There are times when we feel there is not much to celebrate at NC State. There are times when we feel that we don’t get a fair shake from our “hometown” newspaper. There are times when the media forces an inferiority complex on Wolfpack fans. And there are times when the Pack gets a little good pub and it feels like it could be a good day.
Sporting News recently tabbed new State coach Tom O’Brien as the No. 1 offseason hire in college football. In an article titled “Ranking All The Major Coaching Changes,” SN ranked “Tommy O’Irish” ahead of new ‘Bama coach Nick Satan (here is where Crimson Tide fans would write “blasphemy” if they could spell it) and UNC convict-chaser Butch Davis (*gasp*). I never knew I would read something comparing someone to a congealed rice confection and consider it a compliment, but we’ll take it:
“1. Tom O'Brien, N.C. State
Sure, he has the pizzazz of a rice cake, but I dare you to find a better coach. You can't, so don't try. And all it took to get O.B. out of B.C. was to pay him what he's worth -- something BC refused to do. I pity the Eagles. I really do.”
Obviously, such rankings are solely subjective and don’t actually count for any points on the scoreboard, but it is great to see that a national-level media member sees some of the positive vibes that most of us felt after our coaching search to replace Chuck Amato.
We tried style over substance at NC State; it didn’t work. O’Brien promises fundamental football, smart players, sound philosophies and stringent academics. You would think these should be the base principles of any college program, but it is actually a novel concept in the new NCAA era of empty promises, the pursuit of green and winning at all costs.
So congrats, Coach. Now go dig us up a quarterback …
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