Doeren and Staff Make an Impression

Helmet Up

Back in March, a handwritten NC State Football recruiting letter made somewhat of a splash on the various social media platforms.  Opinions on the letter varied from “over the top” to “amazing”.

We here at SFN even got in on the act.  And the letter was even (poorly) lampooned by other schools/recruits.

But what has become more and more apparent in the 4+ months since that letter first made it’s debut on Dexter Wright’s instagram account is this….

Dave Doeren and staff are doing something right.

With 22 commits thus far, the 2014 recruiting class is currently ranked #17 by Rivals.com, #24 by Scout.com, and #27 by ESPN.com.

Those numbers might not be head-turning at places like Tuscaloosa, Austin, Columbus or Ann Arbor.  But in Raleigh, for a brand new staff, and coming off of a season which was less than eye-opening (well…not in a good way at least), they’re pretty damn impressive.

Plus, the current personnel seems to be buying into what Doeren and company are selling as well….

Doeren, staff bring excitement and creativity to N.C. State (FoxSportsCarolinas.com)

“That’s our coaches. They are those type of guys on the Internet,” [Rashard] Smith said. “That’s their personality. That’s how they are in person. They’re upbeat, they’re excited.

“You’ve got some coaches … who use words like ‘You’ve got to go out there and ball today.’ Coach Doeren’s favorite word, he likes using the word ‘swagger’. Each coach has his own way of putting things, but at the same time, they all mean the same thing.”

Doeren’s hard work on the recruiting trail won’t matter much until next year, and this year, he inherited a roster full of players he didn’t recruit. The adjustment has been relatively seamless, in spite of the differences between last year’s head coach Tom O’Brien and Doeren.

[snip]

“The coaches are around all the time. They’re great guys. People go to them just to go talk,” Smith said. “We could sit down and talk about ice cream. We don’t always talk about football with them. The coaches just love being around the players.”

Still, it’s a delicate balance between respect and friendship when it comes to the coach-player relationship. And Doeren knows that. “We talk openly about a lot of things, but when it’s game time or work time, they understand I’m here and they’re here and they need to do what the hell they’re supposed to do,” Doeren said. “I think they appreciate both sides of it. I like to work hard and I like to have fun, and I do both with our guys.”

There’s already plenty of fun being had around the N.C. State facilities, both on and off Twitter. Last season, N.C. State didn’t live up to expectations in the eyes of some, and burdened by that weight, the players didn’t always seem like they were enjoying themselves.

Virtually expectation-free this year, the players do feel freer. But they also feel a sense of excitement that wasn’t there before. A sense that maybe hasn’t been around this program since the animated Chuck Amato was the head coach.

“Just a lot of energy, a lot of excitement and a lot of passion,” [Dontae] Johnson said. “That fire is back again with N.C. State football. It’s just something you look forward to. Fans are excited, players are excited, recruits are excited to come watch us play and just see what N.C. State football is all about.”

About Wufpacker

A 2nd generation alumnus and raised since birth to be irrationally dedicated to all things NC State. Class of '88 and '92.

Coaches Dave Doeren Football Recruiting NCS Football

22 Responses to Doeren and Staff Make an Impression

  1. wolfonthehill 07/27/2013 at 8:07 AM #

    “We talk openly about a lot of things, but when it’s game time or work time, they understand I’m here and they’re here and they need to do what the hell they’re supposed to do,”

    That’s pretty awesome…

  2. Dogbreath 07/27/2013 at 8:13 AM #

    Meh…I’d rather our players be associated with freak ems, south beach, cupcakes, loaded 9mms, plagiarism, strip clubs, felons, and so forth. You know, nobility.

  3. BJD95 07/27/2013 at 9:08 AM #

    The relatability and energy of a younger staff (especially the head man) sounds like it was sorely needed. DD doesn’t seem to have the ego or narcissism of Amato, so I am not super worried about an overcorrection back into an undisciplined hot mess.

    He also seems to recruit positions other than DL and “athlete.” Huzzah!

  4. Tau837 07/27/2013 at 11:52 AM #

    I’m very happy with what Doeren and staff have accomplished so far. But I don’t put too much stock in those class rankings.

    I’ve read elsewhere that the point value of our class would typically rank it in the 40s-50s; we are just ahead of many programs in the number of commits. If this is off base, someone please correct me.

    Don’t get me wrong, I agree it is already an improvement on TOB’s typical results, and that is a good thing. Just trying to get the most objective view possible.

  5. Wufpacker 07/27/2013 at 12:58 PM #

    Agreed that the final class ranking will likely be different once all the beans are counted. But it’s the momentum which the staff was able to get going which is rather impressive given the situation they came into.

    Also, what BJD said.

  6. BJD95 07/27/2013 at 1:22 PM #

    Coming into a bleak situation, with no prospects for immediate on-field success…I would be super impressed with DD if he lands an initial class ranked in the 30ish range. That would be a damned fine start, and already a huge improvement on what we have been doing.

  7. Gowolves 07/27/2013 at 1:51 PM #

    Yeah the class rankings and stars don’t matter at the micro level. The reality is the whole team needs upgrading in talent. The rankings and stars just give us the inclination that they can play. Get as many good players as possible and let them fight for playing time. To be successful they need to establish depth. That takes a few recruiting classes. This coming year they don’t have to go 8 and 4 to have a good year. We need to see the players buy in and have a hard working competitive team. I think this coaching staff will provide a offense and defense that kids will love to play in.

  8. PackerInRussia 07/27/2013 at 2:58 PM #

    As I was reading the article, my eye kept glancing at the ACC Digital Network video that plays in the ads section. It was showing clips from the ACC football kickoff and had coach interviews with their team’s helmet in front of them. It was weird to see Syracuse and Pitt on there. But when they showed Maryland, I had to look at the coach’s face to figure out who the team was because of the funky yellow/black helmet.

  9. McPete 07/27/2013 at 3:36 PM #

    About the class rankings, If DD lands Street/Thompson/Scott (even two of those three) then the final ranking will be high too.

    Comparing it to past recruits, it’d be like landing Mario Williams, Keith Marshall, and Kennan Allen in one class. All three are top NC kids who are being recruited by national powers and typically go out of state. Would be HUGE to get these guys. TOB couldn’t land top skill position guys and it showed generally.

  10. choppack1 07/27/2013 at 6:12 PM #

    As bleak as this situation is.. the situation was worse 5 seasons ago.

    I like what I’ve heard about this staff. They appear to be doing all the right things…

    Just got done watching Clemson LSU… college football is simply the best game in the world. Nothing is close.

    Unfortunately, I have a feeling the playoffs are the beginning of the end.

  11. rtpack24 07/28/2013 at 9:17 AM #

    I think the staff has done an amazing job recruiting in such a short period of time. Two huge recruits that will play this year are transfers, Mitchell and Copeland. Both of these guys will have a major impact on this season.

  12. Virginia Wolf 07/28/2013 at 6:27 PM #

    I’m excited about this staff. I think they are doing the right things well! I agree with choppack1 regarding the new playoff system. I pray this is not the end of the greatest game played “College Football!” It the best game around right now!

  13. BJD95 07/28/2013 at 8:02 PM #

    I will do a longer post one of these days, but I truly believe that college football will only get better as the post-season gets more rational. It’s insane for the regular season to be so much more interesting than the post-season (which right now sucks).

    The whole “every game counts” is and will remain relevant. But we watch regular season games because they are a great, entertaining sports product (that has only gotten better with time, thanks to the reasonable NFL draft entry rules). We will just keep up and increase the excitement during the playoffs. Not having perverse incentives will (there is such a huge benefit to maximize chance of going undefeated now, which weakens schedules and hurts fans) improve the regular season.

    College basketball regular season is not weaker because it’s a tournament sport – it’s weaker because the overall quality of play has gone down over time. The AAU-ization has taken a toll, and certainly the mass rush to go pro. We all watched ACC regular season games in the 80s through mid 90s because they were great entertainment. Now…they’re not. And it’s not the tourney’s fault – it’s the only think that keeps us watching at all.

    On the other hand, college football gets better because Nebraska and Notre Dame can’t hoard all the talent with 120-man rosters anymore. The talent is spread out enough that more teams have a shot, with innovative strategies. And we as fans get to see more teams and games as the regional model for TV coverage collapsed in the cable/satellite/streaming era.

  14. john of sparta 07/28/2013 at 8:36 PM #

    +BJD95+.

  15. 13OT 07/28/2013 at 10:32 PM #

    I remember that when Philip Rivers had just come aboard at State, people were saying that he was “the real deal”. The Arkansas State game, his first, erased any doubts about the future for #17.

    I have the same feeling about Dave Doeren. I think he’s the real deal, and I can’t wait for this season to kick off. This Wolfpack team just might sneak up on the ACC this season.

  16. choppack1 07/28/2013 at 11:45 PM #

    Bjd- I understand what you are saying and you may be right.

    One thing is certain, this will either make college football even better or it will hurt it, but the game will change forever.

    My guess is at schools like nc state, you will see interest decline significantly.

    The playoffs will be a boom for the powerhouses… but for the middle-tier schools it will be the beginning of the end I suspect.

    One of my theories is that one of the reasons college football is so popular is that the fans who attend the games are more likely to be rewarded. There is almost always something to be excited about with your squad. A playoff system will change that.

    College basketball’s regular season and conference tournament’s don’t matter and it shows in attendance and ratings. I don’t think the game has gotten that much worse.

  17. BJD95 07/29/2013 at 7:27 AM #

    Remember that the ACCT was an extremely hot ticket until about 15 years ago. Way after expansion of the tourney to 64 teams. I do think the product has deteriorated that significantly. The flip side of that is that said deterioration has made it more feasible for mid-majors to make the Final Four. So the tourney action has gotten even better (most years).

    In-person attendance suffers from the fast-escalating costs (way above inflation, I’m sure – though I haven’t crunched the numbers), increased crackdowns on tailgating, security checks and related delays, and the vast improvement in the gameday experience for the home viewer.

    I love college football. NC State first and foremost, but generally as well. I can watch in comfort and in HD from my living room, while my daughters run around with friends (they check in on the score once in awhile…but it’s not riveting to them). Food and drink are exactly what I want (though these days it’s more likely to be Mexican Coke than booze), and reasonably priced.

    I can watch key moments of other games at commercial breaks, or when our game gets dull or too annoying. I have easy WiFi access to the always entertaining SFN commentariate. In short…a good experience.

    Alternatively, I can pay tens of thousands on tickets, booster club and LTR fees, parking, and overpriced bad food and drink. Drag my kids along, who usually start asking when the game will be over by the 2nd quarter. Wait upwards of 30 minutes in an understaffed, overzealous security line for no good reason. Really uncomfortable seating, especially for someone who’s had neck and back problems (my knee is killing me at present, getting old sucks out loud). Spotty cell coverage to check SFN. Can’t watch other games, and very rarely even get score updates.

    It’s pretty easy to see how the in-person attendance can decline, even if fan interest stays the same or increases.

  18. 13OT 07/29/2013 at 9:29 AM #

    A very good and thought-provoking post by BJD directly above. I still enjoy going to the games but the thing that will eventually drive me away will be the schedule, which with expansion is going to bring in a boatload of far-flung schools that I simply don’t want to see . And I’ve been to Chestnut Hill and it was ok, but give me Durham instead- it’s closer and a lot cheaper.

    The ACCT hasn’t been the ticket it once was, but that doesn’t mean people no longer like it. What has really killed the ACCT is going to a 4-day event; now, we’ll have to endure FIVE days of it, and when it moves to NYC, it’ll be bye bye for most of us Big Four fans.

    I can’t speak for others, but as someone who buys season tickets, all I ever wanted to see was the long-time rivals come here- Duke, UVA, GT, and Virginia Tech. Unless ACC officials decide to re-align the conference next season, I predict a lot of long-time supporters of Big Four schools will figure out that they’d rather buy that big-screen HDTV and quit spending boatloads of money on tickets to see the former Big East teams that supposedly have saved the ACC, according to the Gospel of St. John.

    The Big East sucked. Now, the ACC sucks.

  19. VaWolf82 07/29/2013 at 8:17 PM #

    Not having perverse incentives will (there is such a huge benefit to maximize chance of going undefeated now, which weakens schedules and hurts fans) improve the regular season.

    The need to go undefeated (for everyone not in the SEC) will remain high with a four-team playoff. But the even bigger factor is the need to maximize home games to maximize revenue. So I don’t see playoffs improving the regular season.

  20. VaWolf82 07/29/2013 at 8:21 PM #

    My guess is at schools like nc state, you will see interest decline significantly.

    I don’t follow your logic. State has never, ever had a season that garnered serious national championship consideration. So exactly what would a playoff change for State fans?

  21. BJD95 07/29/2013 at 9:12 PM #

    True, it’s not like the bowls are going away. Even in a 16-team formulation, bowls will remain to provide cheap to produce tv fodder.

    I assume that at least an 8 team playoff is inevitable, that will open up scheduling at least somewhat. I hope 16 is inevitable, I would hope that came along with centralized scheduling among the conferences that control most of the new, huge playoff $$.

  22. packalum44 07/30/2013 at 3:18 PM #

    If DD can recruit at the level of Amato and be a James Franklin type of talent, we’ll hit a high water mark for NC State football.

    The demographics in the state are terrific for football. Recruiting to the ACC when the SEC is so close is the biggest long term challenge. Plus Charlotte has the most talent and is so close to the mustard state that it impedes the competitive advantage of “in-state” recruiting.

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