Two Weeks

2 weeks till kick off. NC State football is an interesting phenomenon. We’ve have good years, bad years, but mostly mediocre years. Yet – we have a big football program mentality. We pour money into our program like crazy.

We thought we were finally going to routinely be in the big time when we hired Chuck Amato – but he proved the Peter Principal. He was (and is) a top notch assistant defensive coach. But he was one rung too high when he became our Head Coach.

New Head Coach Tom O’Brien inherited a 3 and 9 team. The most reasonable expectation this year will be 4 and 8. Yet – Carter-Finley Stadium will be packed with 60,000+ fans for every game. Except for seats held for students and the allotment for visiting teams – Carter-Finley is Sold Out. As it has been every year for the last 7 years.

We figure – in say 3 years – we should be routinely wining 8+ games each season and going to some pretty good bowl games. However, I was just watching an interview with TO’B after Meet The Pack Day. He’s expecting a winning season and a bowl game this year.

Now coachspeak is coachspeak. But listening to him I get the feeling that TO’B actually, and matter of factly, really expects to break .500 this year. If that happens – hell – we’ll have a parade for him and the team.

The approach to football over at UNC Snooty Hill is a bit different. Over there, Basketball is King. Even with new high profile coach Butch Davis – football just doesn’t excite the fans. Pretty much a whine and cheese crowd. Here’s a link to BobLee Swagger who writes an all around UNC blog.

Speaking of basketball – here’s an early preseason prediction. Head Coach Sidney Lowe's NC State team is going to surprise a bunch of people this year. I pretty much expect to see NC State in the NCAA Sweet 16. Depending on how our point guard position develops and with a little luck and no injuries – the Final Four is not as crazy as it may sound.

In spite of himself, Athletic Director Lee Fowler has managed to luck into hiring 2 great coaches. But then – a stopped clock is still right twice a day.

Here's the link to the Andy Griffith classic - What It Was Was Football.