New Coach +Addendums

NC State is looking for a new Head Football Coach.

So, how did Major Tom O'Brien, USMC (ret.), a well respected coach, who ran a squeaky clean program and who had a winning season record of 7 and 5 with a bowl game coming up get fired?

First - we always seem to have roller coaster seasons. Winning games we shouldn't - and more frustrating - losing (many more) games we should win. This year - we were all hyped as being a potential 10 -2 or 9 - 3 team.

Instead, we lose big (almost a shut out - at home even) to last place Virginia. We lose to Miami. We lost our opening game to Tennessee (who just fired their coach after posting a losing season). We actually 'lost' to Maryland - but their last second chip shot field goal hit the upright - but make no mistake - we 'lost' that game. We won (in my opinion) against Florida State because of poor play calling by the FSU offense late in the 4th quarter.

Frankly, switch the Maryland and FSU games to losses (like they should have been) and we're 5 and 7. Which is prettly much how we looked to me this year. Instead, we barely have a wining season at 7 - 5. Just one win above breaking even.

Sure - we beat Florida State ranked #3 at the time. So what? Having an overall crappy mediocre program with the occasional upset win is what we want?

No!

I did a little research.

NC State has had 3 coaches over the past 20 years. All 3 were fired.

Mike O'Cain is remembered as a nice guy who ran a lousy program. Chuck Amato started off strong but then crashed and burned - wining three games his last season and was fired. Tom O'Brien is thought of as a modest success - just not good enough to take us to the next level.

But - let's look at the numbers.

MO'C - 7 seasons - 41 - 40 overall and 26 - 30 ACC. That's a 51% winning record. Average to say the least.

CA - 7 seasons - 49 - 37 overall and 25 - 31 ACC. That's a 57% winning record. Slightly better than average - but not by much.

TO'B - 6 seasons - 40 - 35 overall and 22 - 26 ACC. That's 53%. Pretty damn average.

And notice - all three had even worse, losing ACC records. Not going to win any Division or ACC Championships by losing conference games. Beating up on Division II teams does not count anymore.

So, the truth is, Tom O'Brien was about the same as Mike O'Cain. And actually worse than Chuck the Chest.

Ergo - we are looking for a new football coach.

Addendum

New Coach is Dave Doeren. I'm very pleased. It's a solid hire with a ton of potential.

Addendum 2

Dave Doreren's Northern Illinois Huskies are going to the Orange Bowl to play Florida State. FSU better be ready or the Huskies will chew them up.

In his second year - our new coach takes a mid-major team to a BCS Bowl.

Granted - NIU was in great shape when Doeren took over. Given the opportunity, he took a good situation and took that team to the next level. In a nutshell - that's what TO'B failed to do.

NC State is going to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Memphis on December 31st. I will be be going to the basketball game at the PNC on December 31st. The football game starts at noon - the basketball game at 1300. Hopefully, the basketball game will be delayed a bit till after the Bowl Game.

Here's a nice little video. During the 2012 Northern Illinois Spring Game they put a microphone on Coach Doeren. The man clearly enjoys his job.

I Live in the Country

I live in the greater Moncure, NC metro area.

Even though I'm close to Raleigh and a relatively sophisticated urban area - Moncure is in the country. Yeah - there might be places in NC that are more 'country' - but not by much.

Here's an example.

Everybody has fund raisers for local groups, charities, churches, etc. You see their signs all the time. Like this one I saw yesterday just down Deep River Road from my house.

 

So what? What makes this one so special and country? Take a closer look:

 

Yeah - I live in the country.

No - I will not be having some.

LOL

Weekend Update 11-17-2012 +Addendum

Football

Waiting for the NC State at Clemson game to start. Clemson is a 17 point favorite. That’s 2 touchdowns and a field goal. Sounds about right.

Movie

Before the game, I watched Moonrise Kingdom on dvd. Great movie.

Finally, Wes Anderson makes a movie worth the hype.

Anderson is one of the, strike that, the most overrated director currently working. His movies are pretty good, and quirky, but nowhere near worth their hype. Let me say it again to be clear - he's good - just not that good. But - Moonrise Kingdom? Really, really good. Finally.

In 50 or 100 years when cinema (or its equivalent) is being taught in college (or its equivalent), the Coen Brothers will be held as the epitome of movie making in our age. Wes Anderson will be a well deserved footnote – but a footnote none the less.

Make sure you watch it through the credits. There's a little orchestra lesson in there for you.

Addendum

Clemson 62 - NC State 48. Fourteen point difference - that part is pretty close to expected. But 62 to 48? Yikes!

Normally, if a football team scores 48 points - they've crushed their opponent. Not this game.

Weekend Update 11-11-12

Pretty much a routine week and weekend.

Voted, of course. Work is steady - finishing up 2 large projects and starting some new ones (much smaller).

Football - what can I say. A week after ending Virginia's 6-game losing steak - we come out and play a total game against Wake Forest and trounce them. Go figure.

Get this - both scout.com and cbs are predicting NC State will go to the Peach Bowl. The Peach is the ACC's number 2 bowl pick after the Orange. They predict FSU and Clemson will both go to BCS bowls. Still - how NC State becomes the number three pick is beyond me. Maybe it's more of a statement of how bad ACC football is - when a very sub-par, under performing squad gets to go to the Georgia Dome for the bowl game - ahead of Miami or VT.

And - to make it even more crazy - the bowl game projections are based upon NC State losing to Clemson and winning against Boston College - plus the rest of the ACC teams finishing up as expected. If so - FSU wins the ACC Championship and goes to the Orange Bowl. Clemson finishes with one loss and is an at large BCS team. State, at 7 and 5, goes to the Peach Bowl. BUT - what if State pulls the upset and beats Clemson? Well then, Clemson would be knocked out of the BCS at large and would go to the Peach Bowl and State, at 8 and 4, would go to a lower tier bowl.

What if State had gone 10 and 2 (losing only to Clemson and FSU like expected) - then FSU would play in the BCS Championship or Orange Bowl; Clemson would still be an at large BCS team AND State would STILL be going to the Peach Bowl.

Crazy or what?

The Who

DB gave me tickets to see "The Who" in Greensboro Friday. I wasn't keen on driving to G-boro after work - but glad I did. They may be old - but those guys can still rock out. Of the three 'geezer' acts I've seen this year (Neil Young, Jethro Tull, The Who) - The Who is hands down, not even close, the best.

Basketball

NC State's opening basketball game was the same night. Gave away the tickets to a football friend's sister. Was told she had a great time.

Even though the opening game was against a 'sure win' team - the PNC sold out.

That's hard to do for college basketball - especially a 19,700+ seat place. Although UNCheats (21,000) does it all the time. Maybe we'll start to sell out most games! I sure hope NC State b-ball is back. It's been a long time.

Left Early

I cannot remember the last time I left a football game early. It’s been at least 10 years – maybe 20. I always stay, cheer and clap for the team to show my appreciation – especially important after a loss.

Yesterday we left about 6 minutes into the 4^th quarter. I honestly cannot remember seeing such a dismal effort in years.

We are now 5 and 4. We should end up 7 and 5. Then again, we should have won today. And we should have lost to Maryland and FSU. After yesterday, sure wins against Wake Forest and Boston College are now uncertain.

We are somewhere between a 7 and 5 team - and a 5 and 7 team. Unfortunatly, this has become the norm for the best Coach TO'B can achieve.

Tom O’Brien has given us a stable, clean, slightly above 50 percent winning program for 6 years. However, the ability, passion and desire just isn’t there for him and his staff to take us to a 9 or 10 win program.

He has 3 years left on his contract.  I would like for NCSU to make a coaching change while continuing to pay TO'B what he is due. While I am angry at coaching calls and efforts this year – it is undeniable that TO'B has run a clean program and served NCSU well. He deserves a good retirement.