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Amato issue fades for N.C. State
Submitted by kentysiac on 10/29/2009 - 09:10
It's now the third season since Chuck Amato was ousted as N.C. State's football coach, and his name barely has been mentioned as the Wolfpack prepares to face Florida State.
Amato is the executive associate head coach at Florida State, which plays host to N.C. State at noon Saturday. N.C. State senior running back Toney Baker said Wednesday that he would be happy to talk with Amato if he sees him on the field.
Baker, who was one of the best recruits Amato signed from inside North Carolina, expressed fondness for his former coach but hasn't talked to him since he left N.C. State. Baker missed the last two meetings between the schools because of a knee injury.
"I thought he was a good coach," Baker said. "I like him as a person. He recruited me here. I don't have anything negative to say about him. . . .He was a fiery guy. He was a passionate guy and he was really into what he was doing."
There's a reason Amato has faded as an issue for the Wolfpack this week. N.C. State (3-4, 0-3 ACC) is desperate for a win after a dreadful start to conference play. Some fans who used to enjoy poking fun at Amato now are directing their ire at his successor, Tom O'Brien, and current N.C. State defensive coordinator Mike Archer.
Amato has his own problems, too, at Florida State. Head coach Bobby Bowden, who's like a father to Amato, has faced pressure to retire from fans and even the head of the school's Board of Trustees.
Florida State (3-4, 1-3), which was the preseason pick of the media to win the ACC's Atlantic Division, is barely ahead of N.C. State at the bottom of the standings. Rumors of a fight between Amato and Florida State head coach in waiting Jimbo Fisher were so persistent that Amato wound up denying them to reporters.
In other words, Amato has enough to worry about at Florida State. That's why his the angle of his meeting with his former team hasn't gained much traction this week.
About the blogger
Ken Tysiac has covered the ACC for The Charlotte Observer since 2003, and spent the previous eight years covering Clemson for the Anderson Independent-Mail and then The State in South Carolina. He grew up in Rochester, N.Y., and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.Want to post a comment?
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Comments
"...beating unc for the 3rd
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 22:08 — tjfoose"...beating unc for the 3rd time in a row in 2009"
I hope so, but...
Carolina was the better team in 2008, they are the better team in 2009. Here's to hoping Butch comes to our rescue again this year.
Help
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 11:23 — SurferBD may help you out again this year, but he can't do it all by himself. State has some other business to tend to before that.
Nov. 28 could be the bowl game for both teams, but at this point, the odds for that being the case, are more for State than for UNC, 4 of 5 vs 2 of 4, respectively.
make no mistake
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 13:30 — gvillegatrwhen ncsu loses two more games, UNC will have their hands full come Nov 28th. Especially if it is, indeed, the 2nd win we still need to go bowling.
regardless, I can't wait to get to my seats in C-F clammored in UNC apparel!
The colors don't matter....
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 13:40 — JPDOhioI used Gatr's tickets for the Pitt game. He'll have different colors on than I did, but the result will be the same.
Haha well said gatr. But
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 11:58 — mad_maxHaha well said gatr. But don't you dare bring that filthy color into our house! To be honest though, there's nothing more exciting then going into enemy territory.
41 - 10 is recent unc -NC State football history.
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 14:19 — ciscopackThe most recent in fact. It's up to date until sometime in late November. By the way, beating unc for the 3rd time in a row in 2009 will not make it a successful football season!
The old days.
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 12:43 — boheathI remember losing to Florida State 77 to 17 in the later 90's.
Pulling for N.C. State has made me a better person.
I can with stand anything.
Women, if you're looking for a faithful man, ask him who his team is. If he says N.C. State, you've found a faithful man.
Absolutely Right
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 12:54 — SurferSo true, trial by fire turns coal into diamonds, but it does take a very, very long time.
Serious question here. 77-17, was that football or basketball?
trial by fire
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 14:46 — NCBuff_Caniacturns coal into ash. Heat plus pressure (and lots of it) turns coal into diamonds.
I never thought of that.
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 20:17 — JPDOhioIntroducing, Sidney "Diamondman" Lowe.
lol
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 12:51 — gvillegatrthese guys do go down with the ship don't they. comendable!
I hated to see Amato leave
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 10:33 — GoHeels1984I hated to see Amato leave State College. It was fun to watch him walking up and down the sideline at Karter Stadium wearing those red tennis shoes and white glasses. I do miss him. At least the guy did have an inkling of personality, unlike the new guy over there coaching... Tim O'Brien.
FSU 45
State College 24
I bet you did...41-10
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 11:09 — jbwood99I bet you did...41-10 drubbings are no fun.
neither is..
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 12:40 — dkellyunc63-29-6 UNC's all time record against Bass Fishing University.
Win at least 20 more and get back to me.
The Drubbings Experts
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 12:11 — Surfer41-10, that's old news. Remember 44-0? State is the expert on drubbings for sure. Can you say 49-28 and 52-20?
Don't worry, after tonight you may have another number to reference.