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For those who are used to seeing our Tar Heel brethren as perennial dark horse candidates, this should give you satisfaction/amusement:
Which team is ACC’s dark horse?
I’ve written this before, but I’ll reiterate that the Wolfpack are a team that could generate a surprised look among people scanning the end-of-the-season standings. NC State will need to experience a great deal of growth and some luck to make a run for an ACC title, but there’s enough pieces that, when coupled with a manageable schedule, make NC State a worthy dark horse candidate.
I don’t see how State or any other team in the ACC Atlantic Division besides Florida State or Clemson could possibly be a dark horse. I don’t think there’s a team in the ACC who could beat both those teams in the same season right now, and the Pack would be a long shot even in the Coastal Division.
State has had a difficult time just finishing 3rd in their division. The Pack has yet to win at BC and hasn’t won at Wake Forest in 34 years. Any chance the Pack has of being a legit dark horse took a hit when Louisville was added to their division. FSU and Clemson football are essentially SEC football being played in the ACC, and those two continue to pound us on the gridiron.
I think any of the Coastal teams are bona fide dark horses for the ACC title, because this division has been wide open since it was created. If these divisions aren’t going to be re-aligned, at least the Coastal teams should have to play the Seminoles and Tigers on a regular basis and not dodge them repeatedly.
I don’t think there’s a team in the ACC who could beat both those teams in the same season right now
Don’t necessarily have to beat both to win the conference, and Clemson is only one re-injury away from dropping back down to being just another better than average team. They’re talented, yes, but it’s the QB that makes ’em special.
Like the preseason pub…I think that many are overlooking GT in the Coastal; they return most of the personnel (including a QB that is made for Johnson’s offense) that whacked Miss. State in a big bowl.
13OT, I believe you mistyped, State has beaten Wake at Wake 8 times in the past 34 years (2001, 1995, 1993, 1991, 1989, 1985, 1983, 1981). At 14 years, its definitely been a drought, just not as bad as you lead us to believe.
Yes, I was wrong on the State-Wake numbers, although one of my points was that State routine struggles against arguably the conference’s weakest football program.
The biggest point that I keep trying to make on here is that until the ACC makes significant changes in the way ACC football games are scheduled, State and Wake Forest will continue to struggle mightily. Yes, it’s very possible to beat Clemson or FSU, as we have, but how many times have we beaten BOTH in the same season?
The deck is stacked against the ACC Atlantic teams. Sure, Georgia Tech has a great chance to win the Coastal. So have any of the other teams in that division, who seldom have to face the Seminoles or Tigers, let alone both in the same season. Doesn’t Duke’s recent dominance in the Coastal tell you anything? It tells me that changes are needed.
Nice to see SFN isn’t closed for the summer. Dark Horse debate. I’m excited because there are so many intriguing players at the QB, RB, TE and WR positions pared with a coach who is willing to gamble on occasion. Should be interesting.
Giglio is right in that Clemson is very QB-dependent. If he is healthy and “right” in the fall, they could be great. If not…very pedestrian.
I’m more in the “success is often two steps forward, one step back” camp and don’t expect true contention, but Doeren already surprised me by being way the f-ck ahead of schedule last year. And Jacoby is a really exciting, game-changing player.
Replacing the kickers could really be an issue that bites us in the nads, though.
Also, I HATE SUMMER.
Replacing the kickers could really be an issue that bites us in the nads, though.
Also, I HATE SUMMER.
I’ve been thinking this as well. The Smooth Operator/Wil with one “L” Baumann with two “Ns” combo, was very solid and dependable, even if not flashy. For four years we’ve known what we were getting in the kicking game and didn’t need to be concerned. Could bite us in the nads, indeed.
And speaking of summer, wtf is up with the whole Cards cyberspying shite? Haven’t had a chance to do my background reading on that little tidbit just yet.
although one of my points was that State routine struggles against arguably the conference’s weakest football program
True that, however…
I believe that be a function of the cultures and foundations of past NC State programs, and their base coaching philosophies
I could be wrong, but I don’t expect that to be the case with this current bunch.
13OT…odd number for a tackle…Any way ya look at it.
I got nothin’ against ya, man. Ya keep me in tune.
What the hell is a Dark Horse? Really? What the f#ck is a Dark Horse? Dark Horse. State is a Dark Horse. Dark Horse.
SMH. 🙂
COWDOG, the OT doesn’t refer to an offensive tackle.
It refers to OVERTIMES.
And as for Dark Horses- Clinton High School is the only team I’m aware of with this nickname.
And no, I’m not from Clinton.
Can NC State stop the run (ESPN ACCBlog)
So, between the personnel losses and problematic numbers, we shouldn’t expect the Wolfpack to stop a lot of runners this year, right? Well, defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable doesn’t sound too concerned.
“I feel very positive about it at this point,” he said. “In the middle to the latter part of the season last year, our guys started performing at a much higher level, and going into this spring and finishing this spring, our guys have a very good understanding of where they’re supposed to be in the structure of the defense, and I think we’ve grown in fundamentals and techniques, position by position.”
Cowdog, if you look up dark house in the dictionary you see this definition:
1. The subject that people write about in the off-season to fill up space.
2. See: UNC football program.
OK…Guess it went over heads.
Yes. Dark Horse…Exactly!
So why the hell is Clemson and FSU injected into the convo? A Dark Horse is the antithesis of front runners.
Aptly, NCSU is exactly what the piece says it is. No ifs ands or buts. No division matter, no Tiger, Seminole, Cardinal, Deac,or Eagle changes that.
…And, I like the chances.
Clempson is not an SEC team…they may beat an SEC occasionally, but they couldn’t handle an SEC schedule. You guys give their players and coaching staff way too much credit for something that is not there except “hype” every year. I asked a Clempson fan friend of mine a couple of days ago “looks like you’ve got the National Championship wrapped up again. He said “that’s right, including the Heisman, the Outland, and the Presidential Nomination”!
"Whomp 'em, Up, Side the Head"!
they may beat an SEC occasionally, but they couldn’t handle an SEC schedule.
Occasionally? They have done better than any league member against that conference.
2014 – Clemson 35, USC 17
2013 – Clemson 38, UGA 35
2012 – Clemson 26, Auburn 19
2012 – Clemson 25, LSU 24
2011 – Clemson 38, Auburn 24The Pack has yet to win at BC and hasn’t won at Wake Forest in 34 years.
Just copy this and paste it in 2035, because then it’ll be accurate. Clemson basketball will eventually win in Chapel Hill, but you’ll never convince me we’ll ever win again in The Abyss.
Louisville was this morning’s Giglio preview, and they are indeed a very interesting Atlantic Wild Card. Lots of roster churn, but Petrino is the best PROVEN coach by a mile. They certainly won’t be an easy out, and they essentially have 16 days off before they come to Raleigh (Thursday night game, followed by an extreme cupcake contest).
Wuf, I can’t exactly follow all of the details, but it seems like a childish vendetta by a handful of lower-to-mid management types in the front office who were mad that Luhnow left for Houston and/or didn’t offer them jobs to go with him. Certainly an embarrassment, and I’m sure some sort of fine, loss of international slot money, and/or future draft choices will follow. Unacceptable behavior.
Thankfully, the Pirates have absorbed some of the public relations heat with Tabata’s unsportmanlike conduct robbing Scherzer of a perfecto yesterday. And that ump should be ashamed of himself.
they may beat an SEC occasionally, but they couldn’t handle an SEC schedule.
Occasionally? They have done better than any league member against that conference.
2014 – Clemson 35, USC 17
2013 – Clemson 38, UGA 35
2012 – Clemson 26, Auburn 19
2012 – Clemson 25, LSU 24
2011 – Clemson 38, Auburn 24What don’t you understand about occasionally? Once a year or in the rare occurrence of 2012 when the Gamecocks destroyed them, they beat two weak SEC teams. One game does not make a steady dose of SEC fooseball.! Notice you left out the losses to the Gamecocks in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009. I guess those don’t count, huh?
"Whomp 'em, Up, Side the Head"!
The Pack has yet to win at BC and hasn’t won at Wake Forest in 34 years.
Just copy this and paste it in 2035, because then it’ll be accurate. Clemson basketball will eventually win in Chapel Hill, but you’ll never convince me we’ll ever win again in The Abyss.
SMH in disbelief.
Notice you left out the losses to the Gamecocks in 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009. I guess those don’t count
All I needed to do to refute your claim that Clemson beats an SEC school “occasionally” is to show you their wins over the SEC the past several years. And it has been at least one win each year. So, by my defintion, that is not “occasional”. It’s more like “annual”.
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