With Friends Like This…

As habitues of SFN are well aware, our writers (including your obedient servant) get occasional rhubarbs from those decrying the site’s alleged “negativity” – cliched shorthand for, “writing things about NC State that fail to display blind optimism worthy of MAD’s Alfred E. Neuman.” Our “negativity,” these posters claim, causes harm to NC State.

Well, I’d argue that taken to extremes, certain head-in-the-sand types cause far more harm to NC State than anything scribbled by SFN’s electronic pens. This is particularly the case when the person in question’s a blithering idiot – such as, if his letter to editor in today’s N&O is any indication, this guy:

Ousting coaches reeks of ‘bottom line’

UNC and NCSU administrators’ actions by firing coaches John Bunting and Chuck Amato is a clipping violation on the 50-yard line, in clear public view.

The N.C. State personnel act was kicked out of the game. The gridiron became the board room with the bottom line — money.

Such action is odiferous protocol. The coaches have higher moral and ethic principle than those that dismissed them from servicing the youth that play the game.

Emmett Bailey Jr.

Henderson

I’ve cringed for years at the screeds submitted to the newspapers by some of our more bumpkineque supporters, but this incohent and risible letter takes first prize for Gumpism. Letters such as Mr. Bailey’s do far more damage to NC State’s reputation than someone on this site pointing out little issues such as Sendek’s record against Carolina or Amato’s media gaffes.

Please, Mr. Bailey, don’t write the newspapers any more. With friends like you (assuming you are a friend, and not a Tar Hole fan displaying that breed’s frequent level of literary eloquence), NC State doesn’t need enemies.

General

64 Responses to With Friends Like This…

  1. Woof Wolf 12/03/2006 at 5:21 PM #

    We’ve played great free throw defense all day.

  2. redfred2 12/03/2006 at 5:33 PM #

    GREAT GAME!!! EVEN JUST LISTENING ON THE RADIO!!!

    SORRY FOR THE SNIDE COMMENT EARLIER, BUT I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING!!!

    NOTHING BUT GOOD CAN BE TAKEN FROM THAT VERY EARLY EFFORT, ON THE ROAD, IN THE ACC!!!

    I AM PUMPED!!!

  3. WolfPup35 12/03/2006 at 5:33 PM #

    A loss, 0-1 ACC 5-1 OA. Still, a great game and a great effort. McCauley is a fucking MONSTER!!! Why this kid didn’t get more time last year is a mystery…oh, never mind. Foul trouble cost us this one. Grant got his 3rd on a frustration foul..can’t do that, kid. Overall a great game by the ‘Pack. I think this game showes that State wil NOT finish 12th!! Watch for some improvement in “defense without fouls” next game!!!

    GO WOLFPACK!!

  4. Woof Wolf 12/03/2006 at 5:39 PM #

    Great game. Good effort. I’m seeing some skills I didn’t know we had. I’m pumped too. In two weeks we will hopefuly have eight healthy guys.

  5. legacyman 12/03/2006 at 5:51 PM #

    The future looks bright…more losses this year than we want but we can not expect a lot more with the short bench. If we make .500 in the league then Sidney ought to be COY.

  6. WolfPup35 12/03/2006 at 5:57 PM #

    “If we make .500 in the league then Sidney ought to be COY.”

    I totaly agree!! If NCSU has a great showing during the regular season (and I do believe that will include a win over Dook), the Sid SHOULD be COY!! NC State will play the role of giant killer if they make the big dance (fingers crossed) or win the NIT if we have to go there. I will now repeat myself…..McCauley is a fucking MONSTER!!!

  7. vtpackfan 12/03/2006 at 5:59 PM #

    That was super thrilling ACC basketball, IMO. We had the shot we wanted to tie it in the end. Great call and even better execution out of the timeout, sometimes it doesn’t fall your way. Costner played like he was a seasoned ACC vet. We needed him so much, especially in the first half, he tired some and lost some 50/50 balls that went for second and third chances. Not placing the blame on him, some of those were long rebounds, but when Atsur and Ferg. come into the mix then we really need Costner to clean the defensive boards to have any realistic shot at making some real noise this ACC season.
    Just ramblin’ on. For Sid and Co. first road game it is very impressive. This is a top 25 team in UVA, a we palyed them practicully to a draw in their house. It is amazing, but during timeouts it really seemed like the Cav players were really sucking wind, and ours looked calm, determined and focused on what Lowe was saying. I think these guys are fearless, and they are not afraid of making mistakes, and they have alot to carry their heads high for. Way to go guys.

  8. WolfPup35 12/03/2006 at 6:06 PM #

    FEAR??? FEAR??? What is this FEAR of which you speak?? There is no FEAR in Raleigh!!! There is FEAR in Durham….there is FEAR in Chapel Hell…there is FEAR in the ACC!! HERE COMES THE WOLFPACK!!

  9. 1.21 Jigawatts 12/03/2006 at 6:53 PM #

    Two observations from the game which appeared to be why we lost.

    1. Rebounding. We gave them way too many second and third chances at scoring. I’d like to see how many second chance points UVa had for the game. Defensive rebounding must improve. Rebounding is more than standing under the basket and hustle. It’s about anticipating how the ball will come off the rim and boxing out your man, forcing him to go over you in order to get the rebound.

    2. Lack of Offensive Flow. Part of it was the change in defenses used against us during the game. The major part was Grant is still having to play out of his position due to lack of a PG. Not knocking Grant (he’s playing team ball by handling the PG assignment) but it’s not only costing us by him not being his natural position that allows him to score points and grab rebounds for us, it also is preventing the team from getting into any type of rhythm and flow.

    Lack of PG will be fixed when Atsur returns. Rebounding can change immediately.

  10. redfred2 12/03/2006 at 7:01 PM #

    I heard that Billy Packer was a worry wart on the TV broadcast and preaching doom and gloom every time the WOLFPACK fell behind a point or two. Oh well, it was different on the radio, though even our own radio guys treated as just pretty much another that we could have won. I didn’t listen to the post game wrap up, but there weren’t many accolades being tossed out about the incredible effort and the turn around in the players attitudes, during the actual game. As a matter of fact, I may have missed it, but I do not remember even one.

    Oh yeah, and here we start up with the NIT once again, and beating this team or that one, right here on prediction central, SFN. It was great game, just enjoy it, and don’t be a burden. If we lose every game in the ACC from here on out, by playing in the same fashion that way we did today, it will still be an unbelievable season.

    I am PROUD of WOLFPACK BASKETBALL once again!!!

  11. 1.21 Jigawatts 12/03/2006 at 7:09 PM #

    Positives from the Game.

    Costner & McCauley are playing great. Their improvement over the summer is better than I could have imagined after seeing them (or lack of seeing them) last year.

    Grant is gaining valuable experience handling the ball early on this season. We’ll probably need him in some tough games this season against teams who like to press. Having Grant to assist Atsur in breaking the press later in the season may be the difference in some games later on.

    Horner/Nieman, they are doing exactly what a freshman and (former) walk-on senior are supposed to do under normal circumstances, (1) provide minutes to the starters so they can rest, (2) don’t do anything stupid like quick shots or turnovers, and (3) scoring is a plus. Unfortunately Nieman is currently a starter and Horner is the 6th man, which means we need them to score more and at times they are able to do it.

    Lowe and staff, they are putting our guys in a position to win at the end of games. Some will break our way, some won’t. They are simply doing an awesome job of teaching and coaching during practice and games.

  12. Jamie 12/03/2006 at 7:19 PM #

    Packer wasn’t on my TV, that I can recall. I only heard one comment to the effect of “good thing that HS recruited Brandon Costner… blah blah blah.” Overall, good show, however. I didn’t think that our boys would be in the game that late, but they were, and, had a good chance to win. They still did not quit, and now I can only wait to see how they rebound, both literally, and figuratively at WVU.

  13. WolfPup35 12/03/2006 at 7:32 PM #

    We just can’t get the talking haircuts to stop with the Sendek references, can we? IMHO, they’re just filling up dead air with B.S. because they don’t want to show that they have no clue as to what they’re yapping about when it comes to NCSU!!

  14. choppack1 12/03/2006 at 7:35 PM #

    Still pumped up about b’ball and our chances THIS year – when we get Atsur and Ferguson. We’ll have to be careful not be overly aggressive since we’ll be 8 guys deep!

    Overall, Sid and team did what they can do. Very tough to go on the road in the conference – where you know you won’t get too many calls – w/ 6 guys and win.

  15. PapaJohn 12/03/2006 at 7:36 PM #

    Redfred2, you got it right.
    Let’s stay off Sid’s back and enjoy the evolution of a new ACC coach with unlimited potential. These guys will make us proud every night, that’s all we want from this year. And if we get healthy and stay that way … watch out.
    I think the WVU game will tell us a great deal. Our five guys each played 38 minutes or more, and GG pulled 40. Let’s see how much energy they have Wednesday.
    It was nice to see 10 of 12 free throw shooting!

    Go Pack!

  16. PapaJohn 12/03/2006 at 7:42 PM #

    Correction: “Our five guys each played 38 …”

    Our FOUR primary guys each played 38 ….

  17. RabidWolf 12/03/2006 at 7:49 PM #

    Grant is showing that he can do whatever Sid needs him to do. Need a three….how ’bout one from 23 feet? Need a sharp pass…how ’bout a sweet alley to ‘Monster McCauley’?? Need someone to take it to the hoop?? OK. More power to Grant for growing up fast!! More power to Sid for the constant, on his feet coaching, and kudos to the entire team for living up to Jimmy V’s monaker..Don’t EVER quit…Don’t EVER give up!

    GO PACK!!

  18. Woof Wolf 12/03/2006 at 8:48 PM #

    I missed the presser on our new football coach today. Can anyone tell me who it is?

  19. brown pelican 12/03/2006 at 8:51 PM #

    great job by the bball pack—never good to lose—however—how great was it to get a clean shot off for the tie with the double screen with the flare cut drawn up on the sideline during the to rather than the recent stumbling around during the conclusion of close games—back to the topic—statefansnation is a great place to catch up and share positive thoughts about a place that the majority of us love—nc state—great job sfn—don’t back down

  20. Rochester 12/03/2006 at 9:57 PM #

    The guys looked great today. The only one who still seems a little out of synch is Fells, and I know he has it in him. Say what you want about Nieman, but that kid did not get exploited by UVa. He held his own. Might not have been a force offensively, but he’s a useful player and who would have thought that a year ago.

    This was a back-and-forth game, on the road, against a ranked team, without our starting point guard. Not to make excuses, because we don’t need any. We played well and came up a little short. Great effort by Sid’s kids. They will be all right.

    How about Whit’s kids (Fordham) moving to 4-2 with a win over Iona. Nice going, Whit!

  21. 86ncsu95 12/03/2006 at 10:26 PM #

    Both announcers had complements for the players at the end of the game. I think Packer was one of them. I missed the HS comment, but I didn’t get to see the entire game. They looked good for the portions I saw. Kept it close on the road and was winnable. I’m looking forward to more.

  22. HungryLikeTheWolf 12/03/2006 at 11:22 PM #

    One of the announcers was once again talking about how Sidney was benefitting from HS’s recruitment of tall versatile players like Costner and McCauley. I don’t think it was a horrible statement and I’m sure Sidney wouldn’t necessarily disagree. I just wish they didn’t feel the need to keep bringing up HS.

    But the comment basically meant that Sid was coaching to the strengths of his current roster, which is very true.

  23. Woof Wolf 12/03/2006 at 11:28 PM #

    I don’t think the commentary was that bad and I don’t think Packer was there. I’ve known him for forty five years and I didn’t see him or recognize his voice. One reference to Herb during the sixth game after he left was not offensive to me and I wanted him fired in 2001.

    Jimmy Dykes should be terminated for the job he did on Monday night, but I thought the crew tonight did a good job. Although I didn’t understand the UNC and VPI promo’s.

    Great game for our short staffed guys. GO STATE!

  24. redfred2 12/03/2006 at 11:31 PM #

    Let’s let them have their way, and all just agree that Sidney is benefitting from Herb’s recruiting prowess.

    Then let’s all just agree that those same recruits are now benefitting, tenfold, from having Sidney Lowe in Raleigh instead.

  25. Woof Wolf 12/03/2006 at 11:34 PM #

    AMEN

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