What’s an NC State season without a good ol’ crisis of confidence

NC State sports: We Didn’t Want To Be Here, But Here We Are. I wish we didn’t have to do this seemingly every year, and by this I mean endure another Wolfpack-related crisis of confidence, because they re-enforce some of the worst emotional tendencies many of us have learned over the years, but hey here we are again.

Much of what’s gone wrong can be forgiven and forgotten with a winning streak from here on, though as the loss to Wake Forest simmers still, it’s hard to find the right perspective. Football is extra tough that way—when you’ve got a team that is good-but-not-great, then there are going to be near-misses, and the once-a-week slow burn of the sport makes the what-ifs both more prolonged and pronounced.

NC State needs a confidence-building win at Louisville this weekend, and probably will deliver on that, but you’d be forgiven if you felt, today, like that would be an upset of sorts. It’s so easy to revert back to a state of mind where you are only waiting for the team to confirm your worst fears. There’s a reason why through the years we’ve developed that as a crutch against emotional investment.

The Cardinals’ offense and defense both rank in the bottom 25 of FBS—most striking perhaps is the fact that they have allowed 49.4 points per game and 7.3 yards per play in ACC games. State’s fine. This is all fine. We’re good here. Hundreds of plays on the part of both teams suggest that none of us should be terribly concerned. The long-run of underlying season-long performance tells the story far more often than not.

I still might be watching with my hands over my eyes, though.