Gameday Notes

'11 Football ACC Teams College Football99

October 8, 2011

NC STATE FOOTBALL

Caulton Tudor (N&O)
O’Brien’s audacity of hope

Beat Central Michigan today, then wait for the cavalry – that’s been a big part of Tom O’Brien’s message all week.

The fifth-year N.C. State football coach staked out that path on Monday and talked it up again Tuesday and Wednesday.

But at 2-3 overall and with his defensive unit plagued by what resembles an injury curse, O’Brien has to try to sell hope at this point. There’s no other option.

PackPride.com
CFN’s Take: NC State vs. CMU

What Will Happen: After getting whipped in consecutive weeks by Cincinnati and Georgia Tech, NC State will not squander an opportunity to be the bully for a chance. The Pack will take advantage of the deficiencies on the Central Michigan by establishing the running attack before turning Glennon loose on play-action. Radcliff will pile up the yards through the air, but a return to his turnover-prone ways will stifle the Chippewas’ ability to rally in the second half.

PackPride.com
Week 6: Central Michigan

PackPride.com
NOTEBOOK: Bounce Back For Pack?

Akula Wolf (BackingthePack.com)
CMU In Brief

Kirk Bohls (statesman.com)
Horns’ latest defensive guru Diaz coaches beyond his years
HT: BackingthePack.com

Diaz may well be Texas’ X-factor because he does not mind taking chances, has instilled in his unit a ton of confidence and swagger, and will have his players believing they can contain the nation’s fourth-best offense and 11th most-prolific scoring machine.

With a very small sample, Diaz has shown he might be as dynamic a coordinator as Muschamp, whom he replaced last January. He’s much more likely to gamble than Muschamp, who was as good at adjusting after an opening drive as any coach I’ve seen, and Diaz has never seen a blitz he didn’t love.

The biggest difference between Muschamp and Diaz?

“We’re attacking more than in years past,” linebacker Emmanuel Acho said. “It’s evident in the turnovers (tied for seventh nationally). We’re able to pressure the ball more.”

Mack first heard about Diaz from his brother Watson Brown, whose offensive line coach had worked with Diaz at North Carolina State. Brown said he called Mickey Andrews and picked the brain of the Florida State defensive icon and former Diaz mentor.

“I talked to three unnamed head coaches in the SEC that said they would hire him in a minute,” Mack said.

Andrew Skwara (accsports.com)
ACC Weekend Preview, Oct. 7

Central Michigan (2-3) at N.C. State (2-3)

Time: 3:30 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN3 (Sirius 117/XM 191)

Key For The Chippewas

Their defense has been abysmal, giving up 41 or more points in each of their last three games. Creating turnovers is their only chance at slowing down the Wolfpack offense.

Key For The Wolfpack

Moving the chains. Central Michigan scored 48 points last week, albiet against Northern Illinois. The Wolfpack must move the ball consistently and put up points of their own to avoid being an upset victim.

Numbers Game

ACC teams are 5-0 against Central Michigan … N.C. State has the lowest penalty yards in the ACC (34.8 per game) but has given up an ACC-high 16 sacks … Central Michigan is 0-3 on the road.

Line

N.C. State favored by 10.5

Prediction

Wolfpack 42, Chippewas 16 – The Wolfpack won’t have any problem getting win No. 3 thanks to facing another weak non-conference foe.

Associated Press
Struggling N.C. State Plays Host To Central Michigan

Jim Young (accsports.com)
Bag O’ Tweets, Oct. 7

Tony Haynes (GoPack.com)
Wolfpack Looks to Limit Big Plays against Central Michigan

About 1.21 Jigawatts

Class of '98, Mechanical Engineer, State fan since arriving on campus and it's been a painful ride ever since. I live by the Law of NC State Fandom, "For every Elation there is an equal and opposite Frustration."

'11 Football ACC Teams College Football

99 Responses to Gameday Notes

  1. Wolfgarden 10/08/2011 at 8:02 AM #

    Are you all kidding me. I love NC State Football. They are my team/squad. And even with a banged up defense we should be doing better. It is coaching, coaching, coaching. Poor coaching at best. I have never been a fan of TOB…he is beginning to look like dare I say O’Cain, and perhaps even worse. I do not mean to disabuse, but I will. Please go and see if Mike Leach will take a cut in pay and come to us and really build our program. Frustrated I am!!!

  2. 61Packer 10/08/2011 at 8:29 AM #

    Best way to enjoy this is to head out early for the tailgate, enjoy the weather, food and drink, and then head into the stadium early, enjoy watching Scotty sing the Anthem, then enjoy the first half. Then head home with half the crowd and watch some real Division 1-A football on tv.

  3. Wolfgarden 10/08/2011 at 8:40 AM #

    Hey 61Packer…AMEN

  4. logarithm 10/08/2011 at 9:01 AM #

    I think anybody who criticizes the coaching really isn’t helping their argument by saying they’ve never been a fan of that particular coaching staff. That’s not the person who needs convincing that it’s bad coaching. The people who need convincing are the people who were fans of the hire and fans for years until they noticed mediocrity, stagnation and/or decline.

  5. sundropdrinker13 10/08/2011 at 9:09 AM #

    Well, logarithm, I was one of the many that was happy with the TOB hire. I no longer am. His “injury” excuse over the years, his lack of in-adjustment, his inability to make staff changes, and his inability to take responsibility for losses has made me come to the understanding that we need a coaching change.

  6. logarithm 10/08/2011 at 9:11 AM #

    Now that is an argument for coaching change.

  7. leewolf 10/08/2011 at 9:48 AM #

    The following mind-numbing coaching decisions in the GT game sum up for me what our biggest problem is:

    – Not being prepared for the GT fake punt. Johnson is going to think about going for it if he is anywhere close to midfield and TOB & Co. should have known better and been in a punt safe.
    – Kicking the FG from their 31 into the wind. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Should have gone for it there.
    – Going for it on the other end in the 2nd quarter. We had just converted one fourth down, but it was 4th and almost 10, we were on a short field and didn’t have the wind in our face. I know we were down 21-0, but as evidenced by our comeback in the third we were not out of it yet. Take the points and move on.
    – Using the timeouts before the end of the first half. It made no sense. We only had two. The best possible outcome is that we setup a TJ Graham punt return, and the possible negative outcomes are many, such as giving up a long TD which we did except for a holding penalty.
    – Not going for two when we scored to make it 45-27. We were only down 18 at that point. Go for two and make it, it is a two possession game. I know not much time was left but, you are at least giving youself a chance. Bishop then scores not long later, go for two again, make it, you only down 8! We almost recovered the onside after that. It was a give-up move not to at least try.

    All of those were boneheaded mistakes or out-and-out eff ups by our coaching staff.

    There are other problems to be sure, but these were firmly in TOB & Co’s control and they made poor choices.

  8. BJD95 10/08/2011 at 10:12 AM #

    FWIW, the game will on TWC channel 518 in Raleigh area, at least.

  9. Packfan28 10/08/2011 at 10:13 AM #

    leewolf, you forgot to mention all the bone headed 4th down off-side penalties. That is also a result of poor coaching, although in this case it is on Archer, not the head coach. However, the head coach hired Archer, so I guess he’s to blame as well.

  10. Tuffy2 10/08/2011 at 10:14 AM #

    I agree with everything that has been said above me but it is another Saturday so there will be a few and I hope that number gets smaller and smaller each week that will defend TOB and really think he is on top of things.

    I get the impression or at least he gives me the impression that he is one step slower than the other guy across the field.

  11. JEOH2 10/08/2011 at 10:24 AM #

    http://acc.blogs.starnewsonline.com/25345/wolfpack-has-reached-its-moment-of-truth/?pa=1&tc=pg

    I’m sure this was posted during one of these fantastic daily updates but I want to say that Brett Friedlander is my favorite North Carolina sportswriter. He seems to have a good and fair understanding of our fan base, while also being honest about our poor standing in the scheme of things.

    One may not like TOB, and it may becoming more clear that changes must be made if this season continues as it has…but I’ll never wish our team to lose…and even though we won’t…I hope we win out, not to save TOBs job…but as a State fan that’s how I’m supposed to feel..

  12. PackFamily 10/08/2011 at 10:25 AM #

    Caulton Tudor can’t seem to go go more than 2 paragraphs without mentioning Carolina.

  13. ldr of the pk 75 10/08/2011 at 10:25 AM #

    What? We’re going to “puff up” against a team that should be a cream puff if you aspire to real Div 1 relevence? Other than letting off a little pent up frustration, this game is nothing. When they get back to the real world next game, they’ll cower away like the cream puffs they’ve shown themselves to be.

    Count me as disgusted in year 5. It’s a shame, the talent seems better than what has performed. Coaching? Defensive coaching? Hmmmmm.

  14. Dogbreath 10/08/2011 at 10:31 AM #

    I can save everybody about three hours with this advance game recap:

    We will come out with our shitass, cheap, spandex uniforms with the too small numerals, probably wearing those goddamned red pants sans stripe. The stadium will be packed.

    We will win the coin toss (the only thing we ever seem to win) defer the possession.

    The game will be a back and forth of odd fuckups and disjointed drives, big play scores followed by horrible three and out series. We will never establish any sort of rhythm.

    Poor clock management and wrong schemes will account for 10 points in favor of CMU.

    TJ Graham will have a big day, and we will win in a yawner 31-27.

    Rinse and repeat.

  15. Tuffy2 10/08/2011 at 10:32 AM #

    JEOH2-The only time I could not pull for my team was when we outed Jimmy V and put in more music Les Robinson. I was pulling against the admin not the players. Yes it hurt me but I knew what that was all about and I had no problem with it.

  16. Tuffy2 10/08/2011 at 10:35 AM #

    Dogbreath, I have not laughed this hard in a long time and I can’t stop.

  17. ldr of the pk 75 10/08/2011 at 10:36 AM #

    Dogbreath- agree about the red pants, horrible. Thanks for the recap, it has freed my afternoon.

  18. Tuffy2 10/08/2011 at 10:36 AM #

    But as TOB stated, that is who we are Dogbreath! No strips! Nothing!

  19. Wolfgarden 10/08/2011 at 10:47 AM #

    Well Gentleman. It seems as we cut through all the rhetoric we still come up with my conclusion. We have poor coaching. I am sorry if this bothers some….but letas change and move on. And by the way…GO PACK FOREVER!!!

  20. Dogbreath 10/08/2011 at 10:53 AM #

    Forgot to add, the stadium will be 1/3 filled at the kickoff of the second half when TJ Graham returns it 98 yards for a score. The wolf howl will drown out the cheers of the thinned crowd. CMU will then churn 9 minutes of clock on their ensuing TD drive. We will followup with a three and out, then CMU will crank out another long 9 minute drive. They will score to go ahead 27-24.

    At this point the crowd will grow restless. There will be 9 minutes left in the game and we will have had possession for 3 minutes of the second half. We will have another three and out. CMU will get the ball back drive to midfield. The crowd will rise to the occasion and force a fall start penalty, then our defense will have it’s only good series of the day. TJ Graham will return the punt for a TD to put us ahead with three minutes to go. CMU will fail to score and the clock will run down. We will score 31 points but only have 270 yards of offense.

  21. Tuffy2 10/08/2011 at 11:03 AM #

    Dogbreath please stop! I am on the phone reading your blog to my nephew and now he can’t stop laughing either.

  22. Dogbreath 10/08/2011 at 11:07 AM #

    Have I been watching some TOB football, or what?

  23. 61Packer 10/08/2011 at 11:19 AM #

    The stadium will be full just before kickoff because Scotty McCreery is singing the National Anthem. When he finishes and right after State kicks off, most of us can return to our tailgate for another round and leftovers.

    Anyone notice that they don’t pipe the game into the men’s restrooms at the stadium? Do they fear a crap overload in there? Just curious……

  24. Dogbreath 10/08/2011 at 11:26 AM #

    Piping the game into the restroom is pointless because Hahn is a good 6-7 seconds behind the play. Crowd reaction is sufficient.

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