We’re Back! And By The Way, We Have a Coach

Debbie Yow Mark Gottfried151

SFN has been overloaded with traffic the past few weeks. We’ve hit records that have TRIPLED our previous record. Over the past month, we’ve had nearly 400,000 unique visitors. We had a single day record of 28,161 unique visitors yesterday (reporting for today isn’t yet over – but I expect our prolonged downtime will not overtake yesterday’s record). For the books, our previous record 10,135 unique visitors on October 12, 2010 (Carolina scandal). After some much needed maintenance, hopefully we’re back on track.

Oh by the way, we have a coach. Welcome Coach Gottfried! Expect analysis from the SFN crew on Mark Gottfried, Debbie Yow, Gary Williams, and the search in general as stories are confirmed in the coming days.

In case you’re wondering, yes, FireMarkGottfried.com was registered today (not by us). It may not be what you think it is.

Debbie Yow Mark Gottfried

151 Responses to We’re Back! And By The Way, We Have a Coach

  1. roandaddy 04/05/2011 at 9:16 PM #

    First.. and welcome back.. we missed ya! oh and welcome Coach!

  2. RememberV 04/05/2011 at 9:17 PM #

    I’m not even sure where to start.

    Shocked I guess, as I think most people are.

  3. MrPlywood 04/05/2011 at 9:19 PM #

    Yikes – the Yow/Williams feud is hitting the net…

  4. novawolf 04/05/2011 at 9:19 PM #

    Welcome back. Appears from here to be a Solid Hire. Go WOLFPACK!!!

  5. nav 04/05/2011 at 9:20 PM #

    I was lost today without SFN at work. Like an addict without his fix.
    Ps Welcome coach.

  6. ADVENTUROO 04/05/2011 at 9:22 PM #

    To set this up….if you are among the fans who DO NOT LIKE our new coach and are waiting until football, then THAT is your prerogative…..however, then PLEASE spare us your NEGATIVE comments.

    We NEVER had a real shot at Miller or Barnes. Shaka was a “hot commodity” and would have filled some seats, but is TOTALLY untested as Mark has been. I liked Shaka and his enthusiasm and think that he would have made a great coach. BUT, he would have been FAR more expensive and we can certainly use the money to get some heavyweight assistants to improve the staff with the left over $300 – $800K that we are paying Mark compare to Shaka.

    In addition, Marshall’s credentials do not match Mark’s. Gregg has a good record in the big league…and he certainly did well in the minors. However, Mark has been a real winner.

    He handled himself extremely well in the presser today. He seems focused and made a decided effort to reach out to the team and the recruits that have signed LOI’s. He is also focused on getting a GOOD staff.

    Sidney, whom I love and still support, did NOT have the luxury of getting assistants during the “prime time”. I do think that the university or the WPC should find Towe a position. He should NOT be our Phil Ford.

    There will be cat calls of nepotism….and I personally think that if he truly knows Debbie, then he can work for her. She does NOT have seemed to have mellowed any during this search and is focused on us having a winning record…..

    NOW, if a REMEMBER correctly, the main gripe about Les, Herb and Sidney was the LACK of wins (and excitement) and the lack of NCAA tourney appearances and the poor showing in the ACC Tourney.

    I have my bags packed, as Jimmy V’s dad said, and am looking forward to going to Atlanta next spring….had decided to skip it as I hate the venue, but if Mark does what I think he can do, then I will be hitting I-85 with the Motor Home and going down.

    Good day for the pack….

  7. BJD95 04/05/2011 at 9:23 PM #

    Disgusted is another adjective one could use. I would be even angrier if I hadn’t avoided the news and internet (other than checking to see if SFN was back) since 4:00.

    I love the blog community too much to abandon it. But NC State basketball is dead. I imagine football will be too, once TOB retires. Still, I will focus on football going forward. Then after TOB retires, nostalgia.

    This has been a very bad day. Never felt this hopeless about or embarrassed for NC State.

  8. JT 04/05/2011 at 9:23 PM #

    Think it worked out well, better than if if had gone to plan. Welcome Coach Gottfried!

  9. codebrown 04/05/2011 at 9:23 PM #

    Gary William probably brought the site down!

    He can rot in hell!

  10. skippyjon jones 04/05/2011 at 9:24 PM #

    Welcome coach!

    Nothing like a shot over GW’s bow to add some spice. That was happening (no matter what you “hear/read” otherwise).

    Now, let’s get down to business.

  11. Pack For Life 04/05/2011 at 9:25 PM #

    I registered today to make my first post on SFN. Been a follower/lurker for a long time!

    I am glad to have a new coach who seems to be ready to lead us forward. I am ready to see some fire and hustle from our players like we have not seen in awhile.

    I am thrilled with how Debbie Yow handled the presser and particularly the statement about the “being hard to work for / Gary Williams” stuff. Nothing can beat simply telling the truth to cut through all the BS the media can mention and let linger like they tried to do with that. She handled that like she had a bigger set than Gary Williams and ended up walking away classy too!

  12. jjcosl 04/05/2011 at 9:25 PM #

    Foremost, let me express that this is the first time I have felt the need to post. The reason is this: Although this may not be the hire that we wanted, it could have been a lot worse. What we need to do is allow our new coach an opportunity to hire a staff, establish a direction and give him our support. Rather than become the thing that the national (and local) media say we are, we should embrace Coach and work to help him make the basketball program a success.

    On a seperate note: If Gary “Can’t Make it Back to the NCAA Tournament” Williams is guilty of working against Yow’s hire, our next game against Maryland should be an interesting one. I can’t wait to see it the national press picks this issue up and runs with it.

    Until then… Go Pack!

  13. UmsteadWolf 04/05/2011 at 9:29 PM #

    Yow has GOTT us on the right track!

  14. fullmoon1 04/05/2011 at 9:30 PM #

    Gottfried. I didn’t see that coming but …he has a good record at this level which is more than can be said of previous coaches. I like that he didn’t wence at being close to K and Blueboy. I think he is a good fit and wouldn’t think of poopooing him til I give him a shot. Welcome Gottfried.

  15. Wulfpack 04/05/2011 at 9:32 PM #

    I am very unimpressed with this hire. No way in hell anybody could have said he was on the list 3 weeks ago. The guy has been out of coaching for 2 years, and had a bizarre/bad ending at Bama. I will, of course, support him and the team — surely, it isn’t his fault that it came down to him. But our program is is really bad shape and I do not expect our new coach to be able to change that.

    As for the search, I am equally disappointed. We all got our hopes up. Yesterday’s letter was a slap in the face to NCSU basketball, and I did not appreciate Yow’s comments at the press conference. Our new coach was hired to do a job, and she’s spouting off about why it came down to him. I was on the Yow bandwagon, but not anymore. I find her to be unprofessional, and she led a very weak search.

  16. BJD95 04/05/2011 at 9:32 PM #

    I also feel terrible for raising any false hopes the last 48 hours – or hell, at any point during the search. The SFN readership deserved much better than that from me. The commenter who cited Occam’s Razor over the weekend was exactly right, and I should have listened. My sincere apologies.

    Welcome to rock bottom.

  17. nav 04/05/2011 at 9:34 PM #

    Personally I dont think its that bad of a hire. Probably the best we could expect to get under our current circumstances. I think he has untapped potential.

  18. BJD95 04/05/2011 at 9:34 PM #

    Wulfpack is right on all counts. There’s no way you wouldn’t be laughing your ass off if anyone other than NC State made this hire.

  19. PackPatriot 04/05/2011 at 9:36 PM #

    My issue is with Yow not Gottfried. Thought her letter was unprofessional. Press conference unprofessional. Gottfried actually impressed but results of course will drive program so we’ll see. I bleed red/white so will scream as loud as ever no matter who is coach.

  20. UmsteadWolf 04/05/2011 at 9:37 PM #

    No offense to Lowe, but we’ve experienced the rock bottom for the last 5 years. Coach Gottfried is a refreshing improvement. Medium risk/medium reward in my opinion.

  21. BJD95 04/05/2011 at 9:39 PM #

    If you want to look on the bright side, you can’t fall off the floor. We had the worst AD and mens’ basketball coach before, and we still do.

  22. fullmoon1 04/05/2011 at 9:40 PM #

    I wouldn’t say she seemed unprofessional but real or down to earth. She doesn’t speak that high brow legal aristocratic mumbo jumbo like Dick Badour. I think it’s refreshing to see someone in her position quip back and display a little fire. At least you know where yow stands on things even if you disagree. Eff sweaty Gary.

  23. Plz2BStateFan 04/05/2011 at 9:40 PM #

    I do not think we can do worse than the past 5 years.

  24. UmsteadWolf 04/05/2011 at 9:41 PM #

    I think some at WF might disagree.

  25. roandaddy 04/05/2011 at 9:43 PM #

    One man’s opinion..so whatever.
    My big fear with Shaka was he could be EASILY be the next Amato. Showmanship that could either be a big win or a HUGE disaster. To take that bet now would be awful.

    This hire is just like TOB.. I expect it to be safe, conservative, not too sexy, but not an embarrassment. The main thing is its over and he can get down to business.

    PS.. Dear Yow, please don’t EVER use the term “so whatever” in a press conference again. I tell the people who work for me not use the term “whatever” around me because it is another way of saying “I don’t care”.

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