North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: One Game Will Not a Season Make
8/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 27, 2003
By Tony Haynes
During a recent speaking engagement, Chuck Amato encountered the very type of sentiment that he wants his football team to avoid. Waiting for his turn at the dais, Amato smiled when a preliminary speaker ended his talk by wishing NC State's head football coach good luck on September 13th. There were no well wishes for September 27th, or November 1 or even November 15. For some, one game, it seems, will be the ultimate benchmark for a Wolfpack team that's now striving for more than just double-figure win seasons and feel-good bowl victories.
Our recent Gopack.com fans poll asked the question, "which football game are you looking forward to the most this season?"
The results were, to say the least, are staggering. At last count, more than 4,000 votes had been cast for the September 13th contest against Ohio State's defending national champs. Next closest was the game against North Carolina, which garnered a comparatively measly total of more than 700 votes.
My how the world has changed. Many an NC State football coach over the years has heard the famous phrase, "I don't care if you don't win another game as long as you beat Carolina."
Amato has always responded to that comment by saying he would have a tough time keeping his job if that's the ONLY game he won every year. "Would you really be happy with 1-11?" he likes to ask.
All the hoopla surrounding September 13th is a fairly local phenomenon. In Columbus, Ohio, there's been little time to think about NC State's visit to the Horseshoe. Between the Maurice Clarett drama and this weekend's tough opener against No. 19 Washington, the Buckeyes and their fans have been-and understandably so-preoccupied. My guess is that some followers of "The" Ohio State University haven't even engaged in the usual conversation that has become commonplace in Big Ten environs. You know the one, where Fan A asks Fan B, "is the North Carolina team that's coming here next month the one that wears red or blue?"
"Ohio State hysteria" is nowhere to be found inside the gates of the Pack's new practice fields adjacent to the stadium. Ask a player or coach about September 13th, and you'll get a polite "no comment." Actually, that sounds better than "we're taking it one game at a time."
From an NC State perspective, it's prudent to differentiate between which games are the most attractive and those that are the most important. While certainly important (aren't they all?), the visit to Columbus falls into the attractive category. In reality, however, one could argue that the Pack's ACC opener at Wake Forest is more important.
Repeating the annual preseason message of his former boss, Florida State's Bobby Bowden, Amato has emphasized the importance of winning the ACC Championship. Without an ACC title, there can be no national title or BCS bowl game. Unless I missed something, Ohio State was not on the guest list when the ACC held its expansion party this summer.
As much as anything else, the opportunity to face another college football powerhouse in a fabled stadium will be a proving ground for an NC State program that aspires to join the elite group of schools who are considered championship contenders year in and year out. But in order to meet the approval of college football's high society, the Pack will have to look impressive each and every week, not just every now and then.
Even in what was considered the best season in school history last year, NC State saw its title dreams go up in smoke during a three-week dry spell that nearly resulted in disaster. It was during that three-game losing streak that the Pack witnessed first-hand just how difficult it is to do what the Oklahomas, Miamis and Michigans of the world seem to do almost every year.
"Heck, we didn't finish number one in the country. We didn't even finish number one in our conference," Amato said. "We didn't finish number two or number three. It's easy to get focused when you've only been fourth. What have we done, really? We've got to stay focused for every game. If you don't, somebody is going to beat you."
There's really no margin for error. Even if it does win, the Wolfpack could stumble around against Western Carolina this Saturday and the skeptics who were so quick to pounce a year ago will be back. Amato, of course, knows this as much as anyone. It's the very reason he wants to make sure all of NC State's eggs aren't placed into one basket.
So as he embarks on his fourth season at NC State, Amato and his team deserve good luck wishes for August 30th and all others because one game will not a season make...not even the one on September 13th.
