Coaches Tom O'Brien of N.C. State and David Cutcliffe of Duke go back a long way.
On Jan. 1, 1991, Virginia met Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Virginia is struggling so badly that it seems incredible that the Cavaliers ever played in the Sugar Bowl, but it happened that day in New Orleans, with Tennessee winning, 23-22.
George Welsh was coaching Virginia, and his friend Johnny Majors was coaching Tennessee. Before the bowl game, they and their staffs spent some time together discussing strategies and sharing ideas.
Two young assistants got to know each other during that trip. O'Brien was coaching guards and centers for Virginia, and Cutcliffe was in charge of the quarterbacks for Tennessee.
When Cutcliffe was asked recently about some of O'Brien's philosophies on building an offensive line, he praised O'Brien's aptitude in that area. On Thursday night, O'Brien said he still didn't understand why Mississippi fired Cutcliffe after his sixth season there in 2004.
"I don't know how you get rid of a guy who's the SEC coach of the year one year. . .and then he's gone (after the next season)," O'Brien said. "He's sound. He does a great job, and he's got Duke headed in the right direction.
As former assistants on the offensive side of the ball, O'Brien and Cutcliffe operate their schemes quite differently. Cutcliffe goes no huddle and often calls plays after the team gets to the line of scrimmage.
O'Brien is more conventional and uses the tight end position a lot more. It's clear that the coaches respect each other, but O'Brien has more on the line this week.
Rival North Carolina's collapse over the last two weeks has spared O'Brien some fan angst over the Wolfpack's third straight slow start. N.C. State fans are so happy to see North Carolina struggling that it's eased their frustration over seeing the Wolfpack lose two of the first three games they've played against FBS opponents.
Losing at home to Duke - even an improved Duke team with a highly respected coach - would considerably increase fan dissatisfaction with O'Brien. If Cutcliffe can engineer a win Saturday, it will be a hard jab to the gut of the tough Marine veteran who's coaching the Wolfpack.
Comments
Big game
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 18:46 — mad_maxThis game could have huge implications for Duke, but I don't think it will. State will be motivated, hungry, and happy to be at home. I know Duke is making strides under Cutcliffe, and I've been rooting for them in every game they've played...just not this one of course. State wins, mark it down.
furthermore...
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 11:34 — izzykareemI know alot of State fans, maybe 99% of them, want UNCCH to lose on a consistent basis in the worst way imagineable (que the tape of GT and UVa) but in reality, it doesn't lessen the sting of starting slow nor does it cause us to be overly excited about our coach or team or overly depressed etc. It's just an NCSU win and a UNCCH loss makes for a great great week.
We also know that we don't have a great secondary and good QB's this year are the only thing really standing between a shootout that comes down to the fourth qtr and a blowout win on our part. I'd much rather have that problem than not being able to run at all or pass at all, or do both poorly.
UNCCH?
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 12:28 — SurferYo izz,
I think that I have said before, not sure though, that UNC Charlotte doesn't even have a football team. So if by them losing in football, well then, I guess you are all set.
why are you taking offense at UNC-CH?
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 12:59 — dschwentkerI'm pretty sure that in the eyes of the state college system, UNC-CH is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There's nothing derogatory or misleading about it. UNC Charlotte is UNC-C. University of North Carolina at Asheville is UNC-A. Wilmington is UNC-W, etc.
Agree
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 13:52 — SurferI am not taking offense at UNC-CH. Believe me, I am well aware of the University of North Carolina college system and the 17 institutions that make it up.
But izzy uses UNCCH, not UNC-CH. UNCCH is one letter from UNCC, which is Charlotte. Like Wilmington is UNCW, no dash.
I just like givng izzy a hard time for taking the extra effort to add two letters to UNC. I mean, come on, this is ACC NOW. The only other school in the ACC that is in the UNC system is NC State. I guess he is worried that if he says UNC, somebody might think that he is referring to State?, oh sorry, I mean N.C. State?
I think that it makes him feel good to put Chapel Hill in their place, so to speak. Even though he is not listing it correctly, i.e. UNC-CH.
haha
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 16:27 — izzykareemhaha, thanks surfer, i can take it.
the hyphen is an extra digit, just lazy, i can certainly oblige you and use it
SUNC-R
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 14:09 — JPDOhioLet's not forget that one.
clueless?
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 20:43 — gvillegatrwhat does SUNC-R mean? enlighten me, please, JPD!
Shocked you didn't get that.
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 20:48 — JPDOhioState University of North Carolina-Raleigh.
Believe it or not, I have seen bonds issued under the name of North Carolina State University-Raleigh (or something similar to that.
Never ceases to amaze me how these threads take on a life of their own. And I like it!
OK, here comes Dr. Lou. Gotta go.
lol
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 22:15 — gvillegatr"Dr Lou, Dr Lou" love that jingle! ... still watching the Twinkies, myself.
In fairness...
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 12:37 — JPDOhioI have seen UNC-CH used to refer to UNC-Chapel Hill. Personally, I just use UNC and everyone seems to get who I am referring to.
Agree
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 12:46 — Surfer"I just use UNC and everyone seems to get who I am referring to."
Yes, I know, you and the rest of the free world, except izzy. He just likes to be different and I just like giving him a hard time about it.
lol
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 16:29 — izzykareemi just do it to give you guys a hard time. not trying to be contrarian. I also don't use "Carolina" as i want to be fair to the University of South Carolina... righttttttt
Huh?
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 11:21 — JPDOhioLeave it to KT to spin a story about two rival coaches complimenting each other into a referendum on who needs the win more.
I had no idea that UNC's troubles are the main reason that State's "third straight slow start" isn't bothering me so much. That would be the slow start that had two losses for a combined 10 points as compared to last year's blow-out losses when State, for a while, looked like the ACC's version of the Keystone Kops.
It is truly a revelation that TOB needs this win more than Cutliffe. The Pack's expectations are clearly higher than Duke's this year. And did anyone really believe that Cutliffe was going to get Duke to a bowl this year. I know I didn't, although I don't blame him for aiming high.
So, according to KT, a loss to Duke at home will not be received well by Wolfpack Nation. And if you stand outside in the pouring rain, you are likely to get wet. Way to stick your neck out there, Ken. Bold!
I think that because of
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 11:12 — SurferI think that because of expectations, State does need this win more badly. On the other hand, it could just be that it would be worse for State to lose, than it would be for Duke.
With the National and "State" Championships out the window, State can only, realistically, look towards the Atlantic and "Triangle" Championships. The ACC Championship is in play, but expect the Coastal Division Champ to be pretty strong.
State ain't going to no ACC title game
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 10:59 — mikbarrettBut dropping a game to Duke (who we haven't lost to since 1993?) would be catastrophic and completely, totally unacceptable.
Clueless, man
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 15:19 — bradleyb123Someone saying that has no clue, because our division is wide open. Who is dominant in the Atlantic division? (All I hear are crickets chirping...)
It's clear you just want a rise out of a State fan when you say that. Or are you really that clueless?
Devils
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 10:51 — route66Thanks, Ken. I forwarded your blog over to the Duke Football Office. For someone who has sat through multiple 0-11 and 1-10 seasons (oftentimes back to back to back), I find it laughable that Duke and Cutcliffe don't need this win more than State.
I support Coach Cutcliffe, and he was crazy enough to predict a bowl appearance for Duke this year. He won't lose his job by not fulfilling it this year, but he'll need to make hay next year or certainly in 2 years.
With all due respect to State in football, they don't know what misery is, and I hope they don't have to experience it.
No offense to Duke, but...
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 11:15 — bradleyb123At this point in time, State is farther along in their rebuilding process than Duke. We have more talent, more depth, and we're playing at home.
Duke will get there, they just don't need to get there now. Not this day. This is the kind of game State has to win if we're ever going to make the turn and be relevant on a national scale. Duke will get more wins, but they need to pay their rebuilding "dues" just like we did.
That's why State needs this more than Duke. A couple more years down the road, this could and should be anybody's game to win. Hopefully, that means it's two great teams going at it.
your middle paragraph
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 13:06 — gvillegatrmakes no sense at all.
whether state college is in rebuilding mode, sucks, or at its zenith, they should still beat DUIke every year in football.
in your life time you still have no idea what "dues" are compared to DUIke football. even when you guys were losing all those home games the last 3 or 4 yrs, it was still better than DUIke.
quit being so dramatic.
Yes, but...
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 15:17 — bradleyb123Yes, but it's Duke. At least we've been really trying for much longer than Duke. Duke has made a couple of coaching changes, but they haven't invested the way we have, like in our facilities, playing field, etc. Duke still cares about basketball above all. They're trying now, but they haven't paid their dues yet. We've built talent and depth. This is not and should not be Duke's year to win this game. We could lose, but it would be one of the worst losses in recent memory. I don't care if Duke is a little better than usual. They have no business winning this game.
don't worry
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 20:41 — gvillegatrb/c DUIke will not win this game. the ACC can't possibly get any worse than it already is but I guess it could if DUIke were to win.
alot of the sharps are on DUIke +15, though.
I think it is a case of
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 11:25 — SurferI think it is a case of State has more to lose than Duke.
When you say, "This is the kind of game State has to win if we're ever going to make the turn and be relevant on a national scale." I don't think that it means that beating duke will propel State to the national scene, but losing would sure hold them back a bit.
Exactly
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 15:15 — bradleyb123That's exactly what I mean. State has to win the games it is supposed to win -- like this one. If we lose this game, it's an indication that we're still spinning our wheels a bit. We could have shown that last week against Wake, but blew the opportunity.
Turn up the heat
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 10:12 — Steven252525I am not saying "hot seat", I am saying lossing this game is going to be tough to swallow. It is that time in TOB tenure that we start to see some results. Remember, year three of the Amato era gave us 11 wins???
Correction
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 18:44 — mad_maxI think you meant "year 3 of the Phillip Rivers era".
State will win this game, and even mentioning hot seat is ridiculous at this point. What did Amato do after that 11 win season? I'm very happy with TOB at this point, and I think i speak for most Pack fans when I say that....even if we lose tomorrow, which I seriously doubt will happen, TOB is the guy for us.
The pack absolutely needs
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 10:06 — awdracerThe pack absolutely needs this win more than Duke. More is expected from the Pack. State really needs to have a good season this year because I think that they will have problems up front on defense next season after losing all four starting DL. If state is going to get to the championship game, this is the year. Everyone in the division looks vulnerable.
The DL has plenty of talent
Sat, 10/10/2009 - 01:29 — tjfooseThe DL has plenty of talent on the bench. In fact, the backups and redshirts have more overall raw talent than the 4 starting seniors. NC State's DL will be fine.