TO'B

Looks like Tom O’Brien from Boston College will be the new NC State football coach.

I wish Chuck Amato had been successful He was an alumnus and had tons of passion for the game and the school. He just couldn't get it done on the field. I had high hopes for him to take us to perennial national prominence – but it just didn’t happen.

BC is a school on par with Duke and Wake Forest. High academic standards. Difficult to recruit qualified players. Small alumni base. And yet, BC consistently fields good to great teams. 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 regular seasons are routine for TOB at BC.

This year TOB / BC is 9 and 3. Two losses were last second squeakers at NC State and Miami. BC should have won both of those games. If they had, BC would have been 11 – 1 going into the ACC Championship game. Which BC likely would have won. Then on to the BCS Orange Bowl and a top 10, possibly top 5, ranking. 2 plays in 2 games were all that stood in the way. Yet, BC is going to a lower bowl than Maryland and Georgia Tech due to the lack of fan interest and support at BC.

NC State is the archetypal working class Land Grant College. We place a lot of emphasis on sports and show it by pouring money into facilities and coaching staff. We have a vocal and loyal fan base which sells out Carter-Finley Stadium even with losing seasons. I think that might be what lured TOB from a successful program to a struggling program.

TOB should have no trouble matching his records at BC. With the larger recruiting pool and lots more fan support which reaches down to the high school recruiting level – TOB should be able to put us in a position to compete amongst the traditional national powers.

I’d like to see Amato return to FSU in a defensive capacity. Gain a little more experience, and possibly one day take over the head spot at FSU. I really like Chuck and want him to be successful.

Welcome TeeO'B to WolfPack Nation. Look for me waving hello - I’m in Section 210.