painful) history:
Since 2007, Tom O’Brien has posted an overall record of 16 and 21 (.432) with records of 5 – 7, 6 – 7, and 5 – 7.
Since 2007, Sidney Lowe has posted an overall record of 71 and 62 (.533) with records of 20 – 16, 15 -16, 16 – 14, and 20 – 16.
Both coaches currently maintain abysmal ACC records at 9 – 15 (.375) and 20 – 44 (.313) respectively.
As Wolfpack fans, we all know how to “wait till next year” and now that “next year” is upon us, who has the highest threshold for success between the two coaches? I think most even-headed Wolfpack fans will freely admit that this question is a no contest, at least for this year. Sidney Lowe certainly has the highest demand for success as he has reached his 5th season that many are calling “do or die.” With the incoming recruits, a sub .500 ACC record will be simply inexcusable for most.
This year for Football looks dreadfully similar to each of the 3 prior seasons. Ho hum. Not much going on. We get a few playmakers back (RW and NI), but the defense looks anemic as does the runningback position.
Negating everything else, if you had to throw your confidence behind one OR the other, who would you take? Tom O’Brien certainly has a history of winning at programs that don’t see much of that, but recruiting seems to be lagging and the TOB coached NC State teams look drastically different from the TOB coached Boston College teams. Defense has been a problem from Day 1 and not much has changed in that area.
Sidney has no history of winning as a head coach and hasn’t established a blazing record here either. Last year saw marked improvements, especially down the stretch, and it’s hard to complain with the inroads that have been made with recruiting. The incoming 2010-2011 class may be the best recruiting class in NC State’s history. We certainly don’t want to count chickens before they hatch…
Personally, I take Lowe. I see improvement, albeit slow, and an ability to land key recruits. I’ve seen stagnation with O’Brien. But if Tom does know how to do one thing, it’s own the hell out of Carolina.
And admittedly, this is an unpopular response with my fellow Wolfpackers. I wanted to raise the question outside of my intimate circle and see if I truly am crazy.
Who would you take and why?
