Weekend Update 11-24-2013

Football

These LED Billboards Started Showing Up Across NC Today

(NC State's motto is "Our State" - ECU are the "Pirates")

We are going to have our worst record in - oh - I don't know how many decades.

Dook, on the other hand, is having a great season. I'm pulling for Dook to beat UNC-CHeats next weekend and to wind up playing Florida State in the ACC Championship.

Go Dookies.

Home

Last night the power went off at 3:20 AM (per the recording at Duke Power) due to downed limbs / tree. It finally just came back on at 3:10 PM. Basically 12 hours - on the coldest day of the season (so far).

Let's see - over the past month or so I've had to replace my stove, get the washing machine repaired and now the vacuume cleaner is on the fritz. Plus - I've had my roof repaired / partially replaced and will have to get the rest of it replaced by next spring.

When it rains it pours.

Work

Work is going pretty good. Very busy. Nothing much new to report.

Dook +Addendum

Waiting for the Dook game. Kick off at 4 PM on ESPNU.

Dook is favored by 10 points. Incredible.

But – I’m not at all concerned. Even if we lose.

Here’s why.

When Kay Yow fired T’OB, she addressed the team and told them the what, when, where and why she fired T’OB. She included telling the team that this year would be a rebuilding year. In other words, she told them that they were appreciated, but, frankly, not the caliber of athlete that would be a top 25 contender – which is what she expects.

Enter new Head Coach Dave Doren.

He built up Northern Illinois to a top 10, BCS contender. (As an assistant, he helped do the same thing at Kansas). He left NIU Huskies in great shape and they are continuing this year to another top 10 stellar season (undefeated so far).

IF we had not hired Doeren, he would be THE leading candidate for the Texas job (Mack Brown (if he has any brains) will retire after this year. Or – he’ll be fired).

We’ve got a Head Coach that has proven he can build a top program without thuggery.

He will do it here at State. It will take about 2 or 3 more years for it to happen – but when it does – it’s going to be fun.

I wish Dook well. They deserve the recognition and season they are having. They worked hard for it over the last few years. They wanted to build a winning program – and they have.

State will too.

Addendum

With 3:30 left in the game - State scored the go ahead touchdown. State 20 - Dook 17.

Then - over the next 38 seconds, Dook scored 3 touchdowns. Yep - not a typo - 38 seconds.

Final score:  Dook 38 - State 20.

Kind of sums up State's season.

Smurfs Win

It’s been a really frustrating football season.

State is playing better than our record shows. Especially when considering the injuries our team has been dealing with.

Our high hopes, and probably too high expectations, are now looking like a losing season and no bowl game. With 4 games remaining – we have to win 3 to go 6 and 6 and become bowl eligible.*

At this point, we’re starting to play for ‘next year’.

However, for me – the bottom line is this –

NC State used to be –

James Oblinger – Chancellor

Lee Fowler – Athletics Director

Herb Sendek – Basketball Coach

Tom O’Brien – Football Coach

State is now -

Randy Woodson - Chancellor
Debbie Yow - Athletics Director
Mark Gotfried - Basketball Coach
Dave Doren - Football Coach

I'll take what we are now over what we used to be any day of the week and 6 times on Sunday.

*The 6 win rule should be changed. Back when the season was 11 games - 6 wins meant you had a winning season to be bowl eligible. A bowl loss - and you were no worse than an even record. The regular season is now 12 games. To be bowl eligible - teams should have at least a 51% winning record - which would mean 7 wins.