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I dont think anyone is saying we had a successful season because the boys in baby blue (although now seems black or navy are their primary football colors) are struggling.
We finished 8-5. a marked improvement over 3-9. We can sit here all day long and say “what-if” – what if the GA Southern QB had not fumbled on the 1 yard lone. What if Pharoah had not had the pick 6 against the Cuse, so what? It happnened and we won the games.
Look at it another way – what if it had not rained a gully washer against BC? What if we did not give up a fumble for TD against GT? We actually were toe to toe with GT and had the momentum until the crucial events of the 2nd qtr, at which point we were totally demoralized. What if we dont drop a pass against FSU to keep a drive alive, or protect Jacoby just once in the critical time FSU made their rush? What if Dabo had waited a couple more weeks to insert a new QB? What if Karl Hess had not T’d up Gott – those two free throws early were the difference in a one point game. What-if what-if what-if?
As for the rough times in Orange County, we State fans only gloat because of the irony of the of “the Carolina Way”. We gloat because Swofford not only was involved but has done everything he can to help them through this process – what has he done for other conference schools in trouble? Nothing.
Mc,
State may not be the hotbed of coaches but coaches don’t jump ship like they used to. I think coaches stay longer in general if they are having success. Look no farther than Boise st. They held on their coach for a while. Once they started to struggle in recruiting he looked to Washington. Miss St and Ole Miss are in arguably the best conference and have been the punching bags of the SEC for a long time. Their coaches could have jumped at offers after year end but they didn’t. I am not comparing the ACC to the SEC but if DD gets the ball rolling and has a little luck then who knows. Clemson lost Morris in to SMU. Jamies leaves FSU this year. State is one of youngest teams in the nation. If Duke can catch lightening in the bottle three straight years there is no reason why State can’t. Not saying they will but is not as far fetched as one would believe.
Always love it when someone says if we hadn’t had those turnovers we would have won the game. Really???
Don’t you realize that is part of football! Protect the pigskin.
Gowolves, if you are referring to my comment – I agree wholeheartedly. Turnovers ARE a big part of the game and I was making silly “what-if” comments. We can make what if comments for or against, but the point is that what if is totally irrelevant. The plays against GA So and Cuse happened and we won.
State beat the lucky sperm club (wake forest), Syracuse, and the tar holes; hardly the basis to proclaim a resurgence of State’s fortunes. Close as a pubic to Monica’s lips, the Pack was awful close to dropping a game it had in hand the other night.
How can you not be thrilled with 8 wins, a beat down of UNC in Chapel Hill, and a bowl win? You would have to be looking for reasons to complain about those results after a 3-win season.
So while I wouldn’t have worded it exactly like McCallum, I mostly agree with his take. The Sagarain rankings for State’s last four wins were against:
101 – Syracuse
128 – Wake Forest
78 – UNC
61 – UCFThose wins simply are not enough for me to start make grossly optimistic claims about next year. (Shocking huh?) State was only 3-5 in conference play with all five losses coming at 12 points or greater (with several embarrassing ones as well). So while I’m extremely happy for the results this year, I see no reason to think that State will seriously contend with the top of the conference next year.
Sagarin Rankings:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/sagarin/2014/conference/While it is always tough to predict what will happen next year based on this past years results there is really nothing else to help to predict what will happen. Players will transfer, injuries will happen (for State and opponents). Just a lot of unknowns. What we do know is that State beat the teams they were supposed to this year. That tells me that DD has the minds and the hearts of the players. Also this being a young team DD could have lost them after the beatings they took against the better teams in the conference. Especially the Clemson and the Ga Tech game. He didn’t. Someone posted on this website that the Pack was the only team that played every team the ACC had in the top twenty five at year end. There were some other telling stats that only the this team had to endure. I do have high hopes for these players and the coaching staff.
Yes I have been a pack fan for forty years and I am aware of NCSh*t and our history as being average at best in football. I just choose to believe this could be the beginning of some good football years.
I had a few beers yesterday with a friend of mine while watching the Panthers destroy the Falcons. The guy is an ECU grad, and a hard core Pirate fan. I have never known him to say anything good about State football, yet yesterday he expressed admiration in the direction our program is headed and envy with the coach we have in place. He wasn’t even drunk yet. That is good enough for me.
Va…They seriously contended with them this year.
They were only within 2 TD’s in one of the conference losses.
I don’t consider that contending. YMMVSomeone is bound to ask or be wondering, so …
‘YMMV’ = ‘Your Mileage May Vary’
‘EOTB’ = ‘Eye Of The Beholder’
In my role of self-appointed site historian, it is my duty to help solve these great riddles (I jest).
We did not contend with Clemson. That one was over the first three minutes. Great efforts against FSU and Louisville. But to really take that next step, we can’t have that loss to BC. It was a very good season. I wouldn’t expect those top guns to take a step back. They’ve got it rolling pretty good. We are clearly taking steps forward.
I was rolling those two over in my mind trying to figure it out and only coming up with
YMMV= You Move My (well nevermind) and
EOTB= End Of The Bench (as in a dismissal or temporary banishment)Either way didn’t really quite work
I’ve found this site http://www.netlingo.com/acronyms.php very helpful since the last time wufpup had to spell out an internet acronym for me. …. and thanks again for that.
A few items:
1) Thanks to Alpha for writing the piece.
2) I’m not poo pooing the victories.
3) I’m not into hypotheticals.
4) Making the holes a measuring stick for success de facto elevates their program despite reality.
5) State will get better by good coaching, decent recruiting, low transfer numbers and plenty of red shirting.
The reality of State football is below average, having four other D1 schools in the state does nothing to grow the fan base.
Suck it up boys, you picked a hard row to plow.
McCallum
I wouldn’t expect those top guns to take a step back.
As evidenced by Clemson laying the wood to Oklahoma right now in the Russell Athelic Bowl… with their backup QB
1) Great column, good lesson in “can’t we just say, great job this year” and simply focus on the positives for a little while.
2) If you can’t consistently take pleasure in ANY KIND OF TARHOLE rundown/dumpsterfire then you haven’t been a State fan long enough! Pleasure in this stuff does not equal lowering our expectations. It’s just FUN dude!!!!!1) Great column, good lesson in “can’t we just say, great job this year” and simply focus on the positives for a little while.<br>
2) If you can’t consistently take pleasure in ANY KIND OF TARHOLE rundown/dumpsterfire then you haven’t been a State fan long enough! Pleasure in this stuff does not equal lowering our expectations. It’s just FUN dude!!!!!Could not agree more. Should not be so complicated.
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