". . . I don't know what to think yet."

Clemson - Louisville - Boston College

We won the Clemson game - except not on the scoreboard.

I felt sad but great - knowing the kids could play so well. It didn't seem like they were playing above themselves - more like they were playing to their potential.

I would have felt tons of confidence going into the Louisville game. Knowing we could go toe to toe with the best teams in the Country.

Instead - we decided to curl up in the corner and sulk.

OK - let's write off the Louisville game. Don't even look at the tape. Just forget it and focus on Boston College.

We'll get a good solid win - maybe something like 30's to 10 or so. Good for moral and get us 'back in the game'.

So what do we do? We come in listless and let BC snap their 2-year winless ACC streak.

Losing to Louisville was OK. But not how we lost - completely didn't show up for the game. The Boston College game was both losing AND how we lost.

We have lost 4 games. In ONE game we played well. The other 3 losses - ECU, Louisville and BC - it's like the team didn't even bother to show up. Once can be written off as a fluke, a learning experience, just bad luck or whatever. Three times in half a season? No [bleeping] excuse.

I hate it when people boo. I don't like it when the visiting team takes the field and people boo. I especially hate it when people boo their own team. Especially when it's kids playing the game.

The boos started lightly in the first half. By the end of the game - with the end zone interception by BC - the boos were loud - and long. Almost all of it from the west side stands - the Wolfpack Club stands.

I don't like that. But I damn sure understand it. Yesterday Coach Doeren lost his Wolfpack Club support.

I'm not exactly angry - it's is just a game. But I'm more than disappointed. I feel, not angry, but frustrated and pissed off.

I like Coach Doeren - and I think every coach deserves at least 5 years. But for me - there better be some serious signs of progress starting now and through next season.

Jason said it perfectly: "I don't know what to think yet"

Moral Victories Suck

This wasn't a moral victory. Moral victories are when you play your best but lose to the better team. NC State and Clemson were equal yesterday.

Both made critical mistakes. Both made great plays. It was a game of equals - not a David and Goliath. The difference was State's 13 penalties for 120 yards and 3 missed field goals.

One of those field goals might not should have even happened if the refs hadn't missed an obvious foul.

There were a couple of key plays.

State's 4 down goal line stand keeping Clemson from scoring was huge.

The missed call on 3rd down when State was at Clemson's 19 yard line was equally big. There was a blatantly obvious face mask that the refs missed - which should have been State with 1st and goal on the Clemson 9. (It was on the runner with the ball! How did they miss that?) Instead - the fourth down field goal attempt was blocked.

State played an almost perfect fourth quarter. The coaches made great calls and clock management was perfect. Field goal attempts less than 40 yards are pretty much a given. Usually.

Credit Clemson with making their plays when the game was on the line in OT.

State went down to Clemson with the attitude that we were equals. State executed the almost perfect game plan. Except for the penalties.

Again - it was not a moral victory. It was an OT loss.

Yesterday's game was important.

State is much, much better than last year and going in the right direction. A win over Clemson would have driven that point home.

Even with the loss - State is getting where they need to be. My friend Jason called and said "I'm not upset. I'm happy with what we've got." He's exactly right. We have a good team headed in the right direction and a clean, solid program.

College sports is supposed to be about kids playing a game. But we all know it's big time college football, with TV exposure and lots of Athletics Department's money at stake.

Here's a couple of reminders at just how important yesterday's game was -







Clemson

Coach Dabo Swinney runs a clean program. They have got to got those turnovers stopped. I hope Clemson plays for the National Championship again. And wins.

Louisville

Next Saturday - NC State at Louisville. Noon. ABC national TV.

NC State 2 - ND 0

Upper Left

The game should have been called off.

It didn't need to be rescheduled for this season either. We play @ Notre Dame next year - ND could have been rescheduled to play @ NC State the following year.

It was risky for fans to travel to the game. Of the 60,000 tickets sold - the estimate is 30,000 came to the game. After halftime and the lightening delay - I'd say half came back in - about 15,000.

It seemed as if a lot of calls went against State. A touchdown called back (technically correct - but a pedantic flag).

During the third - State had the ball 11 minutes - ND 4. And yet, the only score was ND tieing the game with a field goal.

With the delay, the weather and the frustrating third quarter- It became an emotional fourth quarter.

During Notre Dame's last drive, it seemed as if every ball placement was generous to ND and converted (by inches) 4th downs. The crowd, as small as it was, was livid and very vocal. They (we) were LOUD. I was surprised by just how loud. And we finally stopped ND on fourth down near the goal line.

I guess by the fourth quarter - those of us who were there were beyond miserable due to the Hurricane. We were 'all in' - and when the game was over - nobody rushed to leave. Instead, everyone stayed to cheer the team and celebrate. In the height of Hurricane Matthew.

This storyboard put together by NC State tells it better than I can - https://spark.adobe.com/page/RXhnkKne0OuKO/

The Defense played a great, total game. Like I expected them to play from the start of the season. It should not have taken until games 4 and 5 to get there. Because of that - I'm still disappointed with our DC.

After all the excitement - State is still likely to go 6 and 6 and squeak into a Bowl Game.

Next up @ Clemson. Noon. ABC. Yikes!

Notable NC State Football Games

These are Notable Games NC State has played since I was in school -

Loss to Penn State on a 51 yard field goal with no time left. I was there along with Boseman. Was still in school.



Defensive penalty on South Carolina with 0 time left - results in one last NC State play - a Hail Mary pass from Erik Kramer caught by Danny Peebles in the end zone. I was there.

Both losses to ECU - in Raleigh - where those jackasses tore down State's goal posts and started riots on the field. I was there both times to see ECU's trailer trash behaviour. Brother-in-law and nephew were at the second one.

Hurricane Fran game (vs. Georgia Tech I think). Loss played Saturday after Hurricane Fran came through Thursday night / Friday morning. CP&L got the power on at Carter-Finley so the game could be played and folks could get out of their powerless homes and catch a break from all the damage and clean up. I was there. Chip, I think, was with me.



Loss at Carolina - TA McClendon ruled down inches from the goal line as time runs out . I was there (along with Chip). Yes - at Carolina. Boseman sent me tickets - I think he got them from the Nike sales rep or someone like that.

Not only there - Chip and I were about 6 rows from the field - end zone side - just past the goal line - right where the runs occurred.

He was IN. The 'knee down' call was bullshit. There's no way the other ref (who was further away) could have seen that in the crowd of guys. Especially since the ref who was right there signaled a touchdown.

Chip and I were the NC State fans closest to the play regardless what any bragging lying bozo says - "who was there" - NOT (besides maybe 5 or 6 other State fans nearby in our section; and the coaches and players on the sideline).

First NC State win over Florida State. I was there. Ed Mussler from work went with me.



Prime Time "College Football Lives Here" come-from-behind upset over Florida State. I was there. Chip and Jason and - Erica?

Amato cried.

2003 Gater Bowl - win over Notre Dame. I was there. Along with sister, brother-in-law; brother and sister-in-law. The game was not as close as the score indicates.

Triple overtime loss at Ohio State. I was there. Along with sister and brother-in-law and Chip. Think we have 'big time' football at State? Brother - go to an Ohio State game. It's a whole 'nother level of college football.

And now the Notre Dame win - played during Hurricane Matthew. Well, tropical storm conditions in Raleigh. Hurricane along the coast. Chip, Jason and Erica.

Electricity

Power was out when we got home. Went out around 10:45 AM after we had left for the game. Lines and poles down along Deep River Road. No power through Sunday. Got a lot read.

The trucks were rolling in as I was leaving for work Monday morning. Power was restored around noon Monday. About 50 hours. Not too bad considering about a Million people in NC lost power.

The power guys have a hard, non-stop, job after a storm. Hat's off and a hearty thanks to them.

Weekend Update 2 OCT 2016 +Addendum

Had fun at the Wake Forest at NC State game. Winning is always more fun than losing. The defense played much better but I'm still of the opinion we need a new DC.

Our kick off, extra point and field goal kicking game last year, and so far this year, has been - let's call it - An Adventure. LOL But, Kyle Bambard kicked a 49 yard field goal. His longest - by far. The coaches say he nails his kicks in practice - hopefully this one helps his game confidence.

Still looking at a 5 and 7 record unless we pull a couple of upsets - best candidates are Notre Dame next week and maybe Miami further down the road. But - don't count chickens yet.

Notre Dame game next weekend is going to be fun.

Ouch

Speaking of long field goals -

UNC-CHeats pulled a big one out their butt at Florida State.

Amazing 54 yard field goal to win it with just 4 seconds left. Just amazing. UNC should give big time thanks to the crimi'Noles for helping them out. A 15 yard pass interference got them close enough to even try.



UNC is on track to go 10 - 2. Wonder if their fans will start showing up for their home games?

Home and Work

I'm always saying there's nothing new to report. That's because I live a typical boring life. Which is good.

Work is doing just fine. Pretty much routine. Which I guess means I've got all my work and projects under control and moving smoothly. I don't like problems and putting out fires - in construction, they are almost always avoidable. After 30 years, I guess I finally know what I'm doing - more or less.

The biggest thing on my radar? Going to Target and getting a new Sonicare toothbrush. Mine died yesterday morning. I don't know if I even remember how to brush my teeth without an electric toothbrush.

Yep - that's it.

Oh yeah - the grass needs cutting.

Addendum

Notre Dame at NC State - Noon Kickoff - ABC Nationwide Broadcast.

I foresee country ham biscuits in my tailgaing future.