Wake Forest Gameday – Random Thoughts and Musings
- NC State vs. Wake Forest. Has any rivalry this old ever been so friendly? Outside of that time Chris Paul punched Hodge in the nuts, I don’t remember much bad blood (and even that never spread to the fans, as every Deacon fan I knew was aghast and apologetic).
- Hidden yardage will be the key. I have seen nothing to indicate that Sam Swank will play today, which gives State a chance. Backup Shane Popham isn’t as awful as he was in his first few games, but the dropoff is still huge. Sam Swank is in FG range when the Deacs sniff the 35 yard line (where Wake’s offense frequently begins to stall). Popham’s career long is 44 yards, and all of his FGs don’t make it even that far. Sam Swank can boom 50+ yard punts if he hits them right. On a good day, Popham’s go about 40 yards. Without Swank to leverage a huge field position battle, Wake has to count on…
- Turnovers. Wake has continued winning because they lead the nation with 28 takeaways. But today, the Deacon defense faces a classic irresistable force/immovable object situation – despite frequently playing from behind, Russell Wilson has only thrown one INT all season. His current streak of passes without a pick is the second longest in NC State history. It is exceptionally unlikely that Wake can beat State by forcing Wilson into a turnover machine.
- Don’t underestimate the emotional boost the Pack will get from the home crowd today. Neither the team nor the fanbase has the lingering fear of an 0-8 ACC season in the back of their mind. That should make all parties involved looser, and more focused on the battle at hand.
- As a fan, it’s hard not to look ahead. Assuming Maryland shits the bed today (as I fully expect), only NC State stands between a UNC appearance in the ACC title game (yes, I am leaving Duke out of the equation). I am already extremely tense just thinking about it. I want to beat Wake today. But the desire to knock Butch Davis’ smug ass out of the spotlight is almost overwhelming.
- This is the worst November Saturday TV schedule I can remember. The prime time games are FSU/BC, Okie State/Colorado, Mississippi State/Alabama, and Kentucky/Vanderbilt. Seriously, that’s it. No games between 2 ranked teams.
That FSU/BC game should be thrilling with Bobby B. suspending 5 WR’s…
Agghhh, I can’t stomach WFU, and I consider this game as important as Carolina. All of their capri wearing guys straight off the plane from New Jersey, can’t stand em. Then there are the obnoxiously conceited ladies with their thunder thighs straight off the plane from New Jersey. And their gimmicky football team taking advantage of the decline of FSU and Miami to exert some control over the ACC, yet remain at best a fringe top 25 team.
Don’t forget, these cock suckers beat us early on in PR’s senior year and changed that season forever. Plus the CP3 bag shot, plus they are Wake freakin Forest, who do these guys think they are???? Geez I hope we win.
I think you found ncsumatman’s nerve. The fact that somebody could hit someone in the nuts and still remain in the game was pretty bad. I just want to win because they are in our way. No agenda more than that.
I actually pull for Wake in a lot of instances. If they are not facing us I like them.
We need to win to put some legitimacy in our season. Of course, my first desire is to beat that freggin crowd from CH. I totally despise them.
Maybe with our health getting better, we can go out with a winning streak.
GO NCSU!
“As a fan, it’s hard not to look ahead. Assuming Maryland shits the bed today (as I fully expect), only NC State stands between a UNC appearance in the ACC title game (yes, I am leaving Duke out of the equation). I am already extremely tense just thinking about it. I want to beat Wake today. But the desire to knock Butch Davis’ smug ass out of the spotlight is almost overwhelming.”
BJD95,
That says it all for me especially the “knock Butch Davis’ smug ass out of the spotlight” line. Even that “great writer” Goodman, couldn’t have said it better.
Some days I wonder about my character because fundamentally I think it is wrong to wish the wishes I have for UNX, but I just don’t care to do a damn thing about it.
I can’t believe my football buddy is talking about not going to the game because of the weather. Pussy!
“I think you found ncsumatman’s nerve.”
I’ll second that! LOL!!!
We still have many holes to fill, but we’re about as healthy as we’ve been in some time, and I don’t want to overstate the importance of this game because in the context of this season, it really doesn’t mean a whole lot, but this is a great opportunity for TOB to show the rest of the league what they have to look forward in the future when facing H I S WOLFPACK FOOTBALL TEAM.
You missed the Florida-South Carolina matchup. Don’t count that one out as being a close game!
I actually used to kinda like WF ok like some of you guys, but now I hate them … I’ve said my reasons on here before, but ncsumatman touches on some of it … Their fans (and even their players) “greater than thou” attitudes don’t sit well w/ me at all
I wish we had a team good enough to pound them into submission, but a win will suffice
One week at a time … get this one, and then it’s time to focus on the Chief’s tribe on the Hole
Edit: Does anyone know if our bball game is airing on tv anywhere tonight? I haven’t been able to find it yet … Thanks
“Assuming Maryland shits the bed …”
I howled.
Greywolf-
Your character can’t be questioned until you wish upon Chapel Hell that someone build a tall, thick wall around campus; then release a handful of homophobic, hungry bears…with RPGs and a VENGEANCE. Personally, this crosses my mind at least once a day.
I actually have a pretty good feeling about this game today . . .
I never have a good feeling about State games anymore.
i’ve long followed the pack coverage here and its outstanding. i rarely post and this is actually offtopic but i wanted to share this with statefans. in light of recent conversations here about the N&O’s poor coverage of state i thought i would share what EXCELLENT coverage of the local team looks like. The State newspaper in Columbia, SC provides this site for all things gamecock: http://www.thestate.com/gogamecocks/
good luck to russell and the rest of the pack today, and here’s hoping the hoops squad wrips UNO a new one tonight!
I too am optimistic about this game, as long as RW doesn’t make any uncharacteristic mistakes, I believe we’ll get them. We nearly beat them at their high school stadium last year, and I think we are cresting as a team now, and we were beging to sink last year when we played.
“until you wish upon Chapel Hell that someone build a tall, thick wall around campus; then release a handful of homophobic, hungry bears…”
That statement reminds me, does anyone remember when they were trying to raise interest, and funding, to build the state zoo in Albemarle? Jesse Helms said something like, “I don’t know why they just don’t put a fence around Chapel Hill, everything’s already there.”
i thought the same RF
“Why build a zoo when we can just put up a fence around Chapel Hill?”- Jesse Helms
This is leg two of what I expect to be a memorable 4 game run. We’ve suffered as fans with our team. We haven’t quit on them, and they haven’t quit in their coaches, and winning three games in a row against in-state rivals and the Canes would be karmic.
TE’s will be huge today, look for Ant Hill and Bryan to both have a slew of catches. It’s simple really, whoever wins the TO battle will win. State’s return teams versus their kicker should give an advantage in field position, and the Wake O-line versus the Pack D-line should be another advantage. Can’t wait for this one, let the resurrection commence/continue!
Thanks sf59, I thought it was something like that. Funny stuff.
“Why build a zoo when we can just put up a fence around Chapel Hill?”- Jesse Helms
because Phil Ford would crash into that fence.
Bobby Bowden on ESPN saying, “Name me a school that doesn’t have a black eye somewhere?”
Well Bobby, our close neighbor has had it’s fair share of “black eyes”, it’s just that their’s seem to be more like low grade, henna-type, black eyes. As a matter of FACT, their black eyes seem to wash off and disappear into thin air, even faster than they occur.
FYI, if anyone needs to watch the game(football) on the internet, go to channelsurfing.net and scroll down until you see our game and click on it.
Enjoy.
Hopefully we’ll keep things rolling and get another win today. Go Russell!
Go Pack!!!
Hansbrough must be in there, unc just scored a two pointer.
unc 2, terps 0
TD Bryan!!! RW already has them playing back on their feet … Awesome!!!
NICE DRIVE AND SCORE!!!
Also THANK YOU!!! for the link wpackman33.
Hansbrough must be in there, unc just scored a two pointer.
unc 2, terps 0
yeah, but i bet he took an extra step.