We will have to see if the action on the field makes things raging.
And yes, it is Cowdog Appreciation Day at Carter-Finley. Rumour is that we might even hear from the man/canine hisself at some point. Stay tuned.
You younger types might have forgotten how NC State single handedly ruined two Donovan McNabb Heisman campaigns, in 1997 and 1998 (I think those dates are accurate). Each time, Syracuse was ranked in the Top Ten. First, we won in the Carrier Dome in amazing fashion. Forced a goalline fumble late in regulation, saving the tie. After Cuse got a quick TD in OT, we got a much harder earned one…then wisely went for two, to Orange confusion. Torry Holt was wide open for the game winner. The next year (I believe on a late-September Thursday night), the Pack mauled an even better Cuse squad in C-F. Just part of the inexplicable roller coaster ride that was the MOC era. And setting the stage for McNabb puking on the field in the Super Bowl.
Nobody is Heisman or Top Ten-worthy today…but maybe we see the electric Brandon Mitchell today. Based on poll results, SFN readers expect a win, but not a cover. Sounds about right to me. Then again, I expected Oklahoma to roll today. Oops.
3:34 – Definitely the smart move to play it safe with Mitchell and roll with Thomas. Big rushing gain on Cuse’s opening play.
3:37 – What crazy thing will Ron Cherry say/call today?
3:38 – Holding call forces Orange to throw, which they seem to do pretty poorly. Time to punt.
3:42 – Mirror image drive from State – one first down, then punt. Thrilling stuff.
4:01 – Syracuse certainly showing more on D than they did hosting the Tiggers. Gonna be a tough slog.
4:05 – Cuse 4th down at State 37. Big play.
4:08 – Timeout, penalty, punt. Anticlimactic. Story of the game so far.
4:20 – First and goal for the Cuse at the 1. Not looking good.
4:28 – Offense finally on the move. At least a bit.
4:30 – I think the cold hard truth of us not being at all good…is sinking in.
4:32 – Stop me if you’ve heard this one before – Wolfpack lining up to punt.
4:34 – Momentum changing roughing the kicker? It’s nice when somebody else is stupid.
4:36 – Yes, Ron Cherry pronounces “interference” as strangely as one would imagine.
4:38 – 4th and 2, Pack going for it. Or maybe just lining up.
4:39 – BOTH teams now out of timeouts with 7 minutes left in the half.
5:23 – Pack in scoring position, can amazingly take the lead as the weather deteriorates.
5:24 – And SHB does the one thing he can’t do – take a sack. 51-yard FG is…way no good. The extra 5 yards is a killer there.
5:26 – Cardinals get runner to 3rd with no outs AGAIN – and halfway to wasting the opportunity AGAIN. 0-0.
5:28 – Crawford noodle arms what should have been no chance deep enough into a sac fly. 1-0 Redbirds.
5:31 – Syracuse avoids a negative play to set up a long, but makeable FG. They do make it…but commit a delay of game. Comedy of errors.
5:33 – Now they punt…which nets 11 yards. This game would be taken out back and shot, if only it were a horse. Or Old Yeller.
5:42 – Puig swings at ball four, with one out and bases f-cked. Woohoo!!!
5:43 – Pack goalline stand while I was watching el beisbol, short FG is good. 10-7 Orange. A win without covering would look like 14-10, folks.
5:44 – Uribe also strikes out, 1-0 after 6. Michael Wacha’s legend grows.
5:48 – I am cool with the pink stuff to promote funds for breast cancer research (except for penalty flags). But can we please quit calling it “awareness?” Who isn’t AWARE at this point?
5:51 – Pack almost to the 30, big third down.
5:52 – Quick snap fake FG doesn’t work. FFS.
5:55 – 10-7 after three. Would not be surprised if it was 10-7 after four. Syracuse will – all together now – punt once again when Q4 starts.
6:01 – Syracuse’s front seven is just teeing off now. Brutal.
6:07 – Tis Syracuse’s turn to punt. Could cut the tension with a spork.
6:09 – Siegrist just gets out of a jam, 1-0 Cards mid-7.
6:11 – No shit – SHB with a 40-yard run, and State in long FG position yet again.
6:13 – MVS falls down on 3rd and 3, short FG for the tie is good. 10-10.
6:18 – Defense looks energized. Cuse QB is putrid.
6:21 – Pack to the Cuse 43 and suddenly the Orange look sluggish.
6:23 – An ugly win is still a win. It would suck to lose to a team playing this bad (each team can feel that way).
6:25 – I was watching baseball again, and somehow Cuse is in the end zone. Fuuuuccccck. Door is open with the bobbled hold on the extra point. 16-10. At least there can’t possibly be overtime in this shitshow. Oh, and Cards need three more outs.
6:29 – 77 yards to “glory.”
6:31 – Three and out, SHB can’t find a hot read, and of course we don’t block anyone.
6:32 – I guess “defensive battle” is the network euphemism since they can’t say “shitshow.”
6:34 – And with that 40+ yard run…ballgame.
6:35 – Your straw-graspy silver lining – it would be awesome to beat the Holes going into the game 0-4 in conference play.
6:37 – TD Orange, they fake the extra point for two. 24-10. Any further live blogging will be of the top of the 9th in SL.
6:44 – Trevor Rosenthal takes the bump.
6:45 – Puig gets fourth strikeout, and acts like a baby as usual. 2 to go.
6:46 – Uribe strikes out. 1 to go.
6:47 – Sad AIDS trombone for Magic, as Rosie Ks Ethier too!!! Cards win 1-0 and head to LA with a 2-0 series lead.
Your Final Score – Syracuse 24, NC State 10.
