N&O: Giglio Predicts Pack Football to go 9-3 in '12

[Matthew Bradham]

3. N.C. State

Returning starters: Offense (7), Defense (7)

Key games: vs. Tennessee (Aug. 31), at North Carolina (Oct. 27)

Rising star: LB Rodman Noel, Soph.

Bottom line: Even Tom O’Brien, who doesn’t typically offer such optimistic opinions, likes his sixth team, which should be strong on defense (the Wolfpack led the country with 27 interceptions last season) and on the offensive line, which returns six players with starting experience. O’Brien traded one year of Russell Wilson at quarterback for two with Mike Glennon specifically with this season in mind, but State can’t be great until it figures out a way to win more road games. Prediction: 9-3, 5-3.

[TruthBKnown Returns]

The only issue I have with this is the idea that TOB kicked Russell out so he could have two years with Glennon.

The only way TOB could guarantee that he kept one or more of our two best QBs was to handle things the way he did. He couldn't leave it up to Russell, lose Glennon to a transfer, only to find out (too late) that Russell decided to stay 100% in baseball. That would have been a catastrophe for us. So TOB handed Glennon the reins, knowing that would ensure that at least HE returned. If Russell returned, too, then we could have afforded to lose Glennon to a transfer. We couldn't lose Glennon without a 100% commitment from Russell to return, and he wouldn't give us that.

TOB even said this in an interview a while back. He was afraid he might lose both of those guys.

[sfimam]

^ Agreed. TOB was between a rock and a hard place and he made the best decision.

Isn't Rodman Noel Nerlen Noel's older brother or something? Hope they have similar impacts on games lol

[packfanjss]

Does anyone know why we scheduled 2 FCS opponents again this year? That's 3 out of the last 4 years we've done that.

[TruthBKnown Returns]

Does anyone know why we scheduled 2 FCS opponents again this year? That's 3 out of the last 4 years we've done that.

Maybe that's a question for uncle Jed. Football schedules are worked out a few years in advance. Debbie has only been here roughly one year. Hopefully she's putting a stop to the FCS opponents (or at least limiting them to no more than one per season).

[HowlinOn420]

Im pretty sure one of them counts towards a FBS win though (South Alabama?) due to some crazy rules, so we only need 6 wins for a bowl this year, correct me if Im wrong.

[Shooter28]

I believe South Alabama will play D1 out of the Sun Belt Conference beginning this year. So we only have one D2 team on the schedule.

[TruthBKnown Returns]

I believe South Alabama will play D1 out of the Sun Belt Conference beginning this year. So we only have one D2 team on the schedule.

That's right, I forgot about that.

[Swamp Fox]

I believe South Alabama will play D1 out of the Sun Belt Conference beginning this year. So we only have one D2 team on the schedule.

D1-FCS, not D2. Nowhere near the same. But you're right, they're transitioning into BCS.

[HowlinOn420]

So will everyone be satisfied with 9-3 this season? I think I will be.

[NCSUStu]

Honestly I would be satisfied with 7-6 and including a bowl win. I would be thrilled.with anything better though. As our programs continue to build I just want to see us make a bowl game in football(preferably winning it) and make it into the NCAA tourney in basketball. After we do those things on a regular basis, I will re-evaluate my expectations for our athletic programs. Now my hopes are a different story all together. I hope we win ACC championships and make noise on a BCS and national level.

[sundropdrinker13]

Honestly, I would not be satisfied with 9-3. I know going undefeated is asking too much with our depleted LB and WR corp(though it seems we ALWAYS have a depleted WR corp), but I would still like to see it. We have a strong line on both sides of the ball, great secondary, our backfield is actually stronger than most realize/give credit for. Washington got almost 900 yards running between the tackles when he is an outside runner for crying out loud. Anything less than 10-2 and the ACC championship(or at least making it to the game) is a disappointment to me. We went 9-4 2 years ago, 8-5 last year.

Ok, I will take 10-3, even 11-3.

[Packfan2006]

9-3 would be great. Another good season to help build our program.

[sfimam]

If 9-3 gets us to the acc championship I will be more than happy. That is the goal of the team and TOB, so that should be the expectation of fans. We have a strong defense, strong O-line, good running game, and a very talented qb. Hope we stay healthy and Moose can come back strong.

[bozzman_11]

I think we have a realistic shot of making the ACC championship with the conference schedule that we have this year. FSU and Clemson should be (technically) the only real games that we "should" have but of course it never works out like that. If you look at FSU, I think defensively they are going to be phenomenal but I think offensively they are still going to be soft. It is just my opinion but I think Manuel is overrated. As far as Clemson, you can never tell with them. They took some big hits on defense so they will definitely need some younger guys to step up for them, and offensively, it looks like they could be great but you saw what happened to them at the end of last year and I am still not sold on Boyd either. I know everyone always talks about stars and all that, but I think we have alot of talent on both sides of the ball. We just need them to realize that they can compete with anyone and prove it to the nation. I don't want to get my hopes up but I really think 10 wins could easily be achieved, IF we can play to the level that they are capable of week in and week out. Regardless, it will be fun to watch just like it is every year and I am looking forward to football season just like every year.

[NCcarguy]

9-3 is REAL close to 11-1 or 7-5. To ME...that's about all you're going to get out of NC State football for at least another 10 years. And that's only if the program continues to grow. I've said it many times, like it or not, the better talent has too many options to chose from, so an NC State sell is a tough one. With time, you can grow a program, and we're are certainly heading in that direction, but take a look at South Carolina. Even Spurrier has taken a LONG time to have a decent team there. If he goes to Alabama, then he wins 2 NC's by now.

[rvdbbw]

I would love 9-3 but i wanna know who we lose too. I can guess but the motto should be you beat who you're supposed to beat but 10-2 should be the goal. Take the next step

[ncstate96]

I disagree with u NCcarguy... i think one season of an acc championship game...it could spark more interest in recruits

[RedWolf4]

I think that 9-3 is what he should do each year at the very least until the non-conference schedule is beefed up if it ever is. This is what he did at B.College. We play 4 easy non conference games and then go 4-4 in league and he has 8 win season and everyone is content. We know for now we've been playing BC, MD, Wake, FlaST, Clem & UNC those 6 have be givens each year we should win atleast 4 of those 6 and then you have 2 ACC games with rotation between VATech, UVA, Mia, Duke & GT so if you win 1 of the 2 rotation games thats 5-3 and add 4 non conference pasties thats 9-3 overall not that big a task when you break it down like that so yeah 9-3 at worst each year until non-con schedule changes and league is changed when Syr& Pitt join but those two should be wins each year also. really?

[RedWolf4]

If a easy non conference schedule is what TOB thinks we need for a while to help program gain solid footing i have no problem he has been doing this a few years and knows whats best but if i were DY i would say ok TOB you get your 4 lesser than schools but we need to be 9-3 overall for me to consider the seasons a success. Not 8-4 ,7-5 9-3 minimum and on the years we luck out and catch a Duke and UVA or Mia lately we need to be 10-2 that gives you Flast & Clem each year and we usually beat one of those 2 each year so i think that would be fair. Problem is that we have struggled to beat the pasties we've played past years. That is not acceptable. It can happen every now and then but year in and year out we struggle with S.ALA 0r The Mighty Flames of Liberty. No way should that happen in football. Basketball the pairity has gotten closer but football you should have 2nd & 3rd teamers who should be better than there starting squads. You win the games we won past couple years against d2 teams by the margin we did yes it's a win on the ledger but no way should you feel victorious. In my humble opinion he needs to hear that from DY and be held to that standard. Am I being to critical?

[Swamp Fox]

TOB doesn't schedule games. The AD schedules games, several years ahead of time. The head coach certainly has some input, but almost all of the games we've scheduled over TOB's career have been on Lee Fowler's watch (except last year, when they just had to scramble to find someone to fill out the schedule).

When State becomes more of a name brand program (which will happen as the football team starts to consistently win and the basketball team gets plenty of press), it will be easier to schedule those big nonconference games. Until then, State is stuck scheduling who they have.

[ncstate96]

we blew S. Alabama out! and blew the liberty game wide open in the 3rd quarter

[gogetumpack121]

And those were games that should have been blow outs^^^^ and anything less would have been EMBARRASSING

[bozzman_11]

What everyone doesn't realize is that we are not the only team in America that doesn't have the greatest out of conference schedule. Grant it, the ACC is not exactly a powerhouse football conference but I think every fan in America wants their team to win all their out of conference games so if two of them are cupcakes than so be it and they should be guaranteed wins and if we can win 6 or 7 in conference ever year than we would be a 10 win team every year. I do not think any State fan would argue with a 10 or 11 win season year in and year out. If we were at that point would you then complain that we have two cupcake out of conference games?

[gogetumpack121]

Yes I personally would complain and not saying I would not be happy to win that many games, but you don't get respect when you play cup cake team's each and every year. Ask any athlete and they will tell you that you just simply dont play with the same intensity when the other team is weak and you most certainly don't get any better as a team when the other team is weak. To get better you HAVE to be playing a better team than you are PERIOD. To get respect from the recruits and the media you have to beat better teams in the country. Take BB this year and what changing the schedule did for not only our players becoming a better team, but what it also did with the way of recruiting and media hype. Take all of those things winning, better opponents, stronger schedule and put them together and thats how you recruit at a higher level. So yes, I would rather loose a tough game against a top team than win 10 games over a "cup cake team"

[ChaosJester87]

Yes I personally would complain and not saying I would not be happy to win that many games, but you don't get respect when you play cup cake team's each and every year. Ask any athlete and they will tell you that you just simply dont play with the same intensity when the other team is weak and you most certainly don't get any better as a team when the other team is weak. To get better you HAVE to be playing a better team than you are PERIOD. To get respect from the recruits and the media you have to beat better teams in the country. Take BB this year and what changing the schedule did for not only our players becoming a better team, but what it also did with the way of recruiting and media hype. Take all of those things winning, better opponents, stronger schedule and put them together and thats how you recruit at a higher level. So yes, I would rather loose a tough game against a top team than win 10 games over a "cup cake team"

My feelings exactly. On top of that I will never buy season tickets in a year where we play 2 FCS teams because I feel like it's a huge waste of money when 1/3 of the home schedule is against cream puffs.

[bozzman_11]

While I can not argue, if you look at Alabama, their OOC schedule is as bad as ours. If you look at their 2012 schedule, their OOC is Michigan, WKy, Fl Atlantic and Western Carolina. then you look at who they play in the SEC and realistically the only teams that should even give them difficulty is LSU and Arkansas. Their other SEC opponents are exactly world beaters not saying they are terrible but not saying that they are cream of the crop in the SEC either. Do you think that the fans at alabama are complaining about their OCC schedule.
Again, I too would like to see a better OOC schedule but if you could give me a consistent 10 or 11 win team every year than I think the majority of State fans would not care what their OOC schedule was.

[HowlinOn420]

Every major FBS football program schedules 1-2 OOC games where they know they are the favorites. DUH. Never changing, just schedule lower FBS opponents, and take off those darn FCS teams!!

[ChaosJester87]

I'm fine with playing 1 FCS team, everyone does that, it's a good warm up for the season and a win. Scheduling 2 is ridiculous. The second win does nothing for you except inflate your team record. It doesn't count toward bowl elibility at all. It's a great way for a coach to make their record look better than it is.

[Howler]

^ Agree.

H