North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Moves On
11/5/2017 6:28:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - There are no magic words to salve the wounds of the disappointed.
NC State head football coach Dave Doeren told both his team and the media that he was at a loss for such words Saturday night, following a 38-31 loss to defending national champion Clemson, a game that switched the control of the ACC Atlantic Division championship race from the Wolfpack to the Tigers.
The nationally televised Homecoming contest at Carter-Finley Stadium had a little of everything. A long-standing rivalry. Big plays. Mistakes. Comebacks. And controversy.
All the individual ingredients that make a delicious college football stew.
Yes, the last bite was distasteful. But it was a filling meal, with a lots of courses still to be served.
"It's going to hurt," Doeren told his team. "That's what happens when you lose a big game—it hurts.
"But we're not going to quit either. We're going to try to win 10 games. We have three games and a bowl game left. The season isn't over."
Next week, the Wolfpack travels to Boston College for the next breakfast of the regular season, followed by lunch at Wake Forest and a Thanksgiving feast against North Carolina.
What Doeren wants his team to do following its two-game losing streak is eat angry, as they did following a season-opening lost against South Carolina. They won six straight games and rose to No. 14 in the national rankings.
Doeren wants his team to come out red hot, glowing red like the metal on the edge of a knife.
"They are pissed," he said. "They wanted this one. They are a little down. They are emotional. They are exactly what you want them to be.
"It's what you would expect."
Here's the thing: disappointments never die. Neither do achievements.
Doeren's 2017 Wolfpack is looking to become the 11th team in school history to win nine or more games ( and only the second to reach double digits (2002). It is still looking to be the first team since 1979 to win an ACC championship, which would be the eighth in school history. All possibilities are still intact, though more difficulty, following Saturday's loss.
Doeren and his team can take solace from two teams who that gathered on Homecoming weekend to remember their past accomplishments, along with the disappointments they have carried with them for decades. It hasn't sullied their memories of their Wolfpack careers, and it hasn't diminished their places in program history.
The 1967 Wolfpack, which gathered Friday before the game and Saturday during and after the game to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their ground-breaking season, suffered two of the most disappointing losses in school history, falling in its final two games of the regular season to Penn State and Clemson. It also had two of the biggest wins in school history, a 16-6 victory over No. 2 Houston in the Astrodome and a 14-7 victory over Georgia in the Liberty Bowl. The former was a win over the highest ranked opponent in program history, the latter the first ever postseason win.
The 1979 team finished in sole possession of first place, thanks in great part to a four-play goal-line stand at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. Yet it did not play in a postseason game, a disappointment that lingers like an up field penalty flag. That neither overshadows their accomplishments, nor takes the glint off their championship rings.
They, and many others, came back to be part of the support staff that makes Wolfpack fans among the most loyal and devoted in college football. No one could see the support all day or hear the ear-ringing roar inside Carter-Finley Stadium throughout the game and not believe that to be true.
From brothers Torry and Terrence Holt passionately talking in Nissan's Heisman House about the experiences that launched their NFL careers, to an injured Chicago Bears defensive end Willie Young, fresh off biceps surgery, stars and subs alike were determined to be part of the experience.
On the sidelines and in the stands, former players like Jim Ritcher and Nate Irving and Chuck Amato and unseen hundreds returned to be part of the vocal and strong Pack. The ESPN crew broadcasting the game recognized not only NC State's unique traditions, like the Walk of Champions in front of the wolves state at the Murphy Center, to its inventive spirit, like the Gryppers finger sleeves developed by former players Jamelle Eugene and DaJuan Morgan.
And current players can take just one lesson from them.
"We're going to keep working hard," said wide receiver Jacoki Meyers, who had more than 100 receiving yards. "The season isn't over year. We're going to keep pushing."
If nothing else, that life lesson will serve them well until they return, as alumni, to see the spoils of their labor pay off.
"They're tough kids," Doeren said. "I'm proud of them for how hard they fought. I've got a great group of guys to coach, I really do. I'm really proud of the way they continued to battle, even though they are down right now.
"I know they will continue to do so as the season goes along. We're going to continue to play hard and finish our season strong. That is something we can control."
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NC State head football coach Dave Doeren told both his team and the media that he was at a loss for such words Saturday night, following a 38-31 loss to defending national champion Clemson, a game that switched the control of the ACC Atlantic Division championship race from the Wolfpack to the Tigers.
The nationally televised Homecoming contest at Carter-Finley Stadium had a little of everything. A long-standing rivalry. Big plays. Mistakes. Comebacks. And controversy.
All the individual ingredients that make a delicious college football stew.
Yes, the last bite was distasteful. But it was a filling meal, with a lots of courses still to be served.
"It's going to hurt," Doeren told his team. "That's what happens when you lose a big game—it hurts.
"But we're not going to quit either. We're going to try to win 10 games. We have three games and a bowl game left. The season isn't over."
Next week, the Wolfpack travels to Boston College for the next breakfast of the regular season, followed by lunch at Wake Forest and a Thanksgiving feast against North Carolina.
What Doeren wants his team to do following its two-game losing streak is eat angry, as they did following a season-opening lost against South Carolina. They won six straight games and rose to No. 14 in the national rankings.
Doeren wants his team to come out red hot, glowing red like the metal on the edge of a knife.
"They are pissed," he said. "They wanted this one. They are a little down. They are emotional. They are exactly what you want them to be.
"It's what you would expect."
Here's the thing: disappointments never die. Neither do achievements.
Doeren's 2017 Wolfpack is looking to become the 11th team in school history to win nine or more games ( and only the second to reach double digits (2002). It is still looking to be the first team since 1979 to win an ACC championship, which would be the eighth in school history. All possibilities are still intact, though more difficulty, following Saturday's loss.
Doeren and his team can take solace from two teams who that gathered on Homecoming weekend to remember their past accomplishments, along with the disappointments they have carried with them for decades. It hasn't sullied their memories of their Wolfpack careers, and it hasn't diminished their places in program history.
The 1967 Wolfpack, which gathered Friday before the game and Saturday during and after the game to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their ground-breaking season, suffered two of the most disappointing losses in school history, falling in its final two games of the regular season to Penn State and Clemson. It also had two of the biggest wins in school history, a 16-6 victory over No. 2 Houston in the Astrodome and a 14-7 victory over Georgia in the Liberty Bowl. The former was a win over the highest ranked opponent in program history, the latter the first ever postseason win.
The 1979 team finished in sole possession of first place, thanks in great part to a four-play goal-line stand at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. Yet it did not play in a postseason game, a disappointment that lingers like an up field penalty flag. That neither overshadows their accomplishments, nor takes the glint off their championship rings.
They, and many others, came back to be part of the support staff that makes Wolfpack fans among the most loyal and devoted in college football. No one could see the support all day or hear the ear-ringing roar inside Carter-Finley Stadium throughout the game and not believe that to be true.
From brothers Torry and Terrence Holt passionately talking in Nissan's Heisman House about the experiences that launched their NFL careers, to an injured Chicago Bears defensive end Willie Young, fresh off biceps surgery, stars and subs alike were determined to be part of the experience.
On the sidelines and in the stands, former players like Jim Ritcher and Nate Irving and Chuck Amato and unseen hundreds returned to be part of the vocal and strong Pack. The ESPN crew broadcasting the game recognized not only NC State's unique traditions, like the Walk of Champions in front of the wolves state at the Murphy Center, to its inventive spirit, like the Gryppers finger sleeves developed by former players Jamelle Eugene and DaJuan Morgan.
And current players can take just one lesson from them.
"We're going to keep working hard," said wide receiver Jacoki Meyers, who had more than 100 receiving yards. "The season isn't over year. We're going to keep pushing."
If nothing else, that life lesson will serve them well until they return, as alumni, to see the spoils of their labor pay off.
"They're tough kids," Doeren said. "I'm proud of them for how hard they fought. I've got a great group of guys to coach, I really do. I'm really proud of the way they continued to battle, even though they are down right now.
"I know they will continue to do so as the season goes along. We're going to continue to play hard and finish our season strong. That is something we can control."
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Coach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
Wednesday, December 03
FB Players Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
Monday, November 24