After months of anticipation followed by a disappointing evening Thursday, N.C. State fans have to live with the fact that they won’t feel better about their team until at least Sept. 26, when the Wolfpack plays host to Pittsburgh.

South Carolina’s 7-3 victory at Carter-Finley Stadium exposed soft spots in the N.C. State lineup, most noticeably on the offensive line and at wide receiver. The next two opponents, Murray State and Gardner-Webb, will be so overmatched that it will be difficult to gauge whether the Wolfpack has improved in those areas until Pitt comes to town.

• From Sunday's college football notes

After dealing with seemingly every injury and bad break in the book his first two seasons at N.C. State, Wolfpack football coach Tom O'Brien has started Year 3 with a welcomed turn of good fortune.

The return of defensive end Willie Young, who chose a fifth season in Raleigh over a shot at the NFL, is one reason O'Brien thinks 2009 may prove better than the previous two snakebitten seasons.

RALEIGH — By the time Andre Brown stretched the ball over the goal line, the oldest of adages was proven again — there's a reason they play the game.

N.C. State was given little, or no chance, of beating East Carolina before the kickoff on Saturday, heck, even when the Pirates led late in the fourth quarter by a touchdown.

But by the time of Brown's second touchdown, the scoreboard read: N.C. State 30, ECU 24.

RALEIGH — Russell Wilson returns at quarterback for N.C. State this week but the injuries at the skill positions continue for the Wolfpack.

Second-string tight end Matt Kushner (knee) will miss the Clemson game on Saturday. Coach Tom O'Brien said starter Anthony Hill will miss his second straight game, with a strained chest muscle.

N.C. State starting tailback Jamelle Eugene will miss Thursday's season-opener at South Carolina with an ankle injury, coach Tom O'Brien said Tuesday evening.

Eugene led N.C. State with 667 rushing yards last season and ranked second on the team with 42 receptions. He also was scheduled to handle punt returns.