2009 record: 5-7, 2-6 ACC
Bowl teams (in '09): nine
Main event: Cincinnati (Thursday, Sept 16 )
Miss in the ACC: Duke, Virginia, Miami
Gimme: Western Carolina (Sept. 4)
Bottom line: With two road games outside the ACC, the Wolfpack has six home games, compared to eight last season, and only four on Saturdays.
The two Thursday night games should be fun with Cincinnati, the two-time defending Big East champ, coming in on Sept. 16 and Florida State on Oct. 28.
While Cincinnati has a new coach, Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame after a 12-0 regular season in 2009, the Wolfpack will only have four days after a trip to Central Florida to prepare for the Bearcats.
Two other points of interest: State should start 1-0 for the first time in Tom O'Brien's fourth season with FCS opponent Western Carolina as the opener. The UNC finale expirement lasted one year. Maryland will close the schedule with the Pack visiting UNC on Nov. 20.
Unless State's defense makes a dramatic improvement, another middle of the road record, 6-6 give or take one game either way, is to be expected with this schedule.
| Saturday, Sept. 4 | Western Carolina |
| Saturday, Sept. 11 | @ Central Florida |
| Thursday, Sept. 16 | Cincinnati (ESPN) |
| Saturday, Sept. 25 | @ Georgia Tech |
| Saturday, Oct. 2 | Virginia Tech |
| Saturday, Oct. 9 | Boston College |
| Saturday, Oct. 16 | @ ECU |
| Saturday, Oct. 23 | open |
| Thursday, Oct. 28 | Florida State (ESPN) |
| Saturday, Nov. 6 | @ Clemson |
| Saturday, Nov. 13 | Wake Forest |
| Saturday, Nov. 20 | @ UNC |
| Saturday, Nov. 27 | @ Maryland |
Comments
gonna have to pony up ...
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 16:54 — gvillegatrthe cash over the summer so we get our ECU and UNC tickets! I love going on the "road"! ...
I know it's as early as it
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 10:09 — mad_maxI know it's as early as it gets, but looking at the schedule, as of right now, I would have to predict a 6-6 season. Yeah, I know that's boring. Sorry 'bout that.
Cincy will be the big event like you said. I just hope State can be competitive in that one, unlike in the big event games in recent seasons. UL and USF blowouts come to mind immediately. The trip to Chapel Hill will be highly anticipated, like always, and the game in Greenville should be pretty wild assuming the Pirates make a decent transition under their new coach.
Way too early.
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 17:03 — JPDOhioBut that has never stopped us before. 6-6 is as good a guess as any right now with a range of 8-4 to 4-8 within the margin for error. Among the questions:
1. Is Russell coming back?
2. If Russell doesn't, is Glennon ready?
3. Will one or more of the running backs come out of nowhere to be an instant star?
4. Will the offensive line mesh quickly enough to open holes and protect the QB long enough for the offense to be productive?
5. Will Nate Irving be healthy enough to return to his previous level of productivity?
6. Will the experience that the young linebackers and DBs gained during last year's beatdowns result in improved performance by the defense this year?
7. Will Mike Archer devise a defensive scheme that is successful enough to make yar8pack eat his words?
So many questions, so few answers. My guess is that, except for #1, we won't know the answer to these and other questions until midway through the season, at the earliest.
The hopes of #7
Sat, 02/06/2010 - 10:35 — YAR8packI'll gladly pour extra mustard on my new boots if Archer can figure out how to use what he's got instead of asking what he's got to play a certain system. Isn't the strength of any "good" coach being able to figure out the strength of his players and creating a system to fit it? So, sure, I'll gladly eat my words, hat, shoe, dog, blowfish, whatever, if Mike Archer learns how to coach a D.
I know State didn't have quality in the secondary, but anyone who watched a single NC State game last year must admit that giving opposing receivers 10 yards from the line of scrimmage wasn't the best continual plan. At least be flexible enough to change to bump-n-run.
I was never overjoyed that Archer was brought to NC State. His track record at LSU and Kentucky aren't very pristine. It's rather funny that Archer was hired as HC at LSU over Steve Spurrier. Wonder if they ever regreted that choice?
midway through the season!!??
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 18:01 — gvillegatrthats like 9 months away!!!! what will we do between now and then!~?
9 months away...
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 19:35 — JPDOhiofor answers. Only 6 months for football to start.
Until then, we at least have hoops for a month and half, give or take two weeks. Which could get depressing if things don't change soon.
Next up
Sat, 02/06/2010 - 10:23 — SurferBaseball.
Your prediction
Fri, 02/05/2010 - 11:14 — YAR8packIt's a rather optimistic one. As sad and craptacular as it really is to say it, there's no reason to feel otherwise.
Playing 9 teams that were bowl eligible this past season doesn't bode well for the Pack. State lost it's entire d-line. The o-line has been overly sporadic every Saturday. There's no proven running game. Glad his health is on the mend, but Coach Bible needs to learn how to run some Strong and I-Form every now and then. And then there's the sad fact that Mike Archer is still running/ruining the defense. There haven't been any documented sacrifices to the gods to rid that locker room of the injury plague hanging over like some glaucomic veil.
8-4 would be great for this team. But, as you've already said, 6-6 is probably where they'll end up.
The Beginning and End
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 15:31 — YAR8packThank goodness State starts out with easier (on paper, at least) opponents. How about a lil payback for losing to UCF in 07.
The last 6 games on the schedule are going to be rather tough. Glad there's an open date thrown in before that difficult 5 game stretch.
The only items that baffle me but also makes me happy are the Thursday night games. Isn't the criteria for an ESPN Thursday night game that the team actually has to have won with regularity over previous seasons? Or is Monday Night Football only like that? Two different leagues, yes, but you folks get the point. Oh well. Thanks ESPN.
I have a feeling much of
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 16:26 — chrismg1I have a feeling much of the focus during those thursday games is going to be on you opponents, seeing as they are both coming into next season with new coaches. good luck though.
My Bust
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 17:20 — YAR8packMeant to add "hosting" a Thursday night game. I see your other point, though.