O'Brien, Pack finally smiling

Staff photo by Ethan Hyman

News & Observer photographer Ethan Hyman e-mailed an image Saturday showing N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien, flanked by his players, grinning.

“Ever seen O’Brien like this?” Hyman’s message asked.

Not recently.

O’Brien’s dour expressions for most of the first month of this season have been easy to explain.

N.C. State had been picked to finish last in the ACC’s Atlantic Division even before a devastating group of injuries decimated its roster.

N.C. State’s 30-24 win in overtime over 15th-ranked East Carolina on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium demonstrated that the season is far from lost for the Wolfpack.

The struggles of other ACC teams demonstrate that there are beatable opponents on the schedule.

Unlike some of those teams, N.C. State is getting better.

The most obvious improvement is at quarterback, where redshirt freshman Russell Wilson seems to be discovering what he’s capable of.

O’Brien is still learning about Wilson, too, and said Wilson plays much better in games than in practice.

Wilson is learning to use his speed to evade the rush, then making big plays down the field on the run and the pass once he breaks containment.

After some difficult moments in his first two starts, he was 21-for-31 for 210 yards with three touchdown passes Saturday.

Running back Andre Brown, who scored the winning touchdown, is playing the best football of his life as a senior. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry Saturday, caught four passes for 35 yards and carried the offense on his shoulders with two mighty runs in overtime.

Jamelle Eugene’s return from an ankle injury Saturday gives N.C. State a good complement to Brown – a smaller, quicker back who also can catch the ball out of the backfield.
Finally, some guys who aren’t used to having their numbers called are making big plays on defense. J.C. Neal made a stop on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

Shea McKeen stripped Patrick Pinkney and ended East Carolina's possession in overtime.

It was enough to make a coach smile.

"We’re playing hard, and we’re learning how to play hard,” O’Brien said. “And if we continue to do that, we’re going to have chances to win some football games. It’s the only way we can win them right now with all the injuries and lack of personnel.”