CTC: “We Look Like Shit out There”

'06 Football General41

What a day yesterday! An awful lot of NC State ‘stuff’ to discuss. Please don’t hesitate to scroll down a bit and do some catch-up reading.

We’re not going to reveal any sources for this entry, but SFN has been lucky to develop a relationship with someone very close to the football program who has given us the approval to share some of his/her thoughts and observations from the sideline of Saturday’s game. The following are some things seen, heard and observed from the NC State sideline on Saturday.

* Late in the second quarter Chuck Amato belted out, “We look like shit out there”. Couldn’t agree more, coach.

* It appeared that CTC pulled Andre Brown out of the game by his own decision. There was no talk of injury to Brown. There was a play in the first half where Stone threw a screen in Brown’s direction and Brown didn’t even turn around and look. Amato told Portee to “get his ass outta there. I want 22 (Baker) in there”. Brown didn’t see the field again. It will be interesting to see how serious the ‘thigh bruise’ is this week against Southern Miss.

* SFN: Update on the ^previous comment. See today’s ACC Now Blog:

“I’m feeling great,” the sophomore said. “It’s just a little bruise. I practiced full speed and I feel fine.”

* The new fieldhouse area is fantastic. It has the look and feel of a first class operation instead of the old previous rinky-dink accomodations previously.

* NO ONE on this team seems willing to step up and be a vocal leader. In years past there was always at least one or two guys who would get in the face of a teammate when need be – or give a word of encouragement when called for. Philip was the best at this. If there is anyone on this team acting like a leader then I sure haven’t noticed it.

* Saw Terry Harvey down on the sideline before the game. Looked like he was still in great shape. I couldn’t help but wish he had another year of eligibility left.

* Enclosing the entire stadium DOES have an effect on the noise level – at least on the field. It’s noticeable even though we haven’t had a big game or a rowdy crowd yet. I’ve heard it louder than it has been either game so far, but my guess is the field level noise will be at it’s highest level ever for the Thursday night FSU game – assuming we win a game or two between now and then and manage to fill the place up that night.

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'06 Football General

41 Responses to CTC: “We Look Like Shit out There”

  1. Cardiff Giant 09/13/2006 at 7:56 AM #

    First Amato statement of the past two weeks with which I have completely agreed.

  2. Cardiff Giant 09/13/2006 at 7:58 AM #

    “There was a play in the first half where Stone threw a screen in Brown’s direction and Brown didn’t even turn around and look. Amato told Portee to “get his ass outta there. I want 22 (Baker) in thereâ€?. Brown didn’t see the field again.”

    I assume the irony of Chuck Amato hacking one of his players for doing something dumb is completely self-evident.

  3. Phil Ford 09/13/2006 at 8:06 AM #

    Burp! Why you guys all over Chuck any press is good press. I should know. Burp!

  4. redfred2 09/13/2006 at 8:26 AM #

    This is off topic but on my way to work this morning the local radio station here, which is no where close to Raleigh, started it sports off with their lead in “NC State Wolfpack in the news.” I just sat there waiting. They never ever talk about NCSU around here. I figured the CA thing had been blown way up and made top billing. Anyway they went on to that after “after a disturbing last second loss to Akron on Saturday, the Wolfpack are facing more problems off of the field…” I’m thinking, oh pooh, the proverbial shit has hit the fan already… the sports guy then went on to say “a 4” water pipe in the Murphy center has burst and flooded the coaches offices…blah, blah, blah. But then right after that the announcer said “And speaking of NC State, former player there, and now head coach of the super bowl champion, Pittsburgh Steelers Bill Cowher has made a decision to…”
    My heart was pumping, I was thinking what the hell is going on, …”to play/not to play big Ben Rothlesburger in the upcoming…” blah, blah, blah.

    Hell, I didn’t even care to hear the rest and I’ve always been a Steelers fan.

    Strange morning for a Wolfpack fan, in my little neck of the woods anyway.

  5. Big Dave 09/13/2006 at 8:33 AM #

    I had to work on the fiber at the new North Endzone and Vaughan Towers yesterday getting the network up after the flooding at Murphy stadium due to broken water main on the third floor. Things weren’t pretty over there, but Coach Amato and the team seemed to be in good spirits as they prepared over at North Endzone for the upcoming game.

    No one was more disappointed in the loss to the Zips than I was, but I have to say that the constant whining by a lot of State fans really bores me. I attended NCSU during the championship basketball team in ’84 (I think that’s the year) and I experienced firsthand how exciting a championship can be.

    I also remember a lot of the futile football years that we have here and I really wish people would lay off of Amato. No one is more proud of representing the Wolfpack than he is as you can tell by the Wolfpack red convertible stingray with a black top that he drives around in. Get off his back. He’s rebuilding the defense and needs a quality quarterback. I’ve met Marc Trestman when he was with the Miami Dolphins, and he has a very intelligent offensive mind. If he can’t get much out of Stone then there is a good reason for it.

    It’s probably going to be a .500 year for the Wolfpack, but let’s support the coach rather than eat him up. I’m thrilled to have him as our head coach. Get off his back and enjoy the football season. I think the constant whining fans hurt NCSU sports more than anything.

    Break’s over … back to work for me.

  6. BJD95 09/13/2006 at 8:46 AM #

    I hope the assistants are holding together. That’s the key.

  7. CarnifeX 09/13/2006 at 8:50 AM #

    I’m also behind BigD and CTC, while things aren’t what most expected after his booming intro w/ Philip Rivers, they are a whole hell of a lot better than the MOC year and before. CTC deserves some time to get things rolling, however I understand that the criticism is of his PR, which is lacking…however we didn’t hire him as our public relations savior, just a football program resurrector (i don’t think thats a word, but you get the idea).

    On a side note, was Philip Rivers a CTC recruit or a MOC recruit?

  8. redfred2 09/13/2006 at 8:55 AM #

    ^Let’s not start pushing Chuckie out the door already, just two games into the season. We almost all agreed, to a man, and months back, that this was going to be a very tough year. Threads highlighting the App State game, and the challenge they would present for us, went on and on forever discussing that very fact. It was just accepted that this year wasn’t going to be anything to write home about.

    I said, back then, that is the defining year for CA and it will be the one season that will be the crystal ball as to his future with NCSU. We’re only two games in. The final quarter in last Saturday’s game showed at least a hint of the ability to turn past page two in the playbook, and also a little spark of confidence and competence coming from the QB position when they do.

    We predicted it, it’s here, let’s ride it out like men, and hope for the best.

  9. WilmingtonWolf05 09/13/2006 at 8:55 AM #

    1983
    1983
    1983
    1983

  10. Clarksa 09/13/2006 at 8:58 AM #

    “On a side note, was Philip Rivers a CTC recruit or a MOC recruit?”

    I think the correct answer is that Philip was a Joe Pate recruit.

  11. Phil Ford 09/13/2006 at 9:13 AM #

    Rivers was a MOC recruit.

    SFN: Rivers was a Joe Pate recruit. Coach Pate’s family is from Athens, AL and Philip (and family) were very close to them. (To be accurate, I think that it was Coach Pate’s wife’s family)

  12. BJD95 09/13/2006 at 9:17 AM #

    Ditto what clarksa said.

  13. choppack1 09/13/2006 at 9:18 AM #

    MOC was HC, but Pate recruited him and brought him to the Pack. Amato needs to get credit for getting in Chow as well.

    If Amato can salvage a .500 season or better, I’ll support him for another year. Heck, if Amato goes .500 in conference, I’ll be thrilled. I just wish he’d be more accountable rather than launching into excuse mode.

  14. PAPacker 09/13/2006 at 9:28 AM #

    Big Dave, thanks for your comments. I would say again that most of the posts on here have not been “get rid of him” statements. Most of what I have read and written has involved documenting and asking appropriate questions, as in “Why stick with Stone when he underperforms so badly game after game and when a heralded freshman minds the bench?” or “Why has instant replay been used so inconsistently? or expressing embarassment for comments by Amato that attracted negative national attention and tarnished the image of the university.

    Many people in public life talk about message boards as if they are always comprised of whining nutsos. This board has consistently tried to focus meaningfully on issues. Message boards are a great way for truth to speak to power, as in noting the way ESPN is ruining college sports or the imbalance of coverage in media (I say this regardless of the quality or lack thereof in State’s basketball and football programs in recent years). Again, this message board is not a billboard on Hillsborough or a commercial on network television. It is a posting one must access by computer, a very intentional act. Let people talk. The whiners and bandwagon jumpers become apparent through their posts. This is a great source of conversation about State’s program anchored by people who are devoted to it.

  15. packbackr04 09/13/2006 at 9:31 AM #

    http://www.newsobserver.com/1235/story/481010.html

    funny stuff

  16. Great Dane Guy 09/13/2006 at 9:39 AM #

    PAPacker is right. Very few are calling for CTC’s head. Lots of us are questioning dumb comments to the press, and some questionable actions regarding what I see on the field. Hell, the last thing I want is another coaching search handled by Lee. CTC is still one of us. He’s just the loud, obnoxious relative that makes you scratch your head now and again. Lets just hope the staff stays together if indeed a tough year is ahead.

  17. BoKnowsNCS71 09/13/2006 at 9:43 AM #

    I wonder some times if we are not “over coaching.” Marcus and others had good stats. I watch lots of the CUSA and MAC games and the have no defense (usually) and quarterbacks who throw completions like mad. High scoring offenses on both sides of the ball.

    When Phillip came to Raleigh, the team was mediocre but Norm took a true freshman and told him to “throw the ball!” We almost lost to Arkansas State and it looked like bad year coming. That comeback game against Indiana and Randle El by Phillip was amazing.

    My point is. Now Amato is wedded to the guys that came up through the ranks, takes few risks (at QB), and the game plan is run, run, run. Conservative 3 yds and a cloud of dust football. Maybe we need to let Marcus be Marcus without someone “in his head” saying “don’t make mistakes” all the time.

    Maybe its just deliberate coaching. Maybe it’s overcoaching. Maybe I’m wrong and it’s just coaching and I don’t get it. But when I watch (what should be) inferior teams with smaller linesmen throw and score. I gotta say — what are we doing wrong to be so out of sync?

  18. BJD95 09/13/2006 at 9:58 AM #

    In my dream world, Fowler takes ANY job he can find this offseason and bolts. The new AD (Purcell or other) puts Chuck on notice for 2007 – show something significant or hit the bricks. Or we get our shit together, take advantage of the down year in the ACC (5 good, solid teams, and the rest mediocre at best) and win 8 games.

  19. MatSci94 09/13/2006 at 10:16 AM #

    I just wish Amato had the guts to make *this* his public comment, and keep the non-Q issue private. We were all dissapointed by the performace last week, but it would be nice to see his response be “we were outplayed and outcoached – we’re going to do better” than this mess.

    I’m not even sure what the point of the non-Q statement was. Is he saying that Akron has more talent than we do? Thats how it comes across.

  20. redfred2 09/13/2006 at 10:17 AM #

    ^BoKnowsNCS71-
    “Maybe we need to let Marcus be Marcus without someone “in his headâ€? saying “don’t make mistakesâ€? all the time.”

    My sentiments exactly. Make the necessary adjusts in practice, but let the kid play. Good, bad or indifferent, we’re not gaining ground either way by sticking with this “coaches lacking confidence and afraid to even try” routine. Has to be hurting Stone, mentally anyway, as well as the rest of the team.

  21. BoKnowsNCS71 09/13/2006 at 10:22 AM #

    My dream worls is more a nightmare. Fowler stays. Chuck leaves without fan support to take a job out west. Fowler searches for 3 months. State gets turned down by 6-7 people becasue the ACC does not allow non-qualifiers and because the fan base is too fickled, unrealistic, and impatient. State finally hires Ted Cain or Bill Cowher (thats the wet dream). Several Juniors go pro early. Lots of recruits look elswhere. We win 3-4 games a year for the next 8 years. Then I wake up.

  22. redfred2 09/13/2006 at 10:41 AM #

    I am afraid your dream is the current path, except for the “wet” part maybe.

    I say it all starts with a vision from well up above the coaching ranks and permeates down through the whole system. The totally control of the administration in certain unimportant aspects, and then their total unwillingness to get their hands dirty, playing absolute hands off until it’s too late, in the real and important aspects that could make a difference.

  23. packpigskinfan23 09/13/2006 at 10:54 AM #

    I like the “over coaching” idea… makes sense. our somewhat simplistic/conservative playstyle is too much for our OL to handle. they are the one of the major weeknesses on the team, and it just dosnt make since to put 90-95% of the plays basically on their shoulders. lucky for us we have 2-3 backs and a wideout who can make plays from time to time…

  24. Cardiac95 09/13/2006 at 10:59 AM #

    Its good to see that Amato doesn’t have the blinders on that he portrays with the media. Now let’s hope he can figure out how to resolve the problem.

  25. Cardiff Giant 09/13/2006 at 11:08 AM #

    “Chuck leaves without fan support to take a job out west. ”

    At Fresno State, perhaps.

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