OMG WTF

The winning touchdown with 8 seconds left.

There's 2 ways to look at sports.

On one hand - it's only a game. There's much more important stuff going on with conflict, war, poverty, the environment and all sorts of other troubling things going on in the world.

On the other hand - wouldn't it be great if we could all cooperate, solve the big problems and live in a world where sports could be the only 'contest' we'd enjoyably contend with?

Going in to last nights game, NC State was in trouble. 1 win (over a Division 1AA school) and 2 losses to schools we definitely should have beat. The difference between the top tier teams and the rest of us is only a few recruits and a few plays in each game. So close, and yet so far. Just a few short years ago NC State was on the cusp of entering the top ranks of college football. An 11-2 season, bowl win over Notre Dame and the nation's top overall defense.

Then we started back peddling. Assistant coaches left in droves (still don't know why). Even with 3 FIRST round draft picks from last year's team - we had to squeak our way into a minor bowl game.

This year's 1-2 start had the team on the brink of falling apart. In the loss to Southern Miss, back up quarterback Daniel Evans came into the game late and put together 2 impressive drives. This week he was given the starting job. All week, the topic was "if Evans can put together a good game . . ." We didn't even have to win - just be in the game.


Daniel Evans and his mom prior to his first start as NC State's quarterback.

The Setting

We arrived last night to a packed parking lot with ton's of tailgating. In the stadium 45 minutes before kick off - the stands were already filling up. You could feel the buzz in the air.

It was an exciting game. Both teams played their hearts out.

When BC got the ball with about 2 minutes left with the score 15 to 10 - you knew the game was over but felt proud for NC State. Some left for their cars but the vast majority stayed so we could applaud the team for their effort after the game ends.

With 53 seconds left BC goes for it on 4th down. At this point, BC coach TO'B makes what is a very critical call. With the score 10 - 15 a field goal (granted long at 46 yards) would put BC up by 8 requiring not only a touchdown but a 2 point conversion as well just to put the game into overtime. Also, seeing 3 more points go on the board can only be deflating to the NC State players.

Instead, BC goes for the first down. Big gamble to to keep possession with so little time left. At the game, I was wondering why BC wasn't kicking the field goal. In hindsight, if I were a Boston College booster / fan - I'd be freaking livid.

The Fat Lady is warming up on the sidelines.

The Drive

NC State makes the big 4th down stop! Big cheers for the play.

Still, it's not gonna happen. No way we can go 72 yards in 43 seconds to get the touchdown - I mean, let's be real here. But what a great game!

The offense is stoked and goes on the field.

Going from memory here -

Pass is caught but ruled out of bounds.

2nd down - 18 yard pass for a first down. The crowd rumbles.

Another completion mid-field but running furiously to get out of bounds - the runner is tackled and the seconds are flying off the clock. The ref takes his own sweet time setting the ball. The crowd is screaming for his head.

The Fat Lady warbles.

24 seconds - Evans hits Dunlap for a 20 yard gain first down. We're now so loud I worry that our offense will have trouble hearing Evan's snap count.

Ball is set - Evans smartly spikes the ball to stop the clock.

16 seconds on the 34 yard line.

Evans takes the snap - being pressured - scrambles - finds Dunlap in the end zone back corner with single coverage - steps up - throws - Dunlap leaps - catches the ball - gets hammered on the way down - hangs on to the ball - Touchdown! Pandemonium in the stands.

It ain't over till the Fat Lady sings.

Incredible, emotional win.

Here's an ESPN compilation from YouTube that gives you a feel for the game and the final drive.



I sit in the south individual club seats. This past year the north end was built with club seats as well. You have to pay rather big $ to get these seats so they tend to be occupied by older, established fans and as a rule we're somewhat sedate. This home video was taken from someone in the new north end club seats. These folks are not rowdy students - they're family folks. It was the same at our end as well.

Coach Amato wears his emotions on his sleeve. He loves the game and he loves his players (ESPN video). Notice in the clip that we're all still in the stands. We didn't leave until the last player left the field.

Epilogue

You felt great for the win and felt bad for Boston College.

Both teams played so very hard.

I hope BC wins the rest of their games. They very well could.

NC State could also end up with an awesome season. We won't win every game from here on out - but an 8-4 or even 9-3 season is not out of the question.

Maybe - just maybe - this will be the turn around year and get us back on track to becoming a perennial power.

I really enjoy college football and basketball.

Thanks to JCK, Nephew and JTN (aka JFC) for going to the game with me.

Addendum

Went to the local Opera Sunday. They are really professional - but - I did doze a little during the first half. Don't ask me what it was - I don't know. I'd have to look it up on the program. I'm pretty sure it was a 'chick flick' though.

Rollergirls, Southern Mississippi +Addendum

Met up with the nephew and great niece last night at Dorton Arena to watch girls roller derby. In a word - strange. Didn't really understand what was going on, rules and scoring wise. Did understand the main attraction is seeing girls on skates whack each other. Oddly enough, crowd was very family oriented. Think higher class of pro 'wrasslin audience. Say, Target as opposed to K-Mart. 5 y.o. great niece had enough about halfway through and demanded to go home. I think once was enough for me as well.

Took the radio headphones with me to listen to the NCSU at Southern Mississippi game. We got beat in all phases of the game. Solidly getting beat after the 3rd quarter so Amato put in back up quarterback Daniel Evans to give him some experience. Hard to judge from 1 quarter, but I'd say bench Stone and keep Evans. Hell, it can't get any worse so why not? Our defense is hurting too - but that's just going to take time to work on. Then again, when the offense is 3 and out - then the defense is on the field a long time and bound to get worn down.

Addendum - Tuesday

Coach Amato announced that Daniel Evans will be the starting quarterback for the Boston College game.

Goldsboro

Spent the week in Goldsboro. Mostly at the O’Berry Center which is a residential campus for folks with serious mental retardation. While you feel a bit down at the disability that these people contend with, at the same time, O’Berry Center is a cheerful and happy place where there’s lots of TLC.

While we were there, the annual fund raising cookout was held. Day staff arrived early around 4 AM to start cooking the chicken and preparing slaw, potato salad and tea. Lunch starts at 1100 and goes till about 1500. Lot’s of people drive out to pick up the $6 lunch. Proceeds go to funding resident programs.

Also had some work at the Cherry Farm nearby. Cherry as in name, not the crop. Cheery Farm does research with crops and livestock. There’s an old family cemetery on the farm which is kept up by the farm employees. It's a very nice setting.

When in Goldsboro, it’s required that you eat at Wilbur’s Bar-b-Que out on Highway 70 East. I think it's a State Law or something. Most people would get a post card or photo of the restaurant. I think it's cooler to get a photo of the cooking shed out back. This is where the hogs are slow cooked over hickory. Since it's live coals and open fire, the cooking shed is in a building separate from the main restaurant.

Akron has Big Ones

The pain shows for our defense which played hard to preserve the win.

3 seconds left, down by 3 at the 1 yard line. Instead of going for the tie and overtime - Akron goes for the win and gets it.

It should never have come down to a final play. In fact, Akron went 63 yards in the final 50+ seconds to get the win. It was a gutsy and dramatic performance by the Zips. Congratulations to them.

Amato has the superior talent, the facilities, great assistant coaches. On field execution of plays is wildly erratic. Marcus Stone's on field performance is exasperating. With our athletes and staff - we should routinely be competing in the top 20, if not the top 10. Coach has to make it happen. That's his job.

I will say it was one of the most exciting 4th quarter of football I've ever watched.

We stayed long after the game to applaud our kids as they left the field. A lot of fans stay and do the same after a loss. It's the very least we can for these kids who work so hard to be in school and play Division 1 football. It's easy to stay and cheer the team after a win. It's even more important to show the kids support after a loss. I wish more fans would stay and do the same.

NC State vs Appalachian

North end zone was constructed over the summer along with new locker rooms underneath, a plaza from the video board to the RBC Center, 2 new video boards at the south end zone corners (not seen in this photo) and 'temporary' metal bleachers above the permanent end zone seats. North end zone is designed to allow a future upper deck to connect the east and west upper decks. Photo from red and white blog.

NC State beat Appalachian State Saturday. Our defense was impressive. Our offense was not. We have a couple of, if not 3, really great running backs. Our kicker is also super impressive and he’s going to have a great NFL career. But, even though he’s 6 and 1, our quarterback just doesn’t look too sharp. I suspect we’re going to have a so so season. Once we get into real games against Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State and the like – they will key on shutting down the run and we’re not going to get much from the passing game. Still, it’s fun to go to the games win or lose. Just as long as we beat the tar snot out of UNC. :-)

Traffic was awful. The police and Highway Patrol have a difficult job, and there’s always a learning curve – but traffic control at the game just sucked. One patrolman put me in a particular lane on the main road, and when I got to my right turn entry, the patrolman at that intersection wouldn’t let me turn. So much for following directions. Had to go way around my ass to get to my elbow and then was the 3rd car in line to cross the street to get to my parking space – and we waited. And waited. And waited. Even with breaks in the traffic, the cop at the intersection still wouldn’t let us cross. Listened to the player introductions through the window and could almost see the video board. So close and yet so far. Upon leaving – same thing. Except we had to wait at the intersection for the trooper to set up the traffic cones to control traffic. After the game was already over! Very piss poor planning and execution. I hope they get it better for next weekend.

Just lazing around the house for the rest of Labor Day weekend. Did nothing productive except for a load of laundry. Well, I did do some vacuuming also.

Tonight, FSU plays Miami. Looking forward to watching that.