Tuesday Update – TOB and BJD Now Singing From Same Hymnal

Not that Tom O’Brien has any idea who I am, or that many of you care. But what I read in the newspaper this morning was extremely reassuring:

“If we were a great team, we’d be in the final,” O’Brien said during an interview Monday in his office. “But we’re a pretty good team. And to be pretty good after the three years we’ve went through is really a giant step forward for the program.”

Perhaps Tom and I each just needed some time to cool down. I was angry about losing the Atlantic Division and the chance to play for a title (even as a significant underdog). TOB was (understandably) a little defensive after losing the same, which is apparently just the way he processes disappointment. So, in the immediate aftermath – he was throwing around the word “great” and I threw out “football Sendek.” I was too raw to remember my favorite Costanza mantra. My bad.

In summary – I still agonize over the lost opportunity. Everyone does, or should. It was still a pretty good season, and hopefully will be remembered more as a stepping stone than the apex of the Tom O’Brien era. The head man himself seems to think so, and that’s very encouraging. After all, NC State football and Tom O’Brien are still each other’s last, best chance to get over that elusive damned hump.

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.

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90 Responses to Tuesday Update – TOB and BJD Now Singing From Same Hymnal

  1. 61Packer 11/30/2010 at 10:14 PM #

    Saban loses about as often as State has a 10-win football season. Plus, Alabama was playing Auburn, not Maryland. Big, no-HUGE difference there.

    Anybody have any idea which ACC team will have to play ECU in the Military Bowl?

  2. blpack 11/30/2010 at 10:34 PM #

    Feeling a little better as the week goes on. Haven’t unpacked yet in case UMd sneaked Greg Little into the game or something. I think we can be good again next year and 8 wins are a fair expectation.

  3. Greywolf 12/01/2010 at 12:25 AM #

    “I’m disappointed too – and how we can go up 14 points early, and then let a team rattle off 30+”

    Ask Nick Saban. He was up on Auburn 21 or 24 points and let them rattle off 28. All Alabama lost was a shot at the NC. Asking how things like this can happen reveals more than it questions.

  4. wolfwarrior 12/01/2010 at 1:38 AM #

    ^ Last time I looked Maryland is no where near an Auburn football team.

  5. gcpack 12/01/2010 at 3:13 AM #

    Well good for you BJD in exercising those demons.

    After the first tirade I thought this guy is NEVER satisfied about anything with our athletic department.

    I prefer to think that with the majority of the team coming back with another year of experience we should improve. And I don’t think it matters which quarterback we have next year. One can get out of trouble by running away from it and the other can see the trouble coming sooner to get the pass off.

    All I hear from the radio guys is how impressed they are with BC continuing to have winning seasons and going to bowls. They are still
    playing with some of TOB’s players as of this year.

    TOB deserves more latitude to see what he can REALLY do without injury filled seasons like he had the last two years. He HAS been around the block a few times and he knows whats expected of him. If we keep at 8-4 and 7-5 for next three years then maybe it will be time for TOB to hit the pasture. Until then lets give him the chance to proove his worth.

    No one fan base is always satisfied with everything their coach does.
    We just have to keep the big picture in mind whenever a particular play
    doesn’t work(the fourth down at Clemson)or a particular game doesn’t go our way(Maryland).

    Why couldn’t we be in the same position next year this time when the opportunity comes to win the conference? Basically the same team, maybe better.

  6. packplantpath 12/01/2010 at 8:38 AM #

    “Last time I looked Maryland is no where near an Auburn football team.”

    And we are no Alabama. I’d say NC State-Maryland is the lesser equivalent to Alabama-Auburn in matchups.

  7. albunde6 12/01/2010 at 9:56 AM #

    I’m not satisfied with this season, agree that it was improvement. We were competitive in every game this season and had a chance to win every game. Not sure this staff has much more to offer than competitive teams that win 7 to 9 games. I can accept this if our wins are over UNX, Wake, Duke, Clemson, and ECU. Sorry that I am willing to accept this type of mediocrity.

    The reason that I feel that this staff is at a peak is recruiting and offensive predictability. We have to win recruiting in NC. We are not the go to school for 4 and 5 star atheletes. Yes, you can be competitive in this conference, but will not win championships. Hope this staff can make me eat these words.

    Will give you situations were this offense did not adjust or made hugh mistakes. VT, vertical game has them on their hills. We are on VT side of 50, first down pass, run, no, now is time for reverse. Loose yards drive stalls, punt. ECU runs to short side of field. 4th quarter, driving 3rd and 2, had been moving ball runing verticle at ECU with hurry up style. Change players, illegal substitution. MD second quarter, down 24/14. Ball at 12, 2nd and 10, run to short side no gain. Whole first half, Clemson.

  8. VaWolf82 12/01/2010 at 10:07 AM #

    Why couldn’t we be in the same position next year this time when the opportunity comes to win the conference?

    Because State is likely to lose Russell Wilson, Nate Irving (definitely gone), and Jon Tenuta.

  9. bradleyb123 12/01/2010 at 5:00 PM #

    Is there any talk that Glennon may be transferring next year?
    -Posted by jrsr

    Apparently, the talk is that if Russell returns, Glennon is gone.

    http://ncstate.raycomsports.com/blog/2010/11/29/inside-source-if-wilson-returns-glennons-gone-george-cox-of-nc-state-football

  10. bradleyb123 12/01/2010 at 5:07 PM #

    VaWolf, why do you think we’re likely to lose Tenuta? Why not just possibly? Or better yet, why at all?

    “Likely” sounds like he has his bags packed, and had one foot out the door.

  11. VaWolf82 12/01/2010 at 6:06 PM #

    I doubt that Tenuta even unpacked his bags.

    I think that it is likely that someone will offer Tenuta more money to be a DC than State would offer…even if State was willing to make him the DC.

  12. PoppaJohn 12/01/2010 at 6:21 PM #

    I really appreciate you writing this, I agree completely. I’m happy with our progress and excited for the future. I’m no expert, but i didn’t think we’d be as good as we were this year.

    Now let’s win a bowl game!!

  13. bradleyb123 12/01/2010 at 6:31 PM #

    I hope you’re wrong, Wolf. We don’t need to lose Tenuta. I believe he is the reason for our improvement on defense. We need to pay him whatever his market worth is and keep him around as long as we can.

  14. JaxPackMan 12/02/2010 at 1:58 AM #

    It has been a while since State had an 8 win season. Eight wins – including another victory over the Tar Heels of Orange County Day School. Although the Pack came close to being in the championship game, I’m not sure this team is really BCS legit. I’m proud of what the coaches and players accomplished, especially overcoming all the “negatives” that have been hovering around the program like a cloud from a big stink bomb.

    Let’s hope they get to a decent bowl and win that game. In turn, recruiting should be nothing but positive. Even the losses were close games. Perhaps they will be able to sign players that are needed to fill gaps in some needy areas.

    I know it is disappointing to lose yet again to Maryland at the end of the season, but all-in-all we’ve had a great season. Congratulations to the players and coaches for all their hard work. I hope they have had some fun along the way too.The best thing that can happen now is to win the bowl game, sign up some more good players, keep everybody healthy, safe, out of jail.

    Go Pack!

    Phillip in Jacksonville, FL

  15. russwuf 12/02/2010 at 2:48 AM #

    wolfdog…you are crazy if you think BD is a “top tier” coach…the man cannot coach his own way out of a wet paper bag. He may recruit well or have staff that recruits well, but on game day he stinks. He constantly makes terrible game day decisions regardless of the “talent” he has at his disposal. Yates as a QB was a fraud….sure he threw a couple of games over 400yds but he is still the same scared rabbit fumbling and bumbling in the backfield..he will never make it in the pros against a pro pressure D no way. UNC has NEVER had a QB that has done anything…look at all world Curry…he was a Tyrod Taylor scrambler who single handedly kept UNC in many games …but in the end he was a bust.
    so fire TOB…who you gonna pull outta your hat to qualify as your “top tier” coach hmmmmm? TOB did just fine with finally a healthy set of players….sure some things make ya scratch your head but honestly who you gonna get that is so-called top tier?
    also glad to hear you are giving up your wolfpack club membership tickets etc etc. because folk such as yaself dont belong anyway…good bye.

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