When hate overrides logic

We are NC State fans, Wolfpack Nation, the good ol’ boys, and we HATE CAROLINA.

I think more than that though, we hate Carolina fans. Those ungrateful, arrogant pricks take any and every opportunity to open their face holes and vomit some line their parents taught them or they overheard at Wal-Mart while picking up some gear on clearance.
If we take an objective look at the recent state of, well, State, I think we should reevaluate our enemies. When it comes to loathing a team and fan base the past 5 years, it is a toss up between Duke and Maryland. Between Duke’s dumb luck and Maryland’s inmates fans, no one has caused us more misery on the hardwood or football field respectively.

This isn’t really even my point though, my point is this: Even though we hate them, we should quietly cheer UNC success in the NCAA Tournament. They are the ONLY remaining ACC team, do we really want the conference to have NO TEAMS in the Elite Eight? Final Four? After the dismal season we had as a conference, it would almost surely knock us down a rung on the dominance ladder of recent history. Carolina losing does not benefit us in any way right now. For the greater good, it makes no sense to wish UNC to fail at this point.

Wolfpack back in Top 25 / ACC – B10 Challenge

NC State is back in at number 24 in the latest AP Poll. Villanova has dropped out.

Yet, in the USA Today / ESPN poll, Villanova merely dropped from #19 to #21, and State remains unranked?!?! Even IF they watched the game and judge on that, wouldn’t one think both teams are equal? The score was 68-67 before the perhaps controversial foul at the end.

How big is the game Wednesday night gonna be?? #24 NCSU at #10 Michigan State! Spotlight game.

I implore everyone, pull for every ACC team in the Challenge. Come tourney time, these wins will matter. Yes, even pull for Carolina (or at least be impartial). For Carolina to lose would severely tarnish the image of the ACC. Trust me, we have much much more to gain from Carolina winning than losing. Also be pulling for Duke as the host #20 Wisconsin.

Wins: WF over Iowa (Monday), Clemson over Purdue, Virginia over NW, Duke over Wisconsin, BC over Michigan

Losses: Indiana over GT, Minnesota over FSU

Toss ups: NCSU – MSU, UNC – Ohio St, VT – Penn St., Illinois – Maryland

If the sure wins and losses hold true, we need 2 more wins to claim victory as a conference from the toss up games. Of course we are looking for State to upset MSU, but also look for Maryland to challenge Illinois. VT will probably lose to Penn State. If Maryland loses, we need UNC to win.

TUESDAY UPDATE: WF beat Iowa. VT will beat Penn State. That gives us a 6-2 edge on paper. Ballgame for the ACC. A Wolfpack win will be icing. Actually, icing, candles, party hats, favors, napkins, etc.

Idiot Watch

I can’t believe I found another moron posing as a sports writer. This one goes by the moniker Sportz Assassin. In his post titled “Tar Heels Looking At Easy Road To Final Four“, SA gives reasons why UNC will cake walk to the Final Four. Let me lay them out for you briefly:
1) Schedule is “travel-friendly as the season winds down”
2) The ACC tournament will be held in Charlotte
3) One of the ‘pod sites’ for the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament is Raleigh, NC
4) The East Regional semifinals and finals of the NCAA tournament will be played in Charlotte

OK, let’s rebut these points.

1) What makes the schedule “travel friendly” according to this guy? He says, “roadies to both Raleigh and Durham to face NC State and Duke, respectively.” HUH? At DUKE and at STATE? Travel friendly? What a misinformed rationale this guy has. He thinks games at UNC’s 2biggest rivals are benefits due to proximity? Wrong.

2) SA argues, “UNC will have played at Bobcats Arena before as they open their regular season there against Davidson. That trip is just two hours down the road driving and much less than an hour flying.” I don’t even feel I should respond to this. It’ll be about the same drive for NCSU, Duke, Wake Forest, and Clemson. And only about, what, 5 hours for GT? This is one of the great advantages that will lead the Tarholes to the Final Four? Survey says, XX.

3) Just b/c the Holes might play in Raleigh, doesn’t mean it will be a favorable environment.

4) This is actually the most legit point, but could apply to any number of teams in our area.

All in all, I  am suspect of this person’s knowledge of ACC hoops, especially in the state of North Carolina.

Practice starts, expectations rise

Gavin Grant said yesterday, “I think we can go as far as the national championship, I think we have all the pieces to win the national championship if we do all the things we’re supposed to do.”

He went on to add, “I’m just that confident in our team and what we’re capable of doing. We’re coming into the season feeling confident. Not cocky. Not saying nobody can beat us. But we’re more than capable of beating anyone we play against. We feel we should be one of the top teams in the country.”

What is almost better, are Big Ben’s thought on Grant’s predictions earlier this summer: “Someone told me about it and I hadn’t read the article, and I thought they were joking. When I did see the article and did read it, I thought to myself at first, ‘Why did he say that?’ But then I thought, ‘Well, that sounds about right.’ If we believe we can do it, there’s no stopping us.”

And this tidbit from an N&O article:

NCSU coach Sidney Lowe did win a national title with the Pack in 1983. He did not wear his NCAA championship ring last year, in his first season as State’s coach — but he has it on now.

“I think it’s time,” he said.

There also are two new additions in the lobby of the Dail Center — large photos of State’s 1974 and 1983 championship teams. The two NCAA trophies are displayed in cases above the practice court, a constant reminder of the Pack’s past.

We Gone.

In the spirit of the Hawk Harrelson “He gone”, I say to Pack fans, “We Gone”.

Sad. Just sad. NC State ousted from the NCAAs, losing 2 of 3 to supposedly inferior teams. You have issues when you score 10 runs and lose a game. Granted, Brackman was unavailable, but we were playing first time entrant Charlotte. I don’t know why I would expect anything more than this, it’s the Avent “M.O.” As packbckr04 said, “Avent is starting to remind me of Herbie”.

Baseball: NCSU vs Wofford

Saturday: Due to TS Barry, today’s game has been postponed.

Sunday: Pack bests scrappy Wofford club 10-6.

Sunday night: State plays loser of UNCC / SC game