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Tudor's Take: No relief for Wolfpack
Submitted by caultontudor on 09/22/2008 - 15:33
The injury situation in N.C. State’s football program officially passed the surreal point with today’s news that quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Nate Irving will be unavailable for Saturday’s game against South Florida.
There’s probably no way to accurately measure such things, but I’ve been covering college football for many years and I can never recall a program going through a more devastating two-year stretch of rotten luck.
In fact, the injuries have been so extensive that second-year coach Tom O’Brien’s impact has become completely impossible to ascertain.
It’s obvious that O’Brien and his staff have a rare gift for keeping their players focused through a stretch of unreasonably bad fortune. The fact that he’s 2-2 this season and 7-9 overall is mildly amazing in view of the patchwork lineups that have been necessitated by so many injuries.
But what could the record have been by now had just one half of the injuries been avoided? It’s anyone’s guess. So decimated are the Wolfpack ranks that O’Brien sidesteps questions about how many healthy scholarships players are at his disposal. My guess is that it’s about 15-25 below the NCAA limit of 85.
It’s not just the injuries per se, either. It’s also the timing of those injuries. Irving, through three games, was arguably the best linebacker in the conference. Wilson, in Saturday’s upset win over East Carolina, came through with the sort of impressive performance that won him the starting job during the off-season.
With both in the lineup against South Florida, there would have been good reason to think the Pack would have defeated a ranked non-league opponent for the second straight and entered the ensuing two games against Boston College and Florida State with a decent chance to become the surprise team of the season in the ACC.
Now, of course, it’s anyone’s guess, but the outlook is suddenly dim again. Likely QB starter Harrison Beck hasn’t played well against top-line defenses, and former starter Daniel Evans has struggled just as much.
The defense, minus Irving, now has to develop new leadership.
Heck, as a taxpayer, I’d be the first to vote for providing O’Brien and his gutty team with a government bailout. This team deserves some a long run of good luck in the X-ray room.
About the blogger
Caulton Tudor has worked for The News & Observer or The Raleigh Times for more than 30 years.Want to post a comment?
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Comments
i love...
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 19:30 — izzykareemhow we as NCSU fans have taken over this blog...we only have a few Holes fans chirp in every now and then...and don't put anything on here about EZU or they'll lock the server up.
ACC football perception in Ohio
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 18:33 — rbl (not verified)UNCAlumnus asked JPDOHIO about the perception of ACC and UNC football in Ohio. As a Carolina grad living in Ohio, I can answer that one - there is no thought given to either. There is considerable angst about the SEC, however.
The list below doesn't
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 15:42 — Anonymous (not verified)The list below doesn't include Wilson and Irving's being out.
Here is the count of the currently healthy, scholarship players:
Seniors (10):
1. QB D. Evans (RS)
2. RB A. Brown
3. OL J. Bedics (RS)
4. OL M. Green (RS)
5. DT A. Holmes
6. DT K. Willis (RS)
7. DE J. Clemmons
8. LB R. Leonard (RS)
9. CB J. Gray (RS)
10. S JC Neal
Juniors (10):
11. QB H. Beck (RS)
12. OL A. Barbee (RS)
13. OL T. Larsen (RS)
14. OL J. McCuller (RS)
15. OL J. Williams (RS)
16. DT L. Burgess
17. DE W. Young (RS)
18. DE S. McKeen (RS)
19. LB R. Michel (RS)
20. CB K. George (RS)
Sophomores (10):
21. RB C. Underwood
22. WR D. Davis (RS)
23. WR O. Spencer (RS)
24. WR J. Williams (RS)
25. OL G. Gregory (RS)
26. OL J. Vermiglio (RS)
27. DE A. Augustin (RS)
28. DE M. Kuhn
29. LB N. Irving (RS)
30. CB D. Morgan (RS)
Freshmen (16):
31. QB R. Wilson (RS)
32. WR TJ Graham
33. WR S. Howard (RS)
34. WR J. Smith (RS)
35. TE G. Bryan (RS)
36. OL H. Lawson (RS)
37. OL D. Roberts (RS)
38. DT W. Crawford (RS)
39. DE J. Rieskamp (RS)
40. DE JR Sweezy (RS)
41. LB A. Cole (RS)
42. LB S. Lucas
43. LB D. Maddox
44. CB D. Ellis
45. S J. Byers (RS)
46. S J. Simmons (RS)
two or three times a week
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 15:31 — gvillegatrtwo or three times a week there are articles about NCSU players heeling or getting hurt again. what are you talking about???????? It's a wonder they have time to write anything else for ACCNOW!!??
about time
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 12:06 — Anonymous (not verified)Spot on, but I don't understand why it took so long to say this. Mr Giglio commented on this with UNC after one player got hurt. Why did it take 4 games to comment on the 12-13 players NCSU has hurt. I truly don't believe in the so called "conspiracy theory" that most NCSU prescribe to, but sometimes you guys sure make me wonder.
What doesn't kill you...
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 11:32 — JPDOhio...makes you stronger. Hate to fall back on cliches, but it is true.
We all knew deep down this was going to be a difficult year for the Pack, even without injuries. But the injuries have provided opportunities for players to step up and, in some cases, fail. Once the injury epidemic ends (and it will end at some point), the Pack will have more competition at more positions and be a better team as a result.
I disagree with Mr. Tudor on only one point in his posting, I think we CAN evaluate Coach O'Brien under these circumstances. He has his team competing fiercely in spite of numerous setbacks. It is clear to me why he has a successful history as a head coach. I am extremely optimistic about the Pack's football future.
JPDOhio, are you in Ohio?
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 15:26 — UNCAlumnusI don't mean to go off topic, but I read on a previous blog post where you said UNC is not a tough sell to recruits. If you are in Ohio, what is the general opinion about ACC in general, and UNC football in particular in that region? Just asking out of curiosity. I know you follow NCSU, and I hope the best for your team this year. That is except for Nov. 22. Thanks!!
Yes, I am in Ohio
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 19:00 — JPDOhioMy son graduated from State, which is how I became a Pack fan and became familiar with the Triangle. I have seen the UNC campus (it is beautiful) and know the school's reputation. I live in Northeast Ohio and UNC doesn't recruit up here much, I don't think. However, Anthony Elzy is from my area, so somehow someone got him to UNC.
I believe that Butch Davis has a solid reputation as a college coach and recruiter and is now at school with a national following. That reputation is mostly based on basketball and, to be honest, ACC football means nothing to most people here. But I think Butch can go anywhere in the country and convince prospects to at least take a look at the program he is rebuilding. Once he gets them on campus, I think the university setting and the opportunity to contribute to a rising program would be very enticing.
Of course, this is all blasphemy coming from a Pack fan, but I try to be objective at least sometimes. I also admit to having a soft spot for Duke football, because Micah Harris, who played at Duke until a tragic traffic accident ended his life, is from my kids' high school. So perspective is kind of important.
That said, we don't want to be too serious too often, so I'll try to post something outrageous next time.
.....
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 15:26 — UNCAlumnus...
It is getting real scary
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 08:42 — wolfdonSaturday when the ESPN annoucers praised Nate's play. my immediate reaction: ......how long befoe he is injured ........it happened a few plays later. I need an excorcism maybe.......
State is starting with 73
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 08:11 — tl (not verified)State is starting with 73 scholarship players on the roster (due to non-qualifiers, transfers, dismissals, academics, etc).
Injuries are currently:
1. LB Terrell Manning
2. FB Colby Jackson
3. TE Mario Carter
4. RB Toney Baker
5. S Javon Walker
6. S Clem Johnson
7. WR Donald Bowens
8. OL Curtis Crouch
9. DT Alan Michael Cash
10. WR Geron James
11. TE Anthony Hill
12. TE Matt Kushner
13. LB Nate Irving
14. QB Russell Wilson
Drops us to 59. Four of those are kickers/punters/snappers. 55 scholarship players healthy.
Then 10 more true freshmen who are trying to redshirt.
15-25, try nearly 40!
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 18:43 — rmoore (not verified)Nice post CT. Surreal is the right word. As for scholarship players available, the number is less than 50 according to this analysis last week: http://www.statefansnation.com/index.php/archives/2008/09/16/nc-state-down-to-49-scholarship-players/
UMM
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 16:57 — Anonymous (not verified)Actual quotes from TOB is that both are out indefinitely. This is the same thing he said last Monday about Jamelle Eugene, who was probable by Thursday and played against ECU. Seems like the same thing is possible for both of these guys.
funny
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 16:43 — izzykareemin a sad kind of way. nice writeup Toots.
Over on StateFansNation one of the bloggers put up a really good article a week or so ago, this was before Irving and Wilson got hurt...we were down to 46 scholarship players...46!!