Is It Football Yet? +Addendum

Carter-Finley Stadium - New Fast Drain,
Flat Football Field During Construction

The talk around the office (full of NC State Engineers and Season Ticket Holders) has been the upcoming football season.

We’re all excited.

Anything less than 7 and 5 will be a disappointment.

But, you say – 7 and 5? That’s OK, but not that great.

Maybe so, maybe not.

The expectation is – the 5 losses will be close. In other words – State will be a ‘dangerous’ team for other higher rated teams to play. On paper – maybe we should lose – but with a break here, a busted play there – and State could beat any team on the schedule. Including @ Florida State and @ Virginia Tech.

In several pre-season articles – NC State is touted as a dark horse.

We’ve been plagued the last 2 years with unbelievable injuries. But so far this year, everybody is healthy including a couple of ‘stars’ that haven’t played in the past due to injuries.

Now, in the last couple of weeks, I’ve read articles that flat out predict that NC State will be the surprise team in the nation – going all the way to the ACC Championship game.

An article in today’s News & Observer gives an overview of the upcoming ACC season and predicts that NC State will finish in first place at 6 and 2 in the Atlantic Division and will play VT (predicted to be 7 and 1 in the Coastal Division) in the ACC Championship Game.

Of course, all this is counting your chickens before they hatch.

I’m sticking with 7 and 5 (overall) and finishing 2nd in the Atlantic Division and playing in a pretty good bowl game.

Still – if you read between the lines of today’s N&O article – a 6 and 2 ACC Conference record has implications for the overall record.

With 8 Conference games – State plays 4 non-conference teams: Murray State, Gardner-Webb, South Carolina and Pittsburgh.

State will win against Murray State and Gardner-Webb. We should be slightly favored over South Carolina. Pittsburgh will be a toss up on paper – but I think that Pitt will be down from last year with having a much younger team due to graduations.

So – let’s say Pitt wins – that means State should still win 3 non-conference games. Combine that with the article’s prediction of our final record in the ACC and you’ve got a 9 and 3 season. Beat Pitt and we’re 10 and 2. If we sneak up on FSU or VT in the Conference - then you’re looking at an improbable 11 and 1 regular season.

If that happens – as Fred Sanford used to say – “Elizabeth honey, I’m coming to join you!”

LOL

Again – counting chickens before they hatch.

I’ll be very happy at 7 and 5. Anything more? - I’ll be ecstatic!

Football is 2 months away.

I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas in November.

Addendum

Talk about not counting your chickens . . .

Linebacker Nate Irving was a phenom his freshman year. Last year he was only able to play in about 4 games due to an ankle injury. But he was back at full speed during spring practice and a probable All ACC player this year. He is definitely a future NFL First Round pick. Nate is a big reason we're hoping for a good year.

Not one hour after I wrote the above post - the news reports came out. Nate has been in a car crash and has a broken leg and collapsed lung. He will undergo surgery this evening.

Wishing the best for Nate.

I hope Nate has a speedy recovery and maybe even be able to play this year. Not just for State - but for himself.