Look, it’s simply impossible to over-exaggerate just how much a House of Horrors Groves Stadium BB&T Field has been for N.C. State.
Every odd year folks start throwing around the “no way we lose to Wake Forest this year.” But every odd year we go to the abyss called Winston-Salem and play impossibly dreadful, and lose. Current State students would hardly even remember a win in Winston-Salem.
Dick Sheridan owned lowly Wake Forest. But, we’ve only won in Winston exactly once since Terry Harvey and Jose Laureano (yes, that Jose Laureano) out-dueled Rusty LaRue (yes, that Rusty LaRue) there in 1995. And that one win was way back in Philip’s sophomore year in 2001. Let that sink in a moment.
LaRue tossed up a cool 545 yards on us that day in 1995. State finished the season 3-8, while Wake finished 1-10. Since then, we could play Wake Forest in Wake Forest and lose.
Sadly, I’m doing most of this from traumatic memory:
1997 – On an ESPN Thursday night game, Wake kicked a long field goal inside a minute to play, and then State missed a very long field goal as time expired, and Wake won 19-18.
1999 – Those who saw it will never forget it. Wake won 31-7 but it felt like Georgia Tech-Cumberland. This game was over at halftime. State had maybe 25 yards rushing and maybe 150 total yards; Morgan Kane ran for about 150 yards on his own and only Jim Caldwell could keep him out of the end zone that day.
2001 – The Greatest ACC quarterback ever and San Diego Chargers starter and 2013 NFL MVP candidate Philip Rivers did just enough for State to win 17-14. We probably should’ve lost.
2003 – State was caught looking ahead to the following Saturday’s game in Columbus, and lost 38-24, mostly because we had about 150 yards in personal foul penalties. Philip threw about 50 times for over 400 yards but had one pass ricochet off an O-lineman’s helmet and one ricochet off the turf, both for interceptions (no replay review back then; the exact same ricochet off the turf was called in Columbus a week later).
2005 – Marcus Stone and Jay Davis combined for about 20 interceptions, and Wake used two pick sixes — one to seal it on a late-game drive — to win 27-19.
2007 – Daniel Evans did what Daniel Evans did best: complete passes to the defense. Often for touchdowns. Wake won 38-18.
2009 – Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback and three-year State starter and alum Russell Wilson’s season-plus-long streak without an interception ended this game. He threw two picks and Riley Skinner had about 600 yards passing. Wake won 30-24.
2011 – State was down 34-13 before Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Mike Glennon even found his timing, and despite what appeared to be a valiant comeback effort, this game ended in typical fashion. Wake won 34-27.
2013 – Expecting a win in Winston-Salem isn’t confidence, it’s foolishness; it scoffs at the laws of the physical universe we occupy.
*****
Wake Forest and Syracuse game times both set for 3:30, Fox Sports (SFN).
