The Wolfpack Wire

General Site News14

Back when this team of authors launched the original StateFans.com over eight years ago, one of the practices that we originated was what we called the “Morning Webrun” where one of us would scour the internet for NC State-related articles and post them in a story so that our readers had an article to start their day that easily directed them to Wolfpack news of interest.

As you are aware, the practice of this reader-friendly service was picked up by The Wolfpacker and was continued when Statefans.com took over other NC State sites and became what is known today as PackPride.

Today’s internet is very different from the year 2000. The world of blogs and RSS Readers have signifcantly changed the nature of websurfing and the consolidation of relevant information for readers.

We have recently been made aware of a site in which we think you may be interested. It serves as a valuable resource for people seeking a convenient experience visiting gathering NC State-related news and opinion. THE WOLF WIRE can be visited by clicking here and may be something that you choose to add to your internet rotation.

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General Site News

14 Responses to The Wolfpack Wire

  1. JimValvano 09/12/2008 at 6:32 AM #

    Yeah, I’ve been using wolfpackwire for over a month now. Its a pretty good site. I wonder though if when I click on statefans from there if statefans gets a hit or not. The way it opens up in a new (wolfpackwire controlled) window makes me wonder.

  2. Sw0rdf1sh 09/12/2008 at 6:53 AM #

    I also have been using the WW for a little while. Very interesting idea and way it has been deployed. I have always been intrigued with the way SFN has changed over the years.

  3. JimValvano 09/12/2008 at 7:02 AM #

    I haven’t read anything on the upcoming game tomorrow. So, here are my thoughts. You guys can move this if you want at a later time.

    Has anyone noticed how awesome N.C. State’s defense has played this season? I certainly have…too bad we can only keep it up for the first half. In the two games we’ve played this season we have given up only 3 first half points. Our defense comes out and shuts the other team down early. The problem is that in the two games we’ve played this season, our team has given up a total of 58 points. That’s right folks, we have allowed 55 points to be scored on us in the second half of the two games we’ve played. What is with this Jekyll and Hyde we’re pulling?
    One option is in-game coaching. We come out with a terrific game plan for the opposing team’s offense and implement that game plan to near perfection for two quarters. At halftime the other team makes adjustments to our schemes and comes out in the third quarter and asserts themselves. Maybe Mike Archer is pulling a Sendek and sitting on the sidelines saying, “It shut ’em down in the first half…they must just be getting lucky. I am a genius. I thought this strategy up, so I know it can’t be flawed. I’m not gonna change anything”. I certainly hope this isn’t the case, but it is a possibility that after our opponents have made their second half adjustments, we are not making any adjustments ourselves…therefore we allow the other team to explode offensively in the second half.
    A second option, and one which in my mind is having a greater effect is fatigue. We discussed the depth of our defense prior to the season with great concern, and now maybe our conversations are being justified. Maybe our guys are just wearing down in the second half and their fatigue is being exposed my the opposition. This is a distinct possibility when you consider that not only do we have issues with our depth defensively, but we have issues with the production of our offense. The lack in production leads to shorter series’ and less rest on the sidelines for our defenders. In the South Carolina game we had the ball for a full ten minutes less than did the ‘Cocks. Against our super power of a foe last week…it was almost completely even in time of possession with Bill and Mary holding onto the football for only 8 seconds longer than us for the game, but if you take a closer look you will see that in the second half William and Mary held the ball for a full 4 minutes longer than did our Wolfpack.
    Fatigue is certainly a contributor once you consider our depth issues and the difference in t.o.p. However, I hope that the contributions of our defensive coordinator and the lack of in-game adjustments is not being overlooked by Coach O’Brien. Going from a dominant defense to a whipping boy in the same game should bring up some red flags (as opposed to the white ones our defense has been waving in the fourth quarter this season…we’ve given up 35 points in two games). I hope against Clemson we’ll see some improvement or we may end up having a case of déjà vu…getting ‘Cocked all over again.

  4. Mike 09/12/2008 at 8:25 AM #

    JimmyV, thanks for your insights. Let me add to that – of the 55 points we have given up, how many did the O include in that number?

    There were the first 10 points against SC, plus how many times did we give them the short field. Against B&M, Beck ahd the pick 6 and I beleive we gave them a short field on a couple other occasions.

    Fatigue was a factor against SC, but I dont think as much against B&M. Clempppppsun might be a different story though. Hopefully we can control the ball to keep Davis and Spiller off the field. I am not a big fan of Packman, but they constantly ridicule the Clempppsun O line. Their O line may be the 2nd worst in the conference, maybe the country. Now if only I could remember who has the worst O line…………..

  5. Elrod 09/12/2008 at 8:30 AM #

    JimV – I believe there’s a third option. In both games there were some folks playing late in the game that don’t normally play together. SC scored late and often against a combination of tired first-teamers, inexperienced second-teamers and several players I never heard of. Other than the pick-6, W&M did the same thing. In both cases, I believe TOB was using the opportunity to develop players – a game we were out of and a game we were comfortably winning.

  6. Scooter 09/12/2008 at 8:39 AM #

    14 of the points against W&M came late in the fourth quarter. One was a pick six, which should be a reflection on our defense. On W&M’s final drive, I didn’t recognize many of the names on the field, so I think TOB was trying to keep even more key players from suffering injury. Just an observation.

    Even if you factor that those two, still 44 points in two games… (34 from USC and 10 from W&M).

  7. WW 09/12/2008 at 8:58 AM #

    @StateFans – Thanks for the write-up. You guys definitely deserve a ton of credit for the work and time that goes into writing the quality content that we aggregate.

    @JimValvano – It should record a hit for every site or story that’s clicked. The window that pops up is just sort of a picture-in-picture of their full site and is still completely hosted on their end. You can also click the small arrow icon beside each headline if you want to open the story in a completely new browser window too.

    If anyone else has feedback/ideas/feature request for the site, I’d love to hear it. I’d like to roll out a new version of the site in the near future with some upgrades.

  8. ChiefJoJo 09/12/2008 at 8:58 AM #

    Thx for the heads up about WW.

    FYI, like clockwork, Kushner is out for the season.

  9. ChuckAllYall 09/12/2008 at 9:18 AM #

    I’m heading down to the game tomorrow. Does anyone have much experience with game day down there they’d be willing to share (besides kevlar vest)? Any suggestions on scalping, restaurants, post game bars, etc.

  10. choppack1 09/12/2008 at 11:48 AM #

    Clemson is home of the best game day bar that I have ever been to – it’s the Esso Club – it’s located right outside of the main exits of the stadium.

    TDs is also pretty good. In addition, TigerTownTavern is good as well.

    I would rate Clemson as the best college football gameday experience in the ACC…hands done.

  11. ChuckAllYall 09/12/2008 at 12:27 PM #

    thanks choppack, I’m sure I’ll have to visit them both. I hope I’ll be toasting instead of drowning.

  12. Mike 09/12/2008 at 1:13 PM #

    Not a bar person so I cant really comment on that. I can say however that the Clemson campus is great for all sports.

    I have been to football, basketball, and baseball games for all the teams in the ACC except Miami, and I would venture to say Clemson was one of the best. Their fans are avid but not jerks like EZU or USC. And the drive into Clemson, crossing Lake Hartwell wiht the trees and the stadium in the background gave me goosebumps.

  13. Greywolf 09/12/2008 at 3:16 PM #

    Echo Elrod

    I could not imagine, much less suggest that our or any college coach would think, “It shut ‘em down in the first half…they must just be getting lucky. I am a genius. I thought this strategy up, so I know it can’t be flawed. I’m not gonna change anything” What should I do with that, boo the defense next week if they allow scores in the second half?

  14. Jonathan 03/23/2009 at 10:48 PM #

    Just relaunched the site (wolfpackwire.com) with more sources and a few other upgrades. Feedback welcome!

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