While N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien spoke at the Raleigh Sports Club on Sept. 2, a disgruntled fan whispered a protest at the back of the room.
The fan complained that the speech was typical of O'Brien. He was calling O'Brien dull. But the fan wasn't listening closely, and you've got to do that to appreciate O'Brien's dry sense of humor.
His weekly news conference Monday was a good example. O'Brien joked about the snap that center Ted Larsen sailed over quarterback Russell Wilson's head. He said Larsen would be better off rolling the ball back to Wilson, if necessary:
"The guy (Wilson) plays second base. He can pick the ball up and play."
O'Brien joked about a snap earlier this season that also sailed.
"He threw it over (Mike) Glennon's head, which is hard to do," O'Brien said.
Glennon is 6-foot-6.
O'Brien's sarcasm even showed after he discussed a timing error by the officials that caused N.C. State to settle for a field goal at the end of the second quarter Saturday against Pittsburgh. He said ACC officiating coordinator Doug Rhoads acknowledged the mistake, which was made by a Big East crew.
"But what good does it do me now?" O'Brien asked.
Good point, and good line. O'Brien, who's soft-spoken and blunt, doesn't work a banquet crowd the way flamboyant predecessor Chuck Amato did.
But O'Brien does have a sense of humor, and it's probably easier to show it when you're 3-1.
・Although O'Brien made light of them, the two bad snaps by Larsen, who moved to center from defense in the spring of 2008, concern the coach.
"That's two too many," O'Brien said. "He gets hyper sometimes. He gets too excited. The blitz was coming and he just let it go. That's inexperience on his part in never having been a center. In those (highly charged) situations, you deaden it even more."
・O'Brien said quarterback Russell Wilson's performance Saturday (322 passing yards, 91 rushing yards, 4 TD passes) still didn't earn him a grade above 90 percent.
You'd have to be just about perfect, O'Brien said, to grade that highly on his staff's scale. But O'Brien said Wilson's performance against Pittsburgh was as good as any in his career.
"The fourth-and-14 (scramble for a first down) was probably the play that turned the game around for us," O'Brien said. "And that was just Russell being Russell."
Comments
Leadership
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 12:04 — heelsno1If one of the Wolfpack faithful is complaining about TOB being dull, I say that is simply laughable and ridiculous. All that this program leader does is effectively inspire young men and produce winning results. If the Pack Nation wants an over-promising underachiever and gaudy showmanship from its head coach, then NC State should have never cut its ties with "Chucky-the-Chest" Amato.
In his prime and by his own admission, Dean Smith never was completely comfortable in front of the microphone with Ram Club members or the media. However, like TOB, he is an upright person and enviable program builder whose teams compete and more times than not, they win!
The fan who complained....
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 14:37 — JPDOhiois a complete, unadulterated, undeniable idiot.
State game report
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 12:30 — LJPerezWe may have to do a better job of promoting our online content, or at least make sure that we post it on multiple sites to make sure readers don't miss it.
Saturday, Ken had a full report from the State-Pitt game on ACC Now Live, a companion site we use for live blogging and Twitter feeds from one game a week. So we had more online content from that game than any other this weekend, but it sounds like we need to do a better job of making it visible.
-- Lorenzo Perez, assistant sports editor
Thank you for the explanation, finally
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 14:10 — JPDOhioHaving it on a live site is fine, but the report has to be added to the regular site shortly after the game is over. Although I check this site frequently, even I have to draw the line somewhere. Personally, I made a conscious decision not to take advantage of the live blogging and Twitter feeds. Making them available is fine, but it makes no sense to force us to access to get the game report.
You might also consider being a little more timely in responding to concerns posted by frequent contributors. It seems to me that the absence of the game report on the main site is a pretty big deal and shows a disturbing lack of attention to your audience. Remember the trite but true statement-the customer is always right.
Late Hits
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 12:51 — scoccaYou also need to figure out how to get the Late Hits column routinely posted to ACC Now and linked so it can be found through the website. Was there even a column this week? I know there were columns the last two weeks, even though the Late Hits archive page has nothing since September 7.
Agreed.
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 14:11 — JPDOhioThat column always promotes lively discussion.
Yes, please do. Not all of
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 12:47 — mad_maxYes, please do. Not all of us go on Twitter. Thanks for the explanation though.
formal request...
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 11:16 — izzykareemmore stories about the Wolfpack, The Russell Wilson, Tom O'Brien, other players who are doing great. thanks
i heard the interview yesterday, the one about rolling it to RW was funny as hell. Then he followed that up with the quip about Glennon. Good stuff Ken. he got you a few times about the Irish/personal question stuff
Joking?
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 11:27 — SurferIzz, Surely you jest? Right now the pack has 40% of the ACC stories, (UNC-20%, Duke-20% and generic-20%)
Next headline, "The Pack leads the ACC in stories written for ACC NOW". T-shirt anyone?
Then again, it keeps the humor flowing.
yea
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 11:53 — izzykareemi was hoping for the Tebow treatment.
However, now that you mention it. The old blog had a running counter of stories for each school. UNCCH used to be way ahead of everyone.
No worries...
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 11:46 — YAR8packCome ACC basketball season, Pack fans will wish there weren't any NC State stories. Hope this pun doesn't come true, but I have a bad feeling it will.
Until then, keep up the hard work, Pack. Lots of mistakes to be fixed before Saturday.
Also. I've got a feeling the guy that was complaining about TOB is probably a big fan of smoke and mirrors. Seems he really misses Chuck's zingers about non-academic qualifiers and what shoes to wear with which sunglasses. Keep the sideshow. I'm glad State has someone who will at least sign more than 1 o-lineman in a class.
Go Pack.
Game report stats
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 11:34 — JPDOhioUNC-40%, Duke-40%, Generic-20%, NC State-0%
Perez
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 12:44 — SurferSee editor's note: "So we had more online content from that game than any other this weekend".
A revision of your breakdown is not necessary.
Saw it.
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 14:15 — JPDOhioAnd took the opportunity to rant. I check this site frequently, but draw the line at real-time updates and live blogging. Unfortunately, I still have to work for a living and have other obligations as well.
Right
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 12:16 — SurferHistorically speaking (after Sat.). Kind of strange no NCSU write up. Ken must have gotten his notes wet?
Ken did write one for State
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 17:02 — bradleyb123Ken was really quick to write an article about his passion for finding a way (some way, ANY way!) to stop Russell Wilson.
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/scrap-the-man-to-man-vs-wilson
See, NC State DOES get some articles! // end Sarcasm
Hopefully that problem is solved
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 22:22 — JPDOhioSee Lorenzo's post up above.
The real problem is that I think they sent JPG to Atlanta to cover the UNC/Ga Tech game. Our hero leaves town and the site goes to hell.
Apologies if I just made your life miserable in the newsroom, JPG. Being a star can be thankless at times.
Game?
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 12:19 — SurferWho said that there was a game in Atlanta?