Yardbarker: North Carolina State Wolfpack

Got turnovers?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:10:03 -0500

It didn't take long. Maryland quarterback Chris Turner’s first pass was intercepted in the flat by defensive end Willie Young. Only 13 seconds had elapsed in the game when N.C. State took over on Maryland’s 21. Two plays later, Russell Wilson fired a touchdown pass over the middle to 17 yards to tight end George Bryan to put the Wolfpack ahead, 7-0. TBut the Terps, going no-huddle, drove 69 yards in 10 plays on their next possession, tying the game on a third-and-inches leap into t...

What They're Saying... after Florida State's Homecoming Win

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:06:08 -0500

Let's start with one of the best FSU articles I have ever read. Take your time to read that. It really shows how Bowden tried to destroy the program about which he supposedly cares, just how Mickey Andrews saved it, and just how Fisher has the stuff to take it to the next level. More inside. Bowden Truism Alert: "our defense did good enough for us to win." Yet when they lose, it's a team loss, right coach? Seems silly to...

FSU 45, NC State 42

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:34:16 -0500

Russell Wilson in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)" />

More photos » by Steve Cannon - AP

about 24 hours ago: Florida State's Everett Dawkins sacks North Carolina State's Russell Wilson in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)

Browse more photos »

Box Score

I'm running out of ways to describe the same thing every week. There was no reason to expect significant improvement defensively--not against the best offense we'll see all season--but I thought perhaps we might come out of the bye with a few screws tightened. Nope. And after a slow start, this game was just as advertised, a back-and-forth scorefest with little margin for error.

Two situations that may have cost the Wolfpack a shot in overtime or a win in regulation:

1.) State looked in good shape to get at least a last-second field goal after Terrell Manning intercepted Christian Ponder late in the second quarter. The Pack got the ball on Florida State's 46 yard line, but the coaches totally and inexplicably botched it from there, refusing to call a timeout immediately after an eight-yard completion to Donald Bowens. The clock bled down to seven seconds before they finally bothered to stop it; the offense ran two plays up to that point and managed to blow 37 seconds in the process. Wilson threw an INT on the next play in an all-or-nothing situation that didn't have to be. Aren't these the spots where coaches earn those big paychecks? It's always amazing to me how often the clock gets mismanaged. Nothing about these situations comes as a surprise to anyone on the sideline. So what the hell?

2.) With the score tied at 28, Nate Mageo intercepted Ponder and returned the ball inside Florida State's 20, which could have been the game-changer that defined the second half for NC State. But Mageo fumbled the ball right back to Florida State. The Seminoles would take that second chance right down the field and convert a FG to put themselves back on top. Huge, huge turnaround, and certainly not one this Pack team could afford.

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North Carolina State Wolfpack @ Florida State Seminoles Preview

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:52:28 -0500

More photos » by Ethan Hyman - AP Russell Wilson should have a field day against Florida State's defense. Can FSU outscore the 'Pack? (AP Photo/The News Observer, Ethan Hyman) Browse more photos » Time: Noon EasternTV: Raycom or Espn360.com WeatherLine: FSU -10/ (Over/Under 64) Last year, Florida State pulled the game out 26-17 on a Thursday night in Raleigh. The Pack's offense tore up F...

Ray Michel, TJ Graham Out For FSU

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:04:27 -0500

Bummer.

Middle linebacker Ray Michel, who leads N.C. State in tackles, and wide receiver/kick returner T.J. Graham will miss Saturday’s game at Florida State with injuries, the school announced Thursday evening.

Michel, who has 53 tackles, has an ankle injury and will be replaced by Dwayne Maddox in the starting lineup. Maddox usually plays the boundary linebacker position, where Terrell Manning will start Saturday.

Graham, who has a leg injury, usually returns kickoffs and punts for the Wolfpack. Clem Johnson, Jamelle Eugene and Donald Bowens will split those duties with Graham out.

This article was originally published at http://www.BackingThePack.com. If you are interested in sharing your website's content with SCACCHoops.com, Contact Us.

The Conversation- Talking NC State with BackingThePack.com

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:34:50 -0500

To get our readers ready for the Homecoming game, I swapped bounced some questions off Akula Wolf of BackingThePack.com, the premiere N.C. State site. He also asked me a few. My answers are here, check them out. A lot was expected out of Russell Wilson this year by some in the national media. How has he lived up to the hype? What are some of the reasons for his shortcomings? He's struggled a bit in conference play, at least by his standards. He's averag...

Upset Bait: If Florida State is up, must be time to go the other way

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:37:17 -0500

The Doc Saturday crew peruses the weekly lines in search of a few shockers. Doug Gillett: N.C. State (+9) over Florida State. For the simple reason that FSU hasn't had two good games in a row in what seems like forever, and this week it has to follow up their stirring come-from-behind win at North Carolina against an opponent that's had their number on a regular basis over the past few years. The 'Noles and Wolfpack have split the last eight in the series, with NCSU taking two of...

Bad Day For the ACC

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:41:00 -0500

The ACC isn't a football power ... even if they'd like to be. It's a basketball conference who likes to dabble in football to make that bank. They've screwed up the hoops side of things chasing the money.

I don't know how the ACC keeps its BCS slot. Virginia Tech's win over Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl last year was the league's first BCS win in forever. They never put two teams in the BCS bowls in the same season.

Meanwhile, Utah and Boise State are winning those BCS games and BYU is beating Oklahoma.

The BYU win is relevant since the ACC showed its lack of muscle on the opening day of the college football season.

Duke lost at home to Richmond. Sure, the Spiders are defending FCS champions ... but this is a BCS school losing to a FCS school ... again!

Duke wasn't the lone ACC team losing to a Championship Subdivision school: Virginia lost to William & Mary, 26-14. Unlike Richmond, William & Mary isn't a FCS power. This is their first opening game win since 2001 and first win over a FBS school since 1998 (and that was against lowly Temple).

Baylor went into Wake Forest and beat the Deacs. Not a surprise, but this was a game that Wake could've won.

In the two big games that involved ACC teams this week saw the league lose both contests. Virginia Tech fought hard but were beaten by Alabama, 34-24. On Thursday, NC State lost to South Carolina in Raleigh, 7-3.

As I'm typing this, Maryland is down to California 45-13.

On Monday, the league's two football "powers" go at it as Miami faces off against Florida State. Wonder if the announcers will talk about the possibility of Bobby Bowden getting penalized several wins?

Yeah, North Carolina, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Boston College cruised to wins over FCS schools. And in that Clemson game, star back C.J. Spiller left the game with an injury.

I hope the ACC can get it together and show that this was just a bad week and nothing more. Next week sees Virginia host ranked TCU, North Carolina visiting UConn, Duke traveling to Army and Wake Forest hosting Stanford -- all loseable games. Also, we have Clemson facing off against Georgia Tech ... meaning one of the best teams in the conference will get their first loss.

College Football Season Is Finally Here

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:00:33 -0500

by Rogelio V. Solis - AP View full size photo uploaded September 3, 2009 I really feel like, for me, everything that needs to be said has been said. The 2009 college football season starts tonight with a game between South Carolina and NC State. I'm not terribly interested in the game, as neither are future opponents of LSU. Despite my status as a regular college football blogger, my appetite for watching college football is really not insatiable. I have to ...

Four starters: Players to watch Thursday

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:12:56 -0500

Multitalented Wilson directs the Wolfpack attack. College football season kicks off tonight with two prove-it games. Keep an eye on these four players: Oregon Out to prove: QB Jeremiah Masoli is among the nation's elite Here he is, people, your 2009 Heisman Trophy sleeper. Masoli struggled early last year like most junior college transfers, then blossomed in the last month of the season. The perfect fit for coach Chip Kelly's spread option offense, he'll play with more...

Monday Morning Tomahawks- Tuesday 07.28.09 Edition

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:22:30 -0500

Lots of 'Nole news today, so let's get to it. The Quad Countdown: No. 36 North Carolina State - The Quad Blog - NYTimes.comThe Wolfpack hopes to maintain the momentum developed over last season's late rush to postseason play. As long as quarterback Russell Wilson remains healthy, anything is possible. The problem is they don't play a lick of defense. Trickett proves ESPN blogger wrong | tallahassee.com | Tallahassee DemocratRick Trickett made certa...

WOLFPACK’S RUSSELL WILSON – GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:50:00 -0500

The good news for N.C. State fans is that their quarterback Russell Wilson appears to be the best int eh ACC. He was Rookie of the Year his freshman season, and he finished third in the pre-season ACC Player of the Year voting.Bad news is he may not be around too long.Wilson, a first-team All-ACC selection as a redshirt freshman last season, is on an accelerated academic schedule that has him on track for graduation in the spring of 2010. He also is a baseball prospect who's eligible for ...

Quantifying the Russell Wilson Effect at N.C. State

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:22:31 -0500

Part of the Doc's ACC Week. Whenever I think of N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson, I always go back to his first steps on the college stage as a redshirt freshman, as the rather unlikely starter in the Wolfpack's season opener last year at South Carolina, which could not have gone more poorly: N.C. State was so bad in that game, finishing 5-of-20 passing with four turnovers, 138 yards total offense and zero points, that it seemed entirely plausible the Wolfpack wouldn't find t...

NBA Eastern & Western Conference Finals Preview

Sun, 17 May 2009 22:09:38 -0500

Who is the X-factor in the Los Angeles-Denver series? Trevor Ariza. When Ariza is making threes it opens up the Los Angeles defense and allows Kobe Bryant to drive the ball much easier. Derek Fisher has struggled offensively, meaning its up to Ariza to pick up the slack. In game seven [...]

41-10 - THAT JUST HAPPENED

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:25:01 -0500

Details of the epic beatdown after the jump...

NC STATE outrushed the holes 187 yds to a laughable 56 yds

NC STATE outgained the holes 466 yds to 203 yds

NC STATE forced 6 turnovers

NC STATE was 8 for 17 on third down, while holding the holes to 3 for 11

Obviously the most telling stat ...

Baby.Unborn. Already Brilliant!

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:46:54 -0500

So, in case you haven't noticed, some of us are a wee bit pumped up for the rivalry game tomorrow between State and carolina. I am no different. The douches are favored and "should" win this game, but that doesn't faze me. I have a good feeling about the game. You know who else has a good feeling about the game?? Unborn baby fetuses! (or is it feti?) Below is a picture I found here. It shows an unborn child already supporting the school it will undoubtedly follow through good and bad(mostly bad...sorry little guy/gal, it's an uphill battle). I take this as a good sign, GO WOLFPACK!! More youtubage of The Pack after the jump! (authors's note: Yes, I understand photoshop exists and that the date is 8/29/08...but I choose to believe it's real and ignore the date and still view it as a sign!) (2nd author's note: Yes, I meant to leave carolina uncapitalized.)

Nate's Hungry: A Pack v. Heels Prediction

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:09:19 -0500

There are few things in the world more satisfying to me than seeing a Heel suffer (after a sports defeat, of course). To all of my blue-brainwashed friends, I am sorry. Not really. And whether they want to admit it or not, they hate NC State. And I love it! So at high noon on Saturday, November 22nd, this rivalry will be renewed in front of the comatose crowd (except for the RED) in Kenan Stadium. Prediction after the jump, and as always.....GO TO HELL CAROLINA!! As biased as I may be, I will approach this objectively. I will also, ultimately, choose the Pack. I mean, come on, we're just a MUCH better team. In all seriousness...SUCK IT, HEELS! WOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!! YEA!!!!!! Sorry. The Heels, while enjoying a great year so far, have made a living off of bullsh#t non-offensive touchdowns. TJ Yates was having a solid year before his injury, but Good Lord, don't say a word about injuries. State's starters have missed approximately 70 games due to injuries this year. Cameron Sexton has filled in admirably for the Heels and is certainly more mobile, but he's no Yates. The Heels' D has been solid all year but has been marched on (and here). I know I'm reaching, but the point is, if you don't turn it over against the Heels, you can put up enough points. The Heels' WRs are very good. And Hakeem Nicks is as good a receiver as I've seen all year, save Michael Crabtree. Motivation: A slim, slim, slim chance at Tampa and a win over the Pack. That being said...... AND This has been stated ad nauseam, but the presence of Russell Wilson, QB, and Nate Irving, LB, makes A WORLD of difference for the Pack. And it has shown the past two weeks. State's D has not been good this year but has been good enough THE LAST TWO WEEKS. State's running game has not been good this year but has been more than adequate THE LAST TWO WEEKS. Notice a pattern here? Everything has changed recently for the Pack. For the most part, everyone's healthy, Russell has some experience, and the team is gaining confidence. Every single position group for the Pack has improved as the season has progressed. And the Pack has the momentum advantage after the Heels' loss to Maryland last Saturday. Oh, and Russell Wilson and Nate Irving are badasses. Motivation: A bowl game and a win over the Heels. What will Happen: 1. The reported attendance will be far less than the actual attendance (omitting the large number of State fans); 2. The Pack will turn it over only once which may or may not lead to points for the Sheep; 3. The Pack will rush for ~150 yards with Russell leading the way; 4. Jamelle Eugene, State's starting RB, will lead the team in receptions and reception yardage; 5. Russell will throw for 190 yards, rush for 50 and account for two scores; 6. Nate will record 11 tackles, 2 for loss and 1 sack and will crap thunder somewhere in the process; 7. The Heels will score 20 points, and I don't really give a sh#t how they do it; 8. The Pack's D will bend violently but not break; 9. The officiating crew will be horrendous; 10. The Pack will win 23-20; and 11. I will dance like no one's watching! GO PACK!!! Donk Spotter

N.C. State football Recruiting Class 2008

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:12:50 -0500

North Carolina State has a pretty good recruiting class for 2008, starting with quarterback Mike Glennon.

NC State Football Preview

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:06:16 -0500

A new coaching staff takes over a 3-9 season last year.

He's Baaack, Amato Back at Florida State

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:50:15 -0500

We knew that it wouldn't take long for former NC State head coach Chuck Amato to find another job, and we also knew that Bobby Bowden was feeling a little lonely after seeing his son step down as offensive coordinator. So what's the next best thing?