Consecutive 9-Win Seasons at NC State is Far From Settling for Mediocrity

Ever since Dave Doeren took the head coaching job at NC State, the Wolfpack’s mantra has been 1Pack1Goal.

The concise definition of the term:

A UNITED MISSION TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP.

The Wolfpack haven’t won a conference championship since 1979, which is the longest drought of any team in the ACC.

Did NC State win an ACC title in 2018?

No.

Does that mean 2018 was a disappointment?

Absolutely not.

This years squad was only the 12th team in 126 years of football at NC State to win 9 games in a single season.

2018: 9-4 (Doeren)
2017 – 9-4 (Final Ranking: 23rd) (Doeren)
2010 – 9-4 (Final Ranking: 25th) (O’Brien)
2002 – 11-3 (Final Ranking: 12th) (Amato)
1994 – 9-3 (Final Ranking: 17th) (O’Cain)
1992 – 9-3-1 (Final Ranking: 17th) (Sheridan)
1991 – 9-3 (Final Ranking: 24th) (Sheridan)
1978 – 9-3 (Final Ranking: 18th) (Rein)
1974 – 9-2-1 (Final Ranking: 11th) (Holtz)
1973 – 9-3 (Final Ranking: 16th) (Holtz)
1967 – 9-2 (Edwards)
1927 – 9-1 (Tebell)

NC State won 9 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1991-92, and the third time in school history.

2018: 9-4 (Doeren)
2017: 9-4 (Doeren)

1992: 9-3-1 (Sheridan)
1992: 9-3 (Sheridan)

1974: 9-2-1 (Holtz)
1973: 9-3 (Holtz)

The Wolfpack are tied for the 2nd best conference record in the ACC over the past two years, behind only the Clemson Tigers.

Clemson – 15-1
NC State – 11-5
Miami – 11-5
Virginia Tech – 10-6
Pitt – 9-7
Georgia Tech 9-7
Boston College – 8-8
Syracuse – 8-8
Virginia- 7-9
Wake Forest – 7-9
Duke – 6-10
Florida State – 6-10
Louisville – 4-12
UNC – 2-14

NC State has won 5+ ACC games in consecutive years for the 1st time since 1991-92, and only the 4th time since the formation of the ACC in 1953.

2017: 6-2
2018: 5-3

1991: 5-2
1992: 6-2

1966: 5-2
1967: 5-1
1968: 6-1

1963: 6-1
1964: 5-2

What Doeren, his staff, and players have accomplished the past two years isn’t normal at NC State.

Truthfully, it’s unprecedented.

None of the players on his roster were alive the last time the Wolfpack recorded back-to-back 9-win seasons.

Only 9.5% of NC State’s football teams have won 9 games.

Did 9 wins equal an ACC championship in 2018?

No it didn’t.

Does that mean being pleased with 9 wins is settling for mediocrity?

No.

Mediocre means different things in different contexts.

If Alabama or Clemson started churning out 9-win seasons, and their coaches, players and fans were pleased with it, I would argue they were settling for mediocrity.

When you do something that hasn’t been done in 26 years, that is far from the definition of mediocre.

It’s called a step towards 1Pack1Goal being a reality.

NC State has logged consecutive recruiting classes ranked in the Top-30 according to 247Sports for the 1st time in the history of their database.

Thats a step.

Don’t accuse me of wearing Rose Colored Glasses.

There are reasons to be disappointed in 2018. Losing to Wake Forest in consecutive years is unacceptable. Clemson and Texas A&M were simply more talented, but Syracuse wasn’t. The Pack started that game like zombies with pads on. Doeren has yet to beat a team that has finished ranked in the Top-25 in the final poll. The continual struggles in the Wolfpack secondary are obviously concerning.

With that being said, the past two years have been good. In fact, they have been two of the best years of NC State Football, but NC State ‘best’ isnt ‘Great’ yet. It can be, but it will take more ‘good’ years.

Everyone wants to be great, but you have to learn to be good before you sniff greatness.