Tim Peeler has neat piece up on GoPack.com. (Link)
I’m looking for a little help. To help celebrate the 40th anniversary of Carter-Finley Stadium, the athletics department is looking to identify the top seven games ever played at NC State’s home football stadium.
After we have identified the top 20 candidates, we’re going to conduct a fan poll that will whittle it down to seven. Each of the games selected will then be recognized at a home football game this fall during the season-long celebration of the stadium’s 40th birthday.
Peeler says that he is looking for the “top seven games ever played at Carter-Finley Stadium”, but he only lists NC State victories (and one tie) as potential candidates. Therefore we need to focus only on NC State wins (non-losses) as opposed to just the “best games played” which may yield some different results.
Peeler has listed 15 top candidates and is hoping that readers can make it more comprehensive. I am going to hold off on comprising my list of the actual Top 7 until later. For now, the goal is to throw out some other games to add to Peeler’s list of candidates that inlcude:
(1) NC State 42, Virginia 21, Oct. 29, 1966
(2) NC State 13, North Carolina 7, Sept. 16, 1967
(3) NC State 28, North Carolina 26, Oct. 6, 1973
(4) NC State 12, Penn State 7, Nov. 9, 1974
(5) NC State 8, Florida 7, Sept. 20, 1975
(6) NC State 27, Indiana 0, Oct. 4, 1975
(7) NC State 28, Duke 7, Nov. 17, 1979
(8) NC State 27, Clemson 3, Oct. 25, 1986
(9) NC State 23, South Carolina 22, Nov. 1, 1986
(10) NC State 43, Duke 43, Sept. 1988
(11) NC State 28, Georgia Tech 21, Oct. 5, 1991
(12) NC State 24, Florida State 7, Sept. 12, 1998
(13) NC State 38, Syracuse 17, Oct. 1, 1998
(14) NC State 30, Georgia Tech 23 (OT), Sept. 21, 2000
(15) NC State 17, Florida State 7: Nov. 23, 2002
^That is a GREAT LIST. Remember, the games don’t necessarily have to be phenomenal comebacks or closely fought affairs. Don’t forget to weigh “significance” of the game into the equation. For example, 1989’s 40-6 destruction of Carolina would be a candidate on my list because of the significance of such a trouncing against the Heels.
A few others that immediately popped into my mind for consideration:
NC State 24, Duke 23: 1994
The Blue Devils were nationally ranked and having a dream season under first year Head Coach, Fred Goldsmith. Duke led 23-7 in the fourth quarter when Terry Harvey and the rest of the Wolfpack launched a comeback that will not be forgotten.
NC State 15, Marshall 14: 1991
Dick Sheridan’s Wolfpack was 5-0 and climbing the national rankings. Former Wolfpack QB, Jim Donnan’s Thundering Herd were building a mid-major power and were nothing to overlook. The Wolfpack fell into the trap on a beautiful October afternoon that fell on the weekend of fall break. With most of the students gone, and the Wolfpack eyeing a nationally televised contest at Clemson the following week (purple jerseys), State fell behind 14-3 before scoring two touchdowns with less than two minutes to go to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. I was one of the few students remaining in the stands at the end of the game.
For the sake of time, I am going to leave my suggestions at those two for now. I’ll be back with more later, but would love to hear your thoughts now. Ultimately, I’d like to take everyone’s candidates and comments and contruct a “Top 25 Wins” of all-time entry. So, please don’t hesitate to chime in with games that may be a little further down the list than the Top 7. Thanks!
The early 1986 tie against Pitt (14-14, I believe - after a late TD, 2 point conversion, and long Cofer FG) was really the catalyst that set that season in motion. IIRC, we got at least a half-page write-up in SI after that game (back when SI was still relevant).
I also don’t see how the (1979?) loss to Pitt doesn’t make the list, as heartbreaking as it was.
The 1988 home win against Clemson was also pretty exciting, and it was very relevant as it made us the first (and only) team to defeat a Danny Ford coached Clemson team 3 years in a row.
^ I agree about the losses. So, I added to the entry that it seems that Peeler was only focused on non-losses.
I thought about the 1988 home win vs Clemson (10-3) and figured that it was probably not “exciting enough” to make most people’s list. I figure that it will end up being in a “Top 25″ list.
2 of my fondest memories of the fall of freshman year were of the 10-10 tie with Pitt where everyone was stomping their feet as State tied it making the stands shake and quiver, and the 27-3 whipping of Clemson on a rainy and miserable, but very happy day. That 27-3 game signaled that Dick Sheridan was creating a State team that couldn’t be taken lightly, as Clemson had been the team to beat in the ACC for years beforehand.
Unfortunately for reasons I can’t remember I didn’t get to see the South Carolina miracle pass.
oh man, I remember that GT game in 2000. River was unbelievable. I also remember the students broke the unofficial record for ‘longest post-game celebration.’ The goalpost was marched up the hill, over the gate, and all the way to Waffle House on Hillsborough before the police finally ran everyone off.
We won that 2000 GT game because of Brian Williams’ fumble recovery in the end zone at the beginning of the 2nd half.
On a pure “excitement” level, Rivers’ first game vs Arkansas State will have to make an extended list (Maybe Top 25?). Carolina game 2003 (Rivers & Coatchery Senior year) may make a Top 25 list.
I guess the obvious choices for me are:
The first win against FSU
The win against Syracuse and McNap.
If you include a loss I would have to say the Penn State game in the late 70’s.
^ The Thursday night win vs Syracuse is a great call.
Best game I ever saw at Carter-Finley was NC State 23, South Carolina 22, Nov. 1, 1986. Offsides gave us the send life we needed for Kramer to pull it out. That was EXCITING and fun.
Yes! The Thussday night win v. Syracuse!
The ‘91 Dead show should find a place somewhere too.
I’m thinking that we may ultimately rank these games on certain criteria. Maybe a 5 point scale for each of the following for each game:
* Excitement of Win
* Significance of win to the program
* Significance of win for the season
* Atmosphere at Game
* Intangibles
Thoughts?
For example…the 1986 win vs USC might rate the following:
Excitement Win = 5
Significance / program = 4
Significance / season = 4
Atmosphere = 3
Intangibles = 5
TOTAL: 21 of 25 points
I vote for the win against Clemson in 1986. Clemson was nationally ranked and the game was on national TV, I think. Sheridan’s first big win. One of the few times I’ve really enjoyed being soaking wet.
Before I even write this entry, I know it goes against everything that I believe, but, I feel like it has to be written.
One of the best games ever played in CFS did not involve the Pack. I know this may seem blasphemous, but bear with me. In 1999, East Carolina University, reeling from the devestation of Hurricane Floyd, had their game with Miami University moved from Dowdy-Ficklen to CFS.
With ECU facing a 23-3 deficit in the 3rd quarter, the momentum changed and the rest is history. A top ten Miami squad that featured Santana Moss and Clinton Portis(his coming out party, by the way) was outdone by 24 straight points from the Garrard led squad. Garrard was 20-27 for 222 in the second half.
Now, I know this may be off of the topic, but I know that was a great moment in CFS, without a doubt. Looking at the scale mentioned above, I would have to say:
Excitement Win - 5 , no doubt, because of the significance of the disaster in Greenville
Significance/Program - 4
Significance/Season - 3
Atmosphere - 5, displace ECU fans in a hated stadium against a hated school.
Intanibles - 5
22 OVERALL, now let the bashing begin, I know, I know.
BTW my buddy wouldn’t let me leave the 91 Marshall game. FREAKIN AWESOME GAME.
SFN: No game played on a field that didn’t even include the colors of the schools participating, in front of stands that were half full and anyone in town could get a ticket to can be “5″ on atmosphere.
I understand the atmosphere deal when no one is playing a true “home game”, but I was at the game and there is something to be said for the passion of the fans that did make the trip. They were very animated. Probably more of a stress reliever than anything. I thought that made the atmosphere for sure a four. Point taken, I’ll concede the five.
1974 12-7 win over penn state—they were top five at the time—8-7 win over florida—johnny evans rushing for the two point conversion late in the game for the win—same season—or—1975—honorable mention—any win over the tar heels—
BJD: You are right, the ‘86 Pitt game was indeed 14-14, not 10-10 as I mistakenly remembered.
For reference, this is a great source:
http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/NorthCarolinaState.htm
Most upsetting game was the Kiffin on-side kick against Carolina. Not only upsetting because of the fact that State lost but also the fact that we let go of Monte for Tom Reid. Next to Holtz probably the smartest coach ever to prowl the Wolfpack sidlines. 3 years and we gave Herbert 10? If memory serves State’s Coach K 6-5, 5-6, 6-5.
I’ll never forget the parachuting onto the baseball field and the Lone Ranger ride down donw Hillsborough St. As a 12 year old the arrival of V and K where something special.
“Long considered the NFL’s best defensive coordinator and famed architect of the ‘Tampa Cover 2 D”
-MK Tampa Bay Bio
I’d have to say the 38-14 win over East Carolina in 1986. Why? Well, for one at tleast the previous two years we had lost to sub-par ECU teams under the great Tom Reed. Second, it gave all Pack fans hope that we had one heck of a coach in Sheridan. After a 6-1 record against the Tarholes the rest was just gravy under Sheridan!
I would have to vote whole-heartedly with the first win over FSU (I forget the exact year now, ‘98 maybe?). I was in the marching band and we were still working on getting off the side of the field and into the stands after the pregame show when FSU scored on it’s first play from scrimmage. 17 seconds into the game. At that point everyone was saying to themselves (and anyone in the area near them): “Damnit! We’re supposed to be decent this year! This is going to be yet another FSU blowout of NCSU”.
And then NC State took the game over. Very few times have I ever seen one team so completely take a game over, especially against an opponent that was every bit as good as them if not better. When FSU would drive down the field, we would intercept. When we drove, FSU’s defense broke down.
To my mind, it was the turning around of the program as we had a couple miserable years just prior to that.
We beat a Jim Donnan coached Marshall team on a hail mary didn’t we? It was a game we were obviously supposed to win but were down big in the second half if I recall correctly… and I might not be. Was anyone else at that game? I was in middle school I reckon so I don’t remember everything about it. A little help?
^ It really wasn’t a “Hail Mary” in the purest sense. It was about a 50 yard pass with about 14 seconds to go in the game (IIRC)
i remember the Marshall game.. we ( 4 of us) were riding around listening to the radio and my friend said ‘ If we win this game, i will give all of you a blow job’.
Well, we won. No one spoke of the reward.
The FSU win was tarnished by the fact that O’Cain managed to coach the team to a loss against freakin Baylor the next week. Baylor??? Not the Grant Taft’s 1974 Cotton Bowl Champ team but one of the worst teams in the country. O’Cain shouldn’t of been allowed to return to NC State’s campus after that game.
Jeff: I traveled to Waco for this nightmare. It would have been bad enough without that 110 degree temperature reading on the field. It was brutal. Our players feet were literally burning in their shoes. Players were asking to get put into the game because the movement made their feet feel better than just roasting on the sideline. Thank God for George’s Bar and Ninfa’s Margaritas.
“I understand the atmosphere deal when no one is playing a true “home gameâ€?, but I was at the game and there is something to be said for the passion of the fans that did make the trip. They were very animated. Probably more of a stress reliever than anything. ”
Look - I’m sure when the doldrums of summer hit, you’ll see a blogpost here about how one of the great myths of the region is that ECU fans are the best in the state. I saw the game that day on TV - but I could care less - not my team. They were just using our stadium - and go figure, the savages tore down our goal posts again.
That’s a pretty good list. I’d probably have to add the victory over the heels in 2003 to the list since we hadn’t beaten them in C-F since 1990 or 91.
Another candidate would also have been the UVA-State game in 2003 where TA scored in the last minute of the game. Good list though.
I was at George’s a few months ago on my way through Waco. George’s is the only saving grace for those Baylor kids in an otherwise unlivable town.
Very few times have I ever seen one team so completely take a game over, especially against an opponent that was every bit as good as them if not better.
Chris Weinke setting a conference record with 6 INT’s didn’t hurt State’s chances any.
That Marshall game was a classic. We had to execute 2 on-side kicks to win that thing.
Was that not Weinke’s first start of first ACC game?
Correct. Weinke’s first game. To be fair to our boys, he didn’t have another game like that the rest of his first season.
Was it 6 ints? Wow
My memory (which fails me more often than it used to) is that Weinke was taken from the game with 5 INT and a tie in the record books. When the backup couldn’t move the ball, Weinke was put back in and set the record.
Even with the support from Weinke, I would put that win over FSU in the top 5 CF victories.
The SC win with the TD pass to Peebles has to be #1.
Checking the official stats at acc.com, Weinke’s record only lasted a few weeks. On Nov 14, 1998, the Duke QB had 7 interceptions against UMD.
The 1986 Clemson game was pretty sweet. The 40-6 UNC CH thrashing in 1989 was pretty good as well. Not to mention in 2003 when they made Philip run a 3rd down play once in the first half. 1986 tie w/ Pitt was pretty good also. Most memorable loss was the Penn State field goal my freshman year 1979.
One that deserves consideration was the UVa game in 2003. Seniors and ACC players of the year Phillip Rivers and Matt Schaub battling it out. It was 37-all late in the game before TA McLendon burst 44 years for a score followed by quick int for a touchdown. The 51-37 score somewhat obscures the closeness of the game, but I think it is probably in the top 5 games in the 29 years I have been going to games at C/F.
I miss the old Carter Stadium before the lawyers got involved. When sliding down the end zone hill(s) was not only acceptable but expected. The all out battles for the ball on field goals and PAT. The attempt to get away from the troopers and staff with the ball. The woods behind the field house providing cover for the HS and college students to smoke it up and drink their minds away. The smell of bourbon in the stands. I miss the 1970’s style family outings.
The 1975 game with USC has to be listed as one of the best in C-F’s history, IMO. This was Lou Holtz’s last home game as our head coach, as well as the Buckey brothers. It was a late afternoon-early evening game on a perfect November day.
USC led most of the way, and stopped Ted Brown on 4th and short twice that game. The pack finally took the lead for the first time with about 4 minutes to play. USC had a QB named Jeff Grantz that then marched the ‘cocks down the field for a go-ahead TD with about a minute and a half to play. After the kickoff, Dave Buckey then marched the pack down the field for the winning TD with only seconds remaining. Ted Brown had a big play on a middle screen on that possession. The game was on regional TV, which was a big deal in those days.
The whole season was built on miracle plays, with the exception of a home loss to WFU. That season had the 8-7 win over Florida on a late TD and Johnny Evans’ 2 point conversion, a CF victory over the heels where Mike Voight was run out of bounds on what would have been the winning 2 point conversion, winning at Penn State, Ted Brown running over Lee Corso’s Indiana Hoosiers in Ted’s first varsity game, and two late touchdowns at Duke to salvage a tie and secure a Peach Bowl bid. It was my last season as a grad student, and the most fun football season in my life.
tmb - I mentioned that one too, but half the games on this list were before my time so I can’t really comment. That UVa game was definitely the most “electric” game recently.
Surprised no one’s mentioned the 9-7 loss
to Penn St. in ‘75 or ‘76. As heartbreaking as it was, Wow! What a game! The pin-drop silence in C-F after that last-second line drive field goal (something in excess of 50 yds) is something I’ll never forget.
SFN: Only wins
The 1994 Duke game was great. I’m not saying that this decided the outcome, but, when we were down 23 - 7, our mascots beat the crap out of the Duke mascot. There was a huge cheer from the crowd, and the players looked to see what was going on. It was all NC State the rest of the way! Duke’s kicker missed 3 FGs after that, I think. Definitely a great comeback to a surprisingly good Duke team that year.
If you include a loss I would have to say the Penn State game in the late 70’s.
I mentioned it above but I thought it was a little later. I was about 7 standing by the fence next to the end zone where the players would come out of the locker room. Back in the day I watched many of game from that vantage point. Of course kids can’t get near there now or at least before they moved to locker rooms to the other side. It was great to be able to get so close to the team as a kid.
Of topic but does anyone remember the blind guy that used to be on the field almost every game in the 70’s? He carried a red and white stripped walking stick and would listen to play-by-play while standing in the area around the locker room but he would be on the field. Everyone seemed to know him and I have a vivid memory of him as a kid.
The 1994 Duke game was the only home game (other than patsies over Fall Break) that I missed during my student tenure. It was the one time I didn’t handle getting the tickets, and my “substitute” couldn’t find them when we were ready to head to the stadium.
The 1986 USC “Hail Mary” win was quite bittersweet, in that Erik Kramer was injured on the winning play, and unavailable for the following week’s game at (terrible) UVA. The backup QB (Cam Young?) was brutal, and we lost something like 14-9, costing us the ACC title that year (5-2, second to 5-1-1 Clemson).
Games not already on Peeler’s list:
1975 State v USC (see 74 eegrad’s description)
1987 State v Maryland. Pack wins 42-14 after jumping out to a 28-0 first quarter lead. State was winless and Maryland was ranked and undefeated.
1990 State v Western Carolina. Defense holds Cats to zero first downs for the game. Pack wins 67-0.
1991 State v UNC-CH. Sebastian Savage takes a late pick 95 yards for a clinching TD. State 24-7.
2003 State v UVa. I don’t know how Peeler missed this one. Matt Schaub and Philip Rivers put on a great show, decided by a TA McLendon 40 yard TD run with 38 seconds left and the game tied 37-37. Pack then adds a pick-six and wins 51-37.
^Very good calls!!
The Syracuse game was one of my favorites and the Marshall 15-14 game too. Both of which were mentioned here.
NINETEEN SEVENTY FOUR-FIVE
Back when a man was a man, the WOLFPACK was the WOLFPACK, and NC STATE (WILLINGLY SOUGHT OUT AND PLAYED) and eventually thumped a some of the top programs around.
Still am and always will be, but in any sport at the time, those were the days to be absolutely proud to call yourself a WOLFPACK fan.
For Personal reasons, the 1991 Game against Marshall was right up there with the 1986 Game against South Carolina. I will never forget that day against Marshall. My grandfather, who was the Pack’s defensive coordinator during the Earle Edwards days, was buried earlier that day in 1991, but my family thought it was appropriate to go to the game after the funeral….he would have wanted us to be there rooting on the Pack. I will never forget the feeling I had when we recovered the onsides kick and ultimately won the game. It was as if my grandfather was smiling from above…it was a pretty special ending to a very sad day for me.