North Carolina State University Athletics
One Last Stand in Charlotte
11/9/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
For those of you who won't be attending the NC State-North Carolina game in Charlotte, I hope at least some of you will choose to listen to our radio broadcast on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network while you watch the game on ESPN.
That way, you'll be supporting NC State's corporate partners, who have generously agreed to sponsor the radio broadcast. Any level of support is greatly appreciated.
Of course we would prefer that you were there with us in Ericsson Stadium.
As I touch on the subject of moving this cherished football rivalry to Charlotte for two years, I understand that I am treading into some potentially rough waters. When athletic directors Les Robinson and Dick Baddour announced the move two summers ago, their decision was greeted with very little enthusiasm.
What's my opinion? I really don't think it's a big deal. Everyone who attended last year's game had a blast. The atmosphere was electric and so was the game. The revenues that were generated put the NC State Athletic Department's budget over the top for the first time in many years. You may shrug your shoulders, but helping to keep the athletic department in the black should be vitally important to anyone who cares about the success of Wolfpack Athletics.
The fact that this year's contest is being played on a Thursday night does create an inconvenience for a lot of people, but the reality is that we've all had plenty of time to make arrangements.
Here's something else to chew on: Technically, this will be a home game for North Carolina, meaning the Tar Heels will have an opportunity to entertain recruits at the stadium. What kind of impression would it make on those recruits if NC State had a LOT more fans in the seats?
The little things add up. If the Wolfpack wins, and if its supporters are more prominent, more vocal and more passionate, the affects on Mike O'Cain's program could be staggering.
Next year, the State-Carolina game will be played at Kenan Stadium. That means fewer tickets for Pack fans, zero parking spots for those who can get tickets and the normal traffic headaches associated with game days in Chapel Hill.
Hey-when you look at it that way, Ericsson Stadium doesn't sound like a bad alternative at all.
