NC State Earns Bowl Eligibility With 35-Point 4th Quarter
by Akula Wolf on Nov 27, 2011 1:04 AM EST
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PrintWell, uh... that started about as expected, except more so, and then the rest of the first half went about as expected, and then the third quarter wasn't quite the rejuvenation we'd hoped for, and it was pretty much over, except more so, and then things got crazy.
A 35-point quarter and Russell Wilson had nothing to do with it. I know Maryland is garbage, but still, I could not have guessed that this team was capable of that sort of outburst, with or without the aid of turnovers. There was a cathartic aspect to the whole thing for me, and perhaps for anyone who endured the Rivers/Maryland era, which was nothing but pain after pain after squandered lead. It was like they piled up all the points they owed Maryland for those games in one quarter. It always seemed like we were due this sort of game after the way the last decade had gone, and despite all odds it finally broke the right way for us.
Mike Glennon threw the ball 55 times, and to his credit, he responded well to a horrible pick-six in the first half. We cut out the fumbles, we forced some big turnovers, and the receivers stepped up with some big catches. George Bryan was the impact player we thought he'd be more often than not.
It's still hard to come to terms with it all. But that was awesome. We're going bowling.
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Just... um... wow
So I’m gonna fess up, boys. I was at the airport for the first half of the Clemson game… admittedly, I was at least able to watch the decisive first half from the bar there, but I was not in attendance. I was then in California for the Texas game… and I followed the UMd game from the Cali airport until halftime, when I had to board. Bottom line, I’m the jinx… even though maybe I get a pass for having been at the unc-ch game?
OK – now that that’s out of the way… Jeebus. I went back & watched the comeback on ESPN3, and yeah… obviously one for the ages. No way to predict it was going to happen, but I have to say, you can tell the crowd felt it at 41-28… from there, it just built. Then CJ Wilson goes all CJ Wilson… he doesn’t pick many, but when he does, the man takes it to the house… even if the smart play is to take a knee… I couldn’t pass up the 6, either… no one could.
We’ve gotta enjoy this little run we have, what with winning 3 of our last 4, beating unc-ch, having that comeback yesterday, and being 5-1 in hoops… plus having unc-ch go down last night. Woot! History says things are gonna go dark, fast… let’s see if this is a new day at NC State & we can avoid that.
one of the all-time great gambling covers
State was anywhere from -11 to -13.5 depending on when you got in.
imagine being a md fan with money on it
Of course, if you were gambling on that team, you really need to get yourself into a program. But even if you could see losing that lead – and boy, did some of them see it coming – how could you ever have imagined ending up more than 12 points down when you started the fourth quarter up by 20?
You should check out that thread to see the ultimate in fan-base meltdown. It tops anything I’ve ever seen on SFN. And boy, do they ever hate Debbie Yow.
yeah...imagine that
I’m sending CJ a Christmas present
by PackMentality on Nov 27, 2011 8:56 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
That MD thread
That thread is priceless…I will saw though that their fans seemed aware the comeback was in the works very early on…
The roughing the passer and fumble calls got the usual, homer complaints…one guy said that they knew the officials were going to give the game to us (!?!?!?!?!) and another asked if the officials benefit from our bowl eligibility…but what can you expect, its the internets…
Oh and co-sign on their HATE of Debbie Yow…the only thing I think they hate more is our hand signs…
by JEOHankins2 on Nov 27, 2011 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
OTOH, if you bet on State
and, again see above about finding yourself some help, but that must have some feeling when you saw Wilson get that pick with nothing but green grass in front of him. From mixed emotions to absolute ecstasy in two seconds.
But, really, if you bet enough that failing to cover was going to affect how you felt about seeing that comeback, it’s time to stop.
i enjoyed winning the way State did over beating Maryland 50-0.
from and article in the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/maryland-football-surrenders-27-point-lead-in-56-41-season-ending-loss-to-nc-state/2011/11/26/gIQAab2UzN_story.html), the loss was devastating to the Maryland players. now. do the same to their basketball team. please.
anyone have an opinion that George Bryan was not the leader of the comeback? during the second half whenever there was a huddle not including Bryan, Bryan was there with his helmet off yelling encouragement. plus, add all of those important catches.
State has one less win than they did at this time last year, a decisive win over a top ten team and the greatest comeback ever. love Wilson, and he is doing great things at Wisconsin, but could he have engineered the comeback or the decisive win over Clemson?
Happy for the team, happy for TOB and happy for Glennon and Bryan.
did you see that hit
that Sweezy put on the Maryland quarterback in the fourth quarter? from out of no where-so fast. we were asking each other: who was that guy?
They were both excellent.
Wish we would have seen more of Good Bryan this season. I’m also not completely dismissing your Chick-fil-A’s involvement in all this. The timing was uncanny.
by non_sequitur on Nov 27, 2011 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
a lot of good cheezy sports metaphors fit this situation
we just refused to lose, played with our hair on fire, we wanted it more.
I’ll try on one more that I think fits – leadership. There was a serious lack of on field leadership at times with this team and Bryan and Manning assumed that role for their sides of the ball (Bryan this week, Manning all year when healthy) and the before:after is obvious.
by ginger avenger on Nov 27, 2011 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
(Baring a loss at the bowl game) what's interesting...
…is that the Russell Wilson discussion is effectively over. No matter how successful he is from this point forward, we made a bowl game without him and have an experienced quarterback next year when we have 9 returning starters on D along with an offense that will have had plenty of experience and playmakers…
Imagine if the Tyler Brosius era started in 2012…instead of one more year of Glennon…
This all may be a happy ending…and yes THAT kind of happy ending
by JEOHankins2 on Nov 27, 2011 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
Two huge comebacks in a week
are the antidote for NC State sh*t.
by ramslayer on Nov 27, 2011 9:37 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
At a certain point
the comeback just seemed inevitable, which was a really strange feeling. I still don’t know how we gave up 41 points to such a bad team.
Also, was there anything different about the footballs, a new insignia or anything that made them so slippery?
You Are Welcome!!
The only reasonable explanation for our recent good fortune is, I finally found my nicest, Sunday-go-to-meetin’, Wolfpack baseball cap. It had been missing for many years.
(For some reason it was too large, I must have been smarter back then )
Funny how things work out
I think there would have been serious pressure on Yow to fire TOB after this season had the game ended yesterday with us losing, especially losing by a lot. And it probably would be justified. It is easy to say that there isn’t a big difference between 7-5 and 6-6…but the extra bowl practices, the momentum in recruiting to say we have been to back-to-back bowl games, and the possibility of our second 8+ win season is pretty huge for the program and the future.
The reason I said “funny how it works out” is that if OB was fired, it looks like there would have been pretty stiff competition nationwide from BCS-level schools. UNC is likely the only ACC job to open. Ole Miss is already open in the SEC, and there are rumors that Richt will retire and UGA will open. Tennessee may open, though it is doubtful right now. Illinois and Penn State are both open. Kansas could open, and Arizona State, UCLA, Washington State are all likely to open. Maybe we stack up well against a number of those schools but when a slew of jobs open like that it makes it that much more expensive to get a good coach.
It is nice not to have to worry about another coaching search at least!
Yeah, my expectations coming into this season
were to beat UNC-CH a fifth consecutive time and make it to a bowl, any bowl. Having met those criteria, I’m fine with another year of TOBing. Frustrating that had we just beaten Wake and BC we would have won our division, but that’s negated somewhat by the UNC-CH, Clemson and Maryland wins being arguably three of the most surreal, anti-NC State shit wins ever.
by non_sequitur on Nov 27, 2011 4:18 PM EST up reply actions
Makes no sense
I turned that game at half-time and planned on drowning my sorrows in a Bama drumming of Auburn, but I decided to check the game once after seeing a bottom line ticker putting us 41 – 35. Right as I checked we went up 41-42 and then I couldn’t look again until it came across the bottom line as 41-56, and the entire family asked… what the hell happened?
Happy we made it to a bowl game, but its really tough to look back and not ask, what if? We SHOULD have beaten Wake, GT and BC. Crappy defense in the first two games and then a crappy offense in the third. Don’t get me wrong, I am really happy, but it just feels like whenever we get close, we always finish just a tinge short. Hopefully this builds towards next year and Hakeem Flowers can really help out or pass attack, along with Palmer, Carter, Creecy and Greene. We stack up nicely if the O-line can take a step forward and the D doesn’t take a step back.
The BC game is the only real head scratcher for me
GT is at least on par with NCSU, so that game was a toss-up, throw in the injuries to the defense and that game was GT’s to take. While I would like to say that State should never lose to Wake, this wake team was pretty comparable to this State team.
by PACKHOOLIGAN on Nov 28, 2011 8:26 AM EST up reply actions
I'd say
that if a down year is 7+ wins and a bowl, I can generally deal with that. But I’d love to have a really up year again soon.
i'm afraid
last year was up and this year was down. Thats all you are getting.
Im still anti TOB, but 7 wins keeps you employed. I would still like to see a little fresh blood in the coaching staff, but Ill just go sit down now. Lets hope we parlay some of this into recruiting success.
by ginger avenger on Nov 27, 2011 8:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I would still like to see a little fresh blood in the coaching staff…
Agreed. Including a team shrink.
by non_sequitur on Nov 27, 2011 9:26 PM EST up reply actions
7-9 wins per year will keep a coach employed for as long as he so desires
At least at NC State it will…
by wolfonthehill on Nov 27, 2011 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
Need one more 1A win
My only problem with this year’s seven is the two 1AA’s on the schedule. While I’d like better, I could live for a long time with:
- 1-0 against 1AA
- 1-0 against Carolina
- 5-5 against the rest of 1A
TOB Coaster
i’m afraid last year was up and this year was down. Thats all you are getting.
by non_sequitur on Nov 28, 2011 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Modeled after moving sidewalks often found in facilities such as airports, TOB Coaster has no need for a bunch of fancy loftiness or excessive amplitude.
by non_sequitur on Nov 28, 2011 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
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