From Fayetteville Observer’s NC State Basketball Preview:
As hard as it is to believe now, especially for anyone born since 1983, N.C. State was once the program UNC and Duke wanted to pattern themselves after, instead of the other way around.
The Wolfpack won two national championships and enjoyed an undefeated season during a glorious 10-year stretch between 1973-83.
Though the foundation of the Wolfpack’s success was top-shelf coaching and talent, its trademark during the championship era was the passion that flowed from the floor to the stands at the old Reynolds Coliseum.
It’s an emotion that ultimately got out of control and helped lead to the downfall of popular coach Jim Valvano and period of NCAA probation from which State has never fully recovered.
That passion still burns just as hot in the fans that long for a return to the good old days.
But can too much passion, especially where it pertains to low-key coach Herb Sendek, be holding such a renaissance back? And how will this year’s team compensate for the loss of its most passionate member, former ACC Player of the Year Julius Hodge?
At least the first half of the quote was accurate.
But, “can too much passion…be holding such a renaissance back”.
I can’t even figure out what that means. Is this a joke?