Evans Rekindles My Fleeting Interest

'06 Football Chuck Amato General30

BC Game

Boston College travels to NC State on Saturday night for the Wolfpack’s ACC opener (that will be televised on ESPN2). I am officially putting the world “on notice” that this game represents the POTENTIAL end of my interest in football this season and as a watershed moment in my well-documented “let’s wait and see” attitude related to Chuck Amato.

In fact, Chuck the Chest has ALREADY managed to ‘pull me back in’ for one final chance with his announcement that Daniel Evans will start at quarterback for the Pack against Boston College.

I had decided NOT to attend Carter-Finley on Saturday night before the announcement that Daniel Evans was going to start at quarterback this week. Selfishly, allow me to ask – ‘Why should I go to the game?’

The game is scheduled to be televised. The hassle of packing a seven month old child to drive to Raleigh…to spend more money on a hotel…to only have limited time tailgating with friends…to wake up early on Sunday (with an obvious hangover) and drive home is simply NOT offset by the “value” derived by watching one of the worst offenses in NC State history…a week after the team completely gave-up in a game… and reverted to their historical ways of playing stupid.

The redundancy of the broken record of NC State football has worn thin on most fans, including me. During the end of the Mike O’Cain era when State was losing games to top teams by scores of 62-3 and 77-17 and was losing miserable affairs to bad teams (Baylor, Duke, Wake Forest and Purdue) I based some conclusions on the belief that, “losing games is one thing; the manner in which we were losing games tells a greater story.”

In 2006, such a statement is becoming relevant again – both in the margin of scores and in the manner in which the Wolfpack is losing.

* In Chuck Amato’s first four seasons in Raleigh, NC State lost three football games by more than ten points.

* In Chuck Amato’s last two years (and three games), NC State has four football games by more than ten points.

The mindless play.

The stupid penalties.

The turnovers.

The mindset of players more concerned with celebrating and jawing than executing on the football field.

The offense that is either (a) racking up tons of yards but failing to score points or (b) racking up tons of yawns and failing to score points.

The recent losses to clearly inferior programs like Wake Forest, Akron & Southern Miss.

The winning percentage against our “peer group” of – Clemson, Maryland, Boston College, Georgia Tech, UNC-CH & Virginia.

The winning percentage in newly renovated Carter-Finley since 2003 season.

Despite all of the tactical benefits that Caulton Tudor shared regarding Daniel Evans, I truly believe that the PRIMARY benefit of the move has been to keep most of the fans around for one more game. One more last chance. One more effort.

The good news here is that BC’s run defense (entire defense) ranks as one of the worst in the country. If there was ever a game for Daniel to potentially have the pressure alleviated because of a great running attack, then this one would be it.

Hopefully, it is a recipe for great execution and a new leaf in our recent tubulent chapters on the gridiron. I know that it has rekindled my interest for another week.

'06 Football Chuck Amato General

30 Responses to Evans Rekindles My Fleeting Interest

  1. BJD95 09/22/2006 at 1:31 PM #

    Good post.

  2. packbackr04 09/22/2006 at 2:04 PM #

    Good post, my sentiments exactly. If we lose this game, we may want to “pi$$ on the fire, call in the dogs, and head it on back to Bowlegs.” -Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

  3. Great Dane Guy 09/22/2006 at 2:24 PM #

    Freaking right on, man!! Brilliant! Best blog entry to date in my opinion.

  4. class of 74 09/22/2006 at 2:31 PM #

    Hoss, how could you possibly miss this bonfire? If we lay another egg like last week we may see ol’ Chuck self immolate right there on the sidelines of CF before national TV. This is a classic one way or the other, Evans wakes a moribund offense or a sideline human sacrifice of our coach. The entertainment value is a premium this week in Raleigh.

  5. Woof Wolf 09/22/2006 at 2:57 PM #

    I think this post expresses how a lot of us feel. The quarterback change gives most of us a glimmer of hope. I’m trying to get fired up for Saturday night.

    I can’t be there, but I’ll be in front of the TV. Those of you who will be at Carter Finely should give the team a big welcome and really support them as long as we’re in the game. A win might turn us around enough to get to another low level bowl game.

    Or maybe better, we are still undefeated in the conference.

  6. RickJ 09/22/2006 at 3:04 PM #

    The Evans start does give the game a refreshing angle. I’m wondering if we may see other changes in personnel that haven’t been announced. Luke Latham has been cleared to play and I could see a shake up in the offensive line. I would love to see Heath moved to one of the linebacking positions. This would add speed and experience and we would still have Scott, Morgan & JC Neal to play the 2 safety positions. Maybe AJ Davis will return.

  7. wallacepark 09/22/2006 at 3:21 PM #

    I can understand alumns not wanting to shell out the money for a ticket if they don’t expect us to have a chance of winning, but this lack of enthusiasm in our team, rather than just amato, is upsetting. One thing I know is that the team can’t turn things around if our fan base loses interest in them. That won’t inspire anyone. If our own fanbase doesn’t show up for home games what kind of message does that send to our players and future recruits? Say what you want about Chuck Amato, and do what you want with him at the end of the year, but as a student, I will definately be there on Saturday to support my team, even if they stink. Besides, being the underdog makes the loss less heartbreaking and the victory sweeter. Anything can happen, and if we pull out the upset, I will have been there to see it. How could you not be excited? It’s football season!!!

  8. choppack1 09/22/2006 at 3:25 PM #

    Jeff – I have to agree – I’d still go to the games – I went to the all of the home travesties when we were 3-8 – but starting Evans does give us a little hope.

    However, I’d that if State ever wants to be seen as a football school – we’re going to have to suck it up and understand that nothing is guaranteed. Just because we sell out our 57K stadium doesn’t mean that we’ll win. Until you start doing it – and do it regularly – like they did at UT, like they do at USC (Columbia) not the trojans – like they did at LSU, like they’re probably doing at Wisconsin – you’re going to doom yourself to a stepping stone program (and even if you do that, there’s still no guarantee).

    I’ll put on my marketing hat here and say that it’s things that you do before the game, during the game and after the game that really seperates the true college football fans from those of convenience.

  9. DRW 09/22/2006 at 3:26 PM #

    wallace: When there are other things you have or need to do, if the team is not good, it makes it difficult to get excited about going. At least it does for me.

    I will be visiting family this weekend. And family is much more important than Wolfpack football will ever be. No matter who is coaching or playing, or how well.

    aka Washington Wolf

  10. Pack Laddie 09/22/2006 at 3:31 PM #

    Jeff—you might want to take a seat. I am in total agreement. I was in Charleston visiting with my college roomie last weekend, and I told him that if Evans got the start, I would go into the game. Otherwise, it was going to be watch it on TV at the tailgate.

    Jeff: Pack Laddie!!!!! AWESOME to ‘see’ you!! I wouldn’t take a seat over you and I agreeing on something. In general, we have always agreed on a large majority of the big and the little things. There was just one particular item that we (understandably) on which we held very different perspectives. Regardless, it is wonderful to see your name on a comment over here and I hope that I see a lot more of you!!

    I am enthused about seeing a NC State football game for the first time in a couple of years. A couple of my fellow tailgaters feel the same way. Our compound will be up for grabs, with nobody holding down the fort this game.

    Who would have thought, two years ago, that Chuck’s future at NC State might very well be riding on the shoulders of the skinny kid from Broughton, who would not have even been at NC State if Brent Schaefer had opted for the Pack. I am pulling hard for Daniel to get it done.

  11. choppack1 09/22/2006 at 3:47 PM #

    DRW – You’re right. But then family should trump it even when the football team is good. I was really hoping and I still hold out hope that State is turning into a school that is a “football school.” Where folks put their flags up and show up early and leave late, no matter what the score. Sadly, I don’t think the administration is helping w/ their draconian tailgating rules – but I really believe we have a chance to gain a foothold in the state and a chance to be clearly superior to the rest of the schools in our state.

  12. OwenDorm83 09/22/2006 at 3:54 PM #

    NC State might very well be riding on the shoulders of the skinny kid from Broughton, who would not have even been at NC State if Brent Schaefer had opted for the Pack.

    I told an Ole-Miss fan this same thing today…

  13. stejen 09/22/2006 at 4:12 PM #

    Does anybody besides me remember Dana Bible when he was the QB coach at State during the Tom Reed years? Talk about a quality coach to consider should Amato not be back next year.

  14. DRW 09/22/2006 at 4:47 PM #

    chop: We’ve been saying we’re gonna become the premier football school in the state, but it hasn’t happened yet. And I don’t think its going to happen with Amato at the helm. I’m not sure its ever going to happen.

    Sometimes I think the poster who said, “Mediocrity is the prey, NC State is the hunter” was right.

  15. choppack1 09/22/2006 at 7:02 PM #

    I know DRW – but hey – can’t a man dream. You’re talking to someone who has been Neyland Stadium, the Shoe, Columbia, SC, Blacksburg, Clempson, Austin and Tally. I’m not saying that we can become those places, but we can create something special = regardless of the results.

  16. bTHEredterror 09/22/2006 at 9:32 PM #

    Well put. Caulton could have been reading SFN’s “Evans Starts”post the other day, the ideas are all the same.

  17. newswolf 09/22/2006 at 9:52 PM #

    Broughton grads can be trouble 🙂

    Jeff I agree 100% with you…. I was going to the game but I was probalby going to stay out to tailgate….

  18. Wolfpack4ever 09/23/2006 at 8:41 AM #

    RickJ Says:

    … I would love to see Heath moved to one of the linebacking positions. This would add speed and experience and we would still have Scott, Morgan & JC Neal to play the 2 safety positions. Maybe AJ Davis will return.

    Right on. We need quality starters at LB for more than quality depth at safety.

    This is the kind of thing coaches IMNSHO should have been all over last spring, not boggers chatting about.

  19. Wolfpack4ever 09/23/2006 at 9:10 AM #

    On the REd and White site there is a piece where a Mom is quoted re the impact the negative comments have on her son and others.
    In this blog the following cannot help but a player feel doubt himself or excited about giving up his body for the school (us)
    “lay another egg”
    “all of the home travesties when we were 3-8”
    “Mediocrity is the prey, NC State is the hunter�

    This stuff is mild compared to some of the stuff written on other threads before we all got excited about Evans starting.

    I don’t think posts should be all “sweetness and light” and some posts are excellent analyses. Nothing wrong with complaining about the coaching or lack there of especially with specific instances — those guys are adults, well, most anyway. After some presers, I’m not so sure.

    Criticism is the meat of any blog but insults and name-calling is not criticism and serves no useful purpose. I suggest we abandon the “You don’t call me on my shit and I won’t call you on yours” attitude prevelant here on SFN and start calling each other on our shit. Tolerating insults and name-calling only distances us from the very place we we want to influence.

    If we are too thin-skinned to take criticism ourselves, how can we expect the AD or HFC to listen to us.

    Although I doubt it, authentic defense of the team and coaches when warranted may decrease Chuck’s feelling the need to defend himself and his team so much.

  20. class of 74 09/23/2006 at 9:28 AM #

    ^one good way to avoid this is play to their potential and coach to their potential. So far this season neither has happened so far. And if you polled the team and coaches they would agree I’m sure.

    When the players leave the field for the real world they won’t be cat-called or booed for underachievement they will be put on notice or fired. Personally I do not boo our players for their effort but I do comment to friends on their effort or lack of. As to the coaches, well that is their job and if they don’t like criticism then find other work. If they were all volunteers I would have a totally different view of this but at their salaries much is given and much is expected. Look at little league games do the kids and coaches get booed? No, and that’s normal because it’s a totally different deal than college football. Don’t make the mistake that our program should be treated like Pop Warner league even if we play that way at times! That’s the way our world works in my view.

  21. redfred2 09/23/2006 at 10:35 AM #

    Good post Jeff, hard to disagree with a single line in it.

    Tonight 8:00pm, Carter-Finley Stadium, in the home town and within close proximity of the inner workings of NC State University, or Bushwood Country Club as I like to call it.

    This is the big one! Fifty…six…thousand…fans. Oh Billy,…Billy, Billy, Billy Barue.

  22. redfred2 09/23/2006 at 12:04 PM #

    What some people don’t seem to understand is that it is not about winning games, it’s about playing respectably and somewhere in line with your potential until you do so. Otherwise, the hard hours of practice, all of the preparation, just becomes an exercise in futility, for the players, the coaches, and ultimately the fans.

    All we want to see right now is progress, and we won’t turn a blind eye or try to make something out to be something that it obviously isn’t. I know that blindeye is engrained in many a Wolfpack fan, but not all.

    As far the coaching staff’s abilities go, they have wasted opportunities left and right, closing the door on their ownselves without anyone else’s influences being involved. They are tip toeing closer and closer to the point of no return. Not one fan ever has, or ever will, be any factor in their inability to get their acts together on the football field. That is totally the coaching staff’s responsibility and no one should feel guilty expressing a dissatisfaction with their unchanging philosophies, and the lack lustre results that have resulted because of them.

    It’s like purchasing something off of the shelf because an affection for the brand name (university), and then denying when the product doesn’t perform at all as it was boastfully advertised.

    The noose is ever tightening, and unless the coaching staff decides show a little effort in raising a hand to loosen the knot for themselves, this thing may have an ending that none of us even wants think about.

  23. Packaholic1 09/23/2006 at 12:51 PM #

    The internet, much like the newspaper sports page, is its own little world where it is easy to make a decision (20/20 hindsight) and to criticize those who actually do things.

  24. redfred2 09/23/2006 at 3:35 PM #

    ^Just that nobody gets paid here, nor do we have the desire or any ability to sway the opinions of the masses.

    Just stating opinions for the fun of it. All of us would be glad to leave “just the facts” to the sports pages, but we already know what that gets us.

  25. bTHEredterror 09/23/2006 at 5:39 PM #

    I agree redfred. I’m looking for effort and execution from here out. If a better team beats you, that happens. Just give your fans and opponents the honor of your best effort.

    MY opinion, in 20/20 foresight, is if we get from BC tonight what UNC just got from Clemson, forget the noose, it’s prolly just a matter of cutting down the body.

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