I saw this article on Rivals.com and then noticed that Backing the Pack had covered it a little. So, we’ll throw you that way with BackingthePack’s set up, “This feature from Rivals covers a lot of territory with which we’re all very familiar. It even includes a handy breakdown of State’s win-loss records since 1991. Instinctively I reached for my television remote and eyed the nearest window. Old habits and all that. (As of this writing I’ve yet to go through with the defenestration.)”
“It’s a program that has the potential to be as good as anybody in the country,” he says. “That’s the way I’ve always viewed it. Since I’ve been here, I think those things have been confirmed. I think we can be as good as anybody. There’s no inherent reason why North Carolina State can’t at some point in time be as good as anybody in the country.”
Gottfried’s words should boost the confidence of a fan base that took plenty of hits during this coaching search. Although North Carolina State won national titles in 1974 under Norm Sloan and 1983 under Jim Valvano, the Wolfpack’s recent struggles have led to debate over how good a job this is. Skeptics argue that the tremendous success of neighboring rivals Duke and North Carolina gives NC State fans unrealistic expectations.
“People might say sometimes that it’s a hard job,” Gottfried says. “Show me an easy job. I don’t care where it is. I don’t know if there is an easy job. Everything’s relative. For us, where we’re located is an advantage. It’s a plus. It’s something we’ll never view as a negative.”
