Know the Enemy 2024: NC State Wolfpack Football

We asked our friend to answer some questions about NC State football, and Rob (@RobMcLamb), from Inside Pack Sports, has graciously answered the call to be our expert on the upcoming matchup.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Some answers have been lightly edited for clarity. Each additional entry is clearly marked with “WFC:” at the beginning.

To help us get to know NC State better, what season do most NC State fans look back on with the most nostalgia today?

Football nostalgia at NC State generally revolves around players, not specific seasons. Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson, Bradley Chubb, Bill Cowher and so on are some of the recent big names. The Wolfpack has not won an ACC title since 1979 and has surpassed ten wins in a season only once in program history (2002). NCSU has never earned a major bowl berth.

Looking back on the great seasons, the Wolfpack fan must be either old or nostalgic because the better NCSU teams always have mistakes and “that one play that went wrong.” The look back then becomes bittersweet, with fleeting moments of happiness drowned out by what could have been.

What do you think about adding the Bay Area and Dallas to the ACC footprint? Is there a large contingent of traveling fans or NC State alums in the Bay Area (or West Coast?)

I have no idea if NC State fans are traveling to see the Wolfpack’s first BayCC game, but I know I’m excited about it. There are so many things I want to see when I come to Berkeley and the Bay Area. Unfortunately there are not enough hours in the day. Luckily, I get trips for both basketball teams in the coming months.

There will be a Left Coast alumni contingent there for NC State and I’m excited for them to see their beloved Wolf Pack. Trips to Texas are a little more common for NCSU with the Elite 8’s win over Duke in March still fresh in Wolfpack Nation’s memory.

The addition of Cal, Stanford and SMU caused concern among NC State’s rival UNC and many in the media, who are capitulating to their Tar Heel overlords. They all seem to agree that NC State needs UNC, but Cal can attest to how much teamwork was put in by the other public university in the state when the Big 10 came calling for UCLA to join.

The Bruins gave up the Golden Bears in order to secure a private school, USC. Fair play, and don’t expect NCSU to benefit from anything North Carolina does unless it’s a move that gives the Tar Heels the biggest financial gain. NC State could kiss UNC’s tail for 100 years and the Heels would still bounce off them for more money in a nanosecond. Too bad for them, the additions of Cal, Stanford and SMU mean they’ll likely have to wait at least another decade.

And by the way, UNC has the right to look at other leagues. You don’t owe NC State anything. If the Tar Heels can do better elsewhere, good for them.

What would poor little NC State do if UNC left for B1G? They would likely take advantage of the fact that it is the largest public university in North Carolina to move to the SEC or Big 12, especially since the Tar Heels cannot join all three leagues at the same time. That actually doesn’t seem so bad. Maybe the two schools can play in other leagues and never face each other again? Honestly, that might be for the best since they’re probably both sick of looking at each other anyway.

I say add more teams in the West to the ACC. Get UNLV now. We all need reasons to travel to Las Vegas. I also wouldn’t have a problem with Washington State, Oregon State and another school in Texas joining the fray. Give our Northern California brothers and sisters more teams to play on without having to take five-hour flights to get there.

Welcome to the ACC, Golden Bears. I love you already.

WFC: We love you too.

Dave Doeren has been around for a while. He never seemed to hit rock bottom or kick the door down. Given how this season has gone, is he on the hot seat?

Doeren is a solid coach, but he simply lacks “the game to get to the game.” A few times he’s taken teams to the brink of contention for an ACC title, only to find themselves literally just a game or two away from the biggest step of his tenure.

In some ways, Doeren is in a hot seat because these kinds of performances give his critics a platform, with NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan — a man who earned his nickname “Boo” through the willpower of silence making his namesake Boo Radley To kill a mockingbird seems like a motivational speaker in comparison – shocking is the release of a statement to fans last week.

However, Doeren is not fired. His buyout is too high and he does his best work when expectations are ignored. There will be some changes to his staff in January. After that, NC State will likely exceed expectations in 2025 by going 8-4 in the regular season, culminating in an inexplicable win over North Carolina, and then in one of the few second division bowl games where it’s still was never there, is throttled. and everyone in Raleigh will praise Doeren’s virtue and culture. NC State football is like a daytime soap opera. It’s often strange, but usually predictable.

What are the main factors contributing to NC State struggling this season?

The offense is stuck in the muck. Starting quarterback Grayson McCall was ineffective before he was injured. CJ Bailey, God bless his heart, is a freshman. The running game struggled, with blocking playing a big role. Kevin Concepcion, who has been touted as a potential First Team All-ACC preseason player, has yards per reception stats similar to my numbers when playing Madden All-Pro. It’s a train wreck, but it was a team effort.

First, prayers for the health of Grayson McCall. At the start of the season, the QB room of Grayson McCall and CJ Bailey looked solid. What was the biggest obstacle in inconsistent QB play?

The skill players cannot make explosive plays and the line blocked erratically.

What is your team’s greatest strength that could help you win?

Free football. Drives must end with kicks – field goals, extra points or punts – and not, as so often happens, end in turnovers.

Which player on offense should Cal fans know about?

Noah Rogers is a wideout who could play for almost any team in the country. NC State will have to innovate when needed to ensure he gets touches. If he can do that, he can keep the Wolf Pack in games.

Given CJ Bailey’s 6TDs to 4INTs, how will the Wolfpack adjust to playing a defense with the second-most interceptions this season?

The best solution might be to limit the decisions Bailey has to make (RPOs, etc.) and give him specific goals. Let the adults in the room be adults, which helps a newcomer learn and grow.

Which defensive player should Cal fans know?

Kamal Bonner is even more fired up now that middle linebacker Caden Fordham is out this year. Bonner has talent, but the representation on the field is somewhat lacking. He will have to learn as he goes along, and that means there might be some points where he is exploited not based on his talent, but rather on the knowledge of his tasks.

Who is an under-the-radar or X-Factor player who could swing this game for you?

Justin Joly is a deep threat at tight end. When NC State makes room and then Joly sends up the passes on pass routes, good things happen for the Wolf Pack.

What does NC State need to do to win the game?

Win the turnover battle and finish drives.

What does Cal have to do to win the game?

NC State’s worst enemy is often itself. Don’t worry if the Wolf Pack moves the chains, as they haven’t been at their best in the red zone.

How do you see the game progressing?

My Prediction: Cal 38, NC State 20

From the Brenners: Any idea how open the relationship between Wuf and Wuf is? Would you be interested in having a bear as a third partner?

Ms. Wuf has had a stable and happy marriage with Mr. Wuf for many years. I don’t speak for them, but I think their marriage, presided over by the Wake Forest Demon Deacon, is strong.

That means a trip to the Haight for some killer weed and acid, followed by a trip to wine country, and I think anything is possible.

We don’t advocate violence at W4C, but we want this question to give people an opportunity to voice it. Who would you most like to punch in the face?

If it were to come to blows, I would want to take down social media fans who troll others wherever their favorite team is criticized, especially those who hide behind burners or withhold their name. Mike Tyson once said that social media gives people excessive courage, and he was right.

WFC: Does this feel like you’re targeting someone else? Just kidding, we know that’s not the case, but we sure love our burners.