Every fan of every school has a cache of moments that are particularly special to them for some reason or another. Because the years of 1980-1985 were so forgettable…1986 came along for me at a time where I was definitely ‘old enough to remember’ while also being somewhat ‘blank’ as it related to NC State football.
Sure I had vague recollections of Lou Holtz. Of course I knew of Ted Brown and Joe McIntosh and enjoyed the Wolfpack’s 1978 Tangerine Bowl win over Pittsburgh. BUT…there just wasn’t much Wolfpack football inside of me until the phenomenally special 1986 season was delivered to us all by the great Dick Sheridan.
Other than the Wolfpack’s thrilling 35-34 win in Chapel Hill in 1986, NC State’s 27-3 throttling of Clemson on CBS was the other ‘best’ game of that season. Considering Clemson’s place amongst college football’s powerhouses at that time, the Pack’s win over the Tigers was bigger for the program than any win that season and will forever live as one of the greatest wins in NC State history for fans of my ‘longitude and latitude.’
Personally, this game has particularly special place in my heart as it was one of the first live games I ever attended with my father - and definitely the first “big game” I ever attended.
I’ll never forget the rain. I’ll never forget the crowd. I’ll never forget the big red horn that I blew for hours (before noise makers were banned). I’ll never forget Haywood Jefferies’ reverse. I’ll never forget getting hom and watching my video tape of the game - that I still have today - and thinking that it was just as awesome on television as it was in person because of so many of the compliments that the CBS crew gave our rising program.
One of the most memorable events for the television audience was Jim Valvano’s appearance and interview in the CBS booth. The interview has been captured on YouTube and is available for you to see below. You ‘youngsters’ who love to argue with people that know more than you and who have experienced more need to watch this for a lot of reasons.
God bless Jimmy V.
I remember that game, wasn’t there, I was in Haw River shopping for kids clothes with my wife and watching it on the store TV. Great game.
And V was a special man.
The most remarkable game was the South Carolina game with Danny Peebles (I think) grabbing a Hail Mary in a final untimed play.
One of the greatest and most endearing moments of my childhood. I attended that game with my father and brother and sat on the hill in the rain and watched Haywood Jeffries “man amongst boy’s” the Tigers. I also remember going with my father the next year to Death Valley and escaping with a HUGE upset. I also remember going back down there in 89 when they broke out the purple jerseys for the first time in years and took it to us. To this day, my least favorite fight song is that damn Clemson one where they spell out C-L-E-M-S-O………..and delay the N. What, after all these years you guys still can’t figure out how to spell your name without having to think about it?
Man, there are very few people that can impact lives like V did (and still does).
Any day with a V clip is a good day.
I was on the grass bank. Not sure I’ve ever been in the midst of a happier throng of humanity.
Whenever I think of Carter Finley and Pack football, this game always comes to mind. I was in the stands that day with my wife and it was her first game in Carter Finley. We both had a fantastic time and the game was so great, we even enjoyed the rain.
We were sitting just down from the pressboxand and I still remember everyone looking back into the pressbox where V was waving to the crowd.
Regarding the great coaching of Dick Sheridan, I believe Tom O’Brien is Dick Sheridan reincarnated when it comes to his football philosopy. I look for great times ahead.
There will never be another Jimmy V
Does anyone have that game on VHS or can burn it to DVD?
I’ve never seen it (most of it). I was supposed to go, but tickets fell through. I made a note to watch the game…and then got the game time wrong. I came in and we were already up huge. I did get to see the V interview, but that was about it.
“I made it ran” awesome!!!
I was in the 8th grade and went with a friend and his family. I’ll never forget it. I remember it raining, but I don’t remember getting wet or being bothered by it at all. Weird.
kool k - As for Clemson breaking out their purple jerseys in ‘89…I was thinking that happened in ‘91. I went to that game as well, and I recall that was the same day as Game 6 of the World Series when Kirby Puckett made an already bad day (State losing) even worse. We listened to the game on the radio on the way home from Clemson.
Yeah, it’s weird how they always forget the ‘P’ in their fight song. I always yell it for them.
It was my freshman year. The Pack had a great run that year. CTC was on the team as was NC hall of Famer Dennis Byrd (who was in Playboy magazine as one of their All American FB player picks for that year) and QB Jim Donnan to name a few.
The team was in the top 5 and 8-0 but ended up #17 after two last second losses to Penn State and Clemson and beat Georgia in the Liberty Bowl.
Other then the “white shoes” defensive painting the special shoes white(required to play on “Astro turf” at the then new Houston Astrodome defeating a top 10 Houston team), the oddest moment was in the DUke game in which the team was far ahead and the game was seconds from ending when we got the ball and the player was on his way for a sure long TD — and a Duke player came off the bench at CF to tackle our guy. Talk about some anger and at the same time it was funny. We never got credit for the TD though.
I used to go to the Textile Bowl in Clempson, but I always missed the “times that we won” and was there “when we got our butts kicked”. I hated that year when they came out with their purple jerseys the first time.
Yep, they always “forget the P”!
I was at that Clemson game…pouring rain and pouring 151 shots down on the old hill behind the goalposts.
After we scored a touchdown, I was shown on TV, shirtless, doing pretty much what college kids do when they are on TV: “Aggghhhh!!!”
It just so happened my Mom was watching the game. When I got home, I had a message on my phone from her: “I saw you on TV today. NICE.”
Even though I loved Mom dearly, I was beyond happy. She’d just have to forgive me. Besides, I had a date with an incredibly attractive EE major that night, and back in those days, they were as rare as free money.
Needless to say, that was a very good day.
They wore purple jerseys in 1989. We were 6-0 and they already had two losses. Ronald Williams was their big TB and he ended up tearing up his knee in warmups (and was never really the same afterwards) and they still whipped us.
We lost five of our last six that year and ended up in the Copper Bowl.
I honestly can’t remember if they broke out the purple in 1991 or not. That was a big game. I *think* that was the year that Carl Reeves recovered a big fumble late in the game and was running it back for a touchdown….only to have the play blown dead.
There was some very odd rule in college football about how a fumble behind the line of scrimmage couldn’t be advanced.
That Copper Bowl was the last college football game of the 80s
It was a rather hard to watch loss to the AZ Wildcats if I’m not mistaken
Happy Friggin New Year and welcome to the 90s Pack Fans, y’all have no idea what’s in store for you!
^ Right you are. Little did we know how far south things were about to go.
I remember that game too. Sliding down the hill in the mud, Public Safety chasing us around the field…
A little side note: at the end ot the video you can see the student banners around the old AE Finley fieldhouse - I recall that we had a home game against UNC around that time, and Phi Kappa Tau made a huge banner of the Wolf giving it to the Ram doggie style, with the message “Phi Kappa Tau says “Ram it home, Pack!”" - it lasted about half of a quarter before being removed, and that, I believe, was the beginning of the end of student banners at Carter-Finley…
In 1986, we played Carolina in Kenan. That was the 35-34, TE-falls-down-on-the-two-point-conversion game.
The rainy Clemson game was my Freshman year. I was at the game but was in the student area behind the visitor sideline. Very wet and very happy.
*I recall that we had a home game against UNC around that time, and Phi Kappa Tau made a huge banner of the Wolf giving it to the Ram doggie style, with the message “Phi Kappa Tau says “Ram it home, Pack!””*
Lol, I remember the banner. However that must have been in ‘87 when we lost 17-14, because the ‘86 UNC game Sheridans first season was @ Carolina.
Oh - ps note for the author:
We beat Clemson 27-3
http://www.jhowell.net/cf/Scores/NorthCarolinaState.htm
noah - yeah, ‘91 was definitely the year Reeves scooped up the fumble near midfield late in the game and returned it for a game tying(?) TD. The rule that disallowed the score has since been changed. I’m almost positive that Clemson wore their regular jerseys during pregame warmups but changed into purple prior to running down the hill.
Thrill - that sounds about right.
That was the first time I had ever heard of that rule. Pretty stupid rule.
noah, I’m searching for that game, too.
Sheridan was a welcome relief after Tom “The General” Reed and rode in on a White Horse Monty “Onside Kick with the lead” Kiffin, (Didn’t Kiffin parachute one one time also). We had such momentum in our program after Holtz and Bo Rein. Then the down years and then Sheridan came in and got it going again. Many don’t remember just how well respected Sheridan was he got courted for both the Georgia and Auburn jobs. Is there a You Tube of the press conference where V the AD and he is standing there with flowers to give Sheridan and announcing Sheridan has turned down another suitor and is staying a State. That was another classic V moment also!
I will never forget this game, I was there with my dad and a friend of his. Just like the FSU game in 98, they scored first and never scored again! We can look forward to a defense much like that one in the very near future!!
89 was the year with the purple jerseys when both we were 6-0 and I thought they were also undefeated??? I think that’s when I really became a Clempson hater! Not to be confused with a Clempson “Tater”!
Craptacular, I have a color sketch of the “wolf doing it to the ram” that I’ve had mounted over my john for over 25 years!!
I remember all the signs and the contests between Frats to come up with the best ideas. They were done on paper and old bed sheets.
With all the political correctness, all the fun has been stolen from college life. I recall the ugly girl contest that the Fraternities held and they posted the pictures in the old student union near the library for voting.
One of the pics was exceptionally ugly in 69-70. Turned out the “girl” was some frat boys butt, sideways, eyses painted on, a wig, and a cigar out the “lips”. Tool a second or two to “get it” but it just got pulled. No suspensions. No big deal. Just kids having fun. Today — they’d jail you and throw you to Nancy Grace.
Oh yea the good ol days. The crazy signs at CF. A 100 plus ski masked students running through the student union trashing the Gay and lesbian booth in 81. The ballot box catching on fire in the spring of 81 and the school having to redo the student elections. But outside of all the craziness of the 83 championship party craziness still one of the greatest scenes I have ever seen was it snowed on campus and about a 100 kids from Tucker and Owen were having a snow ball fight. All of a sudden a loud roar came out of nowhere and what looked like 500 students came around Tucker and attacked the kids from Tucker and Owen. Looked like a scene from Braveheart or something. One of those rare things you experience going to a large university. Gotta Love it!!
That’s a bit scary. But I do recall in the ear;y 70’s going to the PR and hearing about the Campus Streak. We bought a 6 pack to go and walked over to Campus to watch the Student Bodies run nakedly in front of Reynolds. Quite a sight. I love non-violence.
I also remember in Jan 1968 when an ice storm hit and while everyone was cramming for exams, we all went out and grabbed food trays from the cafeteria to ride down the slope at Sullivan Dorm. Great relief from the study tensions.
Every time I see a Valvano tape I remember how special he truely was and how lucky NC State was to have him as Coach and AD. We should be ashamed that we allowed him to be run off………..
That Good Stuff. It was before my time but I heard the cafeteria riots in the 70’s were something to behold. Bad enough they closed the cafeterias and didn’t reopen until the early 80’s. Bet younger grads would find it hard to believe we had to cook in our rooms. Small refrig., toaster oven, and hot plate. That was before the days of microwaves too. Ate good though.
Just like David Thompson as a player, no other single individual at any other university has ever come close to the impact that Jim Valvano’s persona had on NC State athletics, the university as a whole, and the entire nation while he was connected to NCSU, and then beyond. The man loved everything about it, especially the fans, and that’s why in spite of it all he came back, and gave the nation one of the most inspirational speechs anyone could ever want to hear. It was a two way street, he inspired and boosted the spirit of everything surrounding NCSU, and the fans did their best to return the favor for Jim Valvano.
Great coaches are in place once again, let’s now focus our thoughts and prayers on administration.
Highstick….89 was NOT the purple jerseys. 1991 was the purple jerseys in Clemson. We were on the edge of the top 10. 6-0. Had pulled out the Marshall miracle the week prior to the trip to Death Valley. It was DEFINITELY 1991. I was a junior. Living on Iver Johnson Dr. We organized a big trip down for the game.
Sophomore year. I was there with my dad, a friend of the family named George Bell and his wife, who has since passed. It was great. I don’t have it on tape, but I heard that Brent Musburger (check sp) named Dick Sheridan and the coaching staff the player of the game because they thorougly outcoached cheater boy Ford.
I was not at the game, (under the truck changing the engine - outside in the rain), listened to it on the radio. The one comment I remember was Musburger making a comment about how well the field was holding up in the rain. His partner quietly reminded him (in a striaght ‘you have to be kidding voice) that State was a land grant agricultural school.
Without a missed beat Musburger replied, that must explain it. I almost killed myself laughing under the truck, hit my head on the frame.
Is there any other AD or coach who is as entertaining in both the sports media and in the general media?
Lou Holtz in his day could be interviewed on a sports show or the Tonight/Letterman show (like V) and viewers enjoyed what he had to say.
People like that are a rarity. Interestingly enough, both of these guys coached at NC State.
Redfred, with all due respect, I think that Everett Case had more of an effect than Valvano. That doesn’t diminish the great Jimmy V in any way, but without Case, who knows if ACC hoops would have gotten to the level it has attained.
The interview clip gave me chills - ya’ll are right about how special V was and remains. I was up in Boone, and probably drinking very hard the App cocktail party, I mean football game, that day so didn’t see this.
I remember walking home from dad’s office in Harilson (sp?) in 74 or so and passing through the old student union, seeing the signs for a Streak, where to meet and the time. Of course as elementary school kids, my folks didn’t let us go. But we got to listen to the song The Streak instead.
Any of ya’ll remember that time elapsed photo of the woman on top of the beer truck that was on Union Sq after the 74 championship? First off, there is a beer truck handing out beer in front of the capitol. But then there is this woman who gets on top and rips her shirt and bra off! Now is this just my mind fooling me, or did that really happen? Who was at that celebration either after the Marquette game or that saturday afternoon when we beat UCLA?
Sure seems that’s a heck of a lot better then the car burning riots most schools seem to host now after championships.
RAWFS, Case was The Man, and doesn’t - in my book - get nearly the credit he is due. I’d sure like to see us name our court after Case. I picked my screen name because of the street I grew up on, but even as a kid it made me think of Case. Case Court. Or call the whole sports complex, Case Meadows - RBC Center at Case Meadows, and Valvono Court. Be great to have statues of Case and Valvono out side of the RBC.
What a treat! Thanks SFN.
In their days, both Dale Brown and Al Maguire were fantastic interviews and very entertaining.
Everette — I was there. After the UCLA game — the streets at Oberlin and Hillsboro were one huge crowd. I recall sitting down in the middle of that intersection to share a beer or two with some friends. One I was told was an SBI agent who was also drinking his beer there. The Raleigh police probably would have joined in too (if they could have) but they just let everyone have their fun.
There were streakers everywhere, a few girls streaked out of the PR while other streakers climbed telephone poles near the Bell tower. To most of us that Saturday, beating Marquette was a forgone conclusion.
I think that picture is in one of my Agromeck yearbooks (74 probably). I can check.
That Clempsun game was incredible. Did it rain that day? Sheridan was great but the player of the game was Pat Teague, our MLB. Pat was another great story and a super human being.
One other great Clempsun memory is Rodney Williams, their QB for 17 years. I remember starting a chant in the student section, simply chanting Rrrrroooooooddddddnnnnnneeeeyyyyyyy every time he came under the ball. After a few minutes, others joined in, and by the 2nd half, the majority of the crowd was chanting his name in mocking fashion. I think at the time he was a freshman and certainly rattled him.
Pat was a great person. Just being around him made me feel bad for being the heathen that I am….
Rodney Williams was the hero of the 1988 Clemson game. Both teams were ranked in the top-15 (this was the week after the famous FSU-Clemson game).
We won 10-3…the only touchdown came on a Chris Williams sweep after a bad snap on a Clemson punt.
In the second half, Clemson had a guy running wide-open for a sure-fire touchdown…Williams only over-threw him by about twenty yards. When we saw the guy running wide open, everyone groaned. When the pass was thrown, we all just looked at one another and said, “Who was THAT for?”
RAWFS
OK, I’ll concede that Everett Case started it all for basically the entire region. He was just before my time.
I’ll concede on 91 being the purple jersey year. Was that the year that they were both 6-0 going into that game??? I saw them lose down there so many times, the years run together.
noah, I know you a lot of other people will probably disagree, but I think Bobby Knight’s interviews are some of the best.
noah, I was at that 1988 Clemson game. That was the finest defensive football game I’ve ever seen, I think. I remember the crowd chanting “3 in a row” after that. Beating Clemson then was just about as big as beating FSU now (well, now it’s probably “as big”).
Terry Gannon credits Coach V for his success outside of basketball. See this link to David Glenn’s blog from today:
http://www.wral.com/sports/blogpost/1537979/
I have the game on DVD (taken from my videotape). This is, in fact, my youtube video posted here, but where’s my credit, SFN? That’s pretty insulting, JB. What gives, man? You can also see Haywood Jeffires’ TD reverse there, which is the play before the break before the V interview.
http://www.youtube.com/packfanstk
packfanstk —
It could be my fault. I had encountered that youtube linked to something else and forwarded it to JB, saying I didn’t have time to post it.
Oh, and please contact me, urbeowolf AT yahoo DOT com
Hey, beo. No problem with linking the vid. I was just trying to get in a jab at Jeff. We knew each other in our previous lives. ;>)
I’m at work right now, but I’ll shoot you an e-mail from home later this pm.
Cool. I look forward to it.