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This Miss State Game has Turned into a Must Win for NC State Football

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Coming into the season, I immediately circled three games on State’s football schedule:

  • Clemson – A chance AT HOME to take down the school that has run ACC football for close to a decade.
  • UNC – If I need to explain why…get off our site
  • @Miss State – And here we go…

Beyond winning, let alone making it to the ACC Championship, this game against Miss State maybe one of the most important games in Doeren’s career. It has short-term and long-term influence on the program, regardless of MSU’s standing within the SEC.

This Miss State game has turned into a must win for State.

 

Sad History

Honestly? Would have thought we’d have played at least a couple dozen SEC road games in our history and split a good chunk of them. We overlap regionally, comparable to mid-size SEC schools, and it just seemed very plausible for a steady stream of matchups and wins.

I was wrong. And it’s not good.

1-14-1 in SEC road games?!?!? One freaking win ever?!?! As Rob mentions, we have beat SEC schools, just prior to them actually being SEC schools. But the fact remains, things historically aren’t on our side.

A win would allow us to get the preverbal “monkey off our back”, when it comes to the SEC.

 

Short-Term Momentum

Doeren has never had this much talent and experience on one team. When you look at the schedule again (and I know it’s only been one week and things will change, but just let me live out this dream scenario), it looks good for State to make some serious noise. Maybe Miami, Louisville, FSU and Clemson just aren’t what we thought heading into the year. The mix of home games and away games, work out real nice for the Pack.

Which is why this game is so important.

If the Wolfpack can go into a tough place like Starkville AT NIGHT and get a win, this gives them the momentum for that run to a Week 6 bye. Take care of business in this road game and them come back for three games at good ol’ Carter-Finley.

State would crack the top-25, while gaining a road SEC win for their resume come December. They would feel like they’re clicking on all cylinders.

The momentum gained could be a serious tipping point on what this team could accomplish this season.

 

Long-Term Success

There are going to be folks reading this article saying to themselves, “Why are we putting the SEC on such a pedestal?” Because they win, have the utmost respect and are the steadiest of conferences for producing the best teams in the country, Every. Damn. Year. If you want to be considered a contender, you have to be in the conversation with the SEC.

And that goes for long-term recruiting, as well. Which is point three of the importance of winning against Miss State.

If you are a stud recruit in the Southeast (or frankly anywhere…but…you know), you dream of big time football in night games like this. Right now, however, there is nothing that Doeren can tell these kids on why it’s better to be in Raleigh, than a backup in Athens, Baton Rouge or even damn Starkville.

A win means another feather in the cap of the recruiting circuit that says;

  • Win the state of North Carolina
  • Not only be bowl eligible, but be closer to New Year’s Day
  • We can hang with any conference in the country

I know Miss State ain’t the best in the conference. But I’d rather beat them then get blown out like a Miami or look like poop as Louisville did against Ole Miss. You build a program by the wins you gain. This would be a big one, regardless of where the Bulldogs end up in final standings.

If State shows up and wins, they gain eyes all across the Carolinas and one more notch in their experience belt.


Now I get that State can lose and that doesn’t affect us whatsoever for an ACC crown. I would also ABSOLUTELY trade a Miss State loss to go 11-1 in the regular season.

But for a fanbase that constantly wonders why we haven’t gotten over the hump…wonders if this team has the capabilities to be a contender…wonders if Doeren is even our guy.

Then this Miss State game has turned into a must win for NC State Football.

 

Passionate State fan that just wants to win...something...like anything...

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travelwolf
travelwolf
2 years ago

Yeah, somebody’s been smoking that wolf-nip (as opposed to catnip). Stay low to the ground and crashing down won’t hurt as much!

Papajohn
Papajohn
2 years ago

Wow! Win one game against a dog and Wolfpack fever is nuts. Fun stuff! I salute the ‘must win’ mentality, but I really need to see at least one win over a good team before drinking the annual “this is the year” Kool-Aid. Right now we’re just ‘Carolina good‘, meaning, we look good on paper.

Rev
Rev
2 years ago
Reply to  Papajohn

How true! We only have one win and starving NCSU fans are howling! However, we do need to beat Miss State. The ACC basically got embarrassed last week, and someone has to help the conference’s reputation, even if we can only beat one of lower echelon SEC teams.

NC State Football

DJ Burns Had a Word for Wolfpack Fans After Winning the ACC Championship

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When NC State’s DJ Burns was giving his acceptance speech after receiving the 2024 ACC Tournament MVP Award, Burns had the following quote to say when asked what he wanted to say to the fans.

“I’m going to keep it real simple. Thank you to the ones who’ve been consistent throughout the ride, and welcome back everybody else.”

Burns’ words struck a chord.

Throughout much of this season, it was embarrassing to see all the empty seats in PNC Arena.

As the Wolfpack lost 7 of their final 9 regular season games, it was clear that this team wasn’t just losing games, but they were also losing much of the fanbase.

It’s clear from Burns’ words that the empty seats were noticed, and so were the words of fans online.

NC State finished the regular season 10th, and much of the fanbase was frustrated, and rightfully so.

But, frustrated doesn’t have to mean giving up.

‘Never giving up’ is kind of supposed to be NC State’s thing.

The words of Jimmy V reverberate throughout the history of NC State basketball.

This team didn’t always put W’s in the Win column this season, and it wasn’t always an easy watch, but never for a moment were these players not playing as hard as they could for their school, one another, and their coach.

They never gave up.

Fans have a right to be frustrated, but you can still show up for a team, even when they struggle, because that’s what loyal fans do. When players wear a jersey with NC State across the chest, and they don’t give up, their fans shouldn’t either.

NC State fans aren’t known to be fair weather fans. Let’s not get in the business of leading our players to think we are.

But, like Burns said, whether you’ve been along for the ride all season or not, it’s time to hop on.

 

 

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NC State Football

WATCH: PackInsider’s 2023 Sean Brown Highlight Reel

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This past season was a breakout season for Junior Safety, now turned Linebacker, Sean Brown.

This past season, Brown started in 11 of the 13 games that he played in, and ranked 3rd on the team in tackles (66) and pass breakups (5). He also had 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. Brown’s PFF Grade of 63.7 ranked 13th on the team. His Tackling Grade of 86.6 ranked 2nd on the team behind Payton Wilson.

As you will notice in our Highlight Reel ABOVE, Brown lived in the box, and is a very ferocious tackler. He will fit right in at Linebacker next year for the Wolfpack.

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NC State Football

NC State’s Aydan White Has All-American Aspirations on His Mind

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NC State fans are extremely happy that Senior Cornerback Aydan White decided to return to Raleigh for his final year of eligibility, rather than remaining in the Transfer Portal.

White is happy he’s back as well.

“I’m just happy to be back at NC State,” said White. “It’s a good group of guys here. Just want to keep building on what we have in this defense and offense, and be the best team we can be.”

It’s hard for White to believe that he’s an old man on the Wolfpack’s football team now.

“It’s crazy just thinking about how my time has flown,” said White. “I’m now the guy that drops Freshmen off at Wolf Village, when I used to be that guy that was picked up from Wolf Village to go to practice. Definitely just trying to encourage them and get them on the right path.”

Not only could White have remained in the Transfer Portal, but he also could have left for the NFL Draft, but after hearing from NFL Scouts, he determined he still had unfinished business to take care of.

“They want to see more on-ball production. Last year I had a drop off in on-ball production. The PBU’s are good, but they want interceptions, making a play on the ball more. Being more sticky around the ball,” said White. “Just being in that position to make that play, because when you get to the league, those guys are bigger, faster and stronger, so if you can make it here, it will translate to the higher level.”

When asked on Thursday what the next step was for him as a Senior, after already proving so much, he kept his responses simple and concise.

“Keep stacking accolades. Getting better,” said White. “Helping the secondary. All-American.”

NC State’s Football program has produced an All-American in 4 consecutive seasons, with Linebacker Payton Wilson being the most recent.

2020: DT Alim McNeil – PFF (1st) AP (2nd)
2021: OT Ikem Ekwonu – Consensus 1st Team
2021: KR Zonovan Knight (CBS Sports)
2022: PK Christopher Dunn – Consensus 1st Team
2022: LS Joe Shimko – AFCA (2nd)
2023: LB Payton Wilson – Unanimous 1st Team

Could White make it 5 years in a row?

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NC State Football

NC State’s Wesley Grimes Feels Good Being Back Home

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When Wake Forest Wide Receiver Wesley Grimes announced he was transferring to NC State on December 8th, he was committing to come back home.

Before playing his first two years of college football at Wake Forest, Grimes was a 4-star prospect at Millbrook High School, right down the road from NC State in Raleigh. ON3, 247Sports and Rivals all ranked Grimes as a Top-250 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, with Rivals ranking him as the #36 overall player nationally, the #4 Wide Receiver, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

For Grimes, Raleigh is home.

“It feels great. I feel real comfortable. I’ve trained in this facility a lot,” said Grimes. “I’ve worked out here a lot. I’m used to a lot of the stuff around here. So playing here feels like home.”

Home is a place, but home is also people. Grimes isn’t just coming home to a place on a map that is familiar. He’s also coming back to people he grew up playing football with, dating all the way back to 4th and 5th grade.

“It feels great (playing with Noah Rogers). It’s not just Noah. I played with Coelson (Fields) in Pop Warner. I played with Lex (Thomas) in Pop Warner,” said Grimes. “Just a bunch of guys I played with around Middle School age, 5th grade…4th grade. I played 7-on-7 with Keenan (Jackson). I knew of Terrell (Anderson). We’re all close. Being back with everyone is a good feeling. When you play with your brothers, it’s a fun time again.”

Maybe the most noteworthy connection Grimes had was with Noah Rogers, who like Grimes, just transferred back to Raleigh (from Ohio St.). Grimes played for Millbrook, and Rogers played for Rolesville, but the connection went back way further than that.

“Noah (Rogers) and I started playing Pop Warner together in 3rd or 4th grade. We played against each other. I played for Cap City and he played for North Raleigh,” said Grimes. “7th grade year we went to Disney, and got close. We started training in Covid a lot together, and got real close. In High School we played against each other. We’ve always been competing, getting each other better.”

Check out the highlight reel of Grimes and Rogers that went viral a few years back.

In the end, some of the players Grimes had connections with went to NC State, while others, went elsewhere, like himself. Nonetheless, like Grimes, they all found their way back home.

“Out of high school, we definitely talked about it a little bit, but we all went our different ways,” said Grimes. “We were all at different times, and we decided to go our separate ways, but in kind of a full circle moment, we all ended up in the same place, and it all worked out for the better.”

 

 

 

 

 

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