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WPN Reset: Timelines, New Opponent Logistics and Updates for NC State Football

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Wow. Just wow.

Yesterday, in more ways than one, feels like a blur. With no new info coming by 2pm, we actually had a graphic and article about how “The Bowl Game is On!” Seriously, that’s when you know there are late decisions, when you are feeling comfortable in the fact that, “They can’t cancel it now, right?”

Well, they did. Here’s everything that happened and what we know.

 

Updates: Bowl officials declared Holiday Bowl Canceled. But State is bring that trophy home with them.

Timeline

We’ll make this condensed, since many have been following along closely.

  • State arrived in San Diego on 12/23. One week after signing day, five days prior to the Bowl Game. They had spent previous days prior to travel at the State training facility prepping.
  • UCLA arrived in San Diego on Xmas Eve.
  • There were known Covid cases within the UCLA program, as Chip Kelly stepped up to the podium and declared, “Our whole mindset’s always been, if we’ve got 11, we’re going to go play.” The weekend before the game, their leading tackler and four other members were declared out. What should also be noted, UCLA Athletics was getting hit HARD by Covid. Both basketball programs postponed for weeks of games because of issues. The University knew it had a large scale outbreak on campus.
  • Which makes it even more frustrating, is that the UCLA football team continued “normal” bowl festivities. At no point, did they have full team quarantine or took on a more regimented schedule. Again, Chip Kelly, talked about taken every effort to contain and make sure this game was played…this was not the case.
  • Kelly said that their team would retest on Monday night/Tuesday morning. They dropped out past noon (local time) Tuesday.
  • While Thayer Thomas tweeted about a team meeting and vote, we have yet to confirm that story with anybody else. Would have to think, UCLA players would have played. Lots of info suggests this was a coaches/admin decision.
  • Update from Pack Pride…UCLA was packing up equipment two hours before State was notified.

 

We are not mad that UCLA dropped out with Covid issues. We are outraged, that by many accounts, the magnitude of their outbreak was withheld from just about every other party. To give some reference, ECU was told by Boston College’s AD that they were having issues THREE DAYS prior to the Eagles dropping out. From Boo, Doeren or other staff members we talked to, all confirmed that they knew UCLA had positive test but at no point did they feel as though it was at the point where the bowl game would be canceled.

 

Logistics of a New Team

We received multiple tweets and DMs talking about, “Well how come they just can’t play _____” or “Just find an opponent already.”

The logistics are so far more complicated than, “Just find someone.”

  1. You can’t just play ECU (or any school) at Carter-Finley. It would need to be a true Bowl game. So please stop thinking we can just bring State home and play.
  2. Realize that when a team comes to play, it involves; Flights, Hotel, Food and other needs for players, coaches, medical/training staff, and other members of the Athletic Department. We’re talking dozens upon dozens of rooms and flights. Remember how hard it was to find flights three weeks ago for this game? Now imagine it in a 24-hour window for a chartered plan.
  3. Speaking of window, State also has all the above problems. How long can they stay in San Diego? Do they even want to be there longer? We’ve heard that a decision will be made by Wednesday afternoon on next steps.
  4. Now with the short timeframe, you almost have to eliminate all those 5-7 teams. You think a team is going to just assemble players from across the country that are home for holidays…get them to San Diego…and play a college game with little to no practice? Absolutely not. Doeren feared for the safety of his own QB and blitz packages of a new opponent. Now go from unprepared QB, to unprepared team.
  5. Just a reminder, Holiday Bowl is the farthest western location outside of Hawaii Bowl. We aren’t talking about East Coast teams jumping down to Jacksonville. We’re talking hauling all the way across country. Again, especially in this timeframe and lack of available planes, this isn’t good.

 

Working Long Hours

It’s been confirmed that Boo and company have talked with about a dozen schools. Financials, timeframe and just a mess of logistics have hampered an opportunity. If UCLA would have giving State the timeline that BC gave to UCLA, Central Michigan and Wash State both were looking for opponents and were in the Southwest US…

The Bowl Committee has been actively working with State. Can guarantee you, they were pulling all-nighters scratching and clawing for answers of what to do next.

We will all know very, very soon what happens next.

 

 

NC State Football

Former NC State Running Back Jordan Houston Signs with Marshall

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Former NC State Running Back Jordan Houston has officially transferred to Marshall for his final year of eligibility. NC State played Marshall this past season, but Houston didn’t play against the Thundering Herd, because he had already opted to redshirt the remainder of the season.

After playing in three games this past season, Houston opted to redshirt the remainder of the season (despite the fact that he was the starter at the time), giving him the ability to transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.

Houston played in 51 games for NC State over 5 years on the field, rushing for 1,392 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 6 touchdowns. He also caught 60 passes for 398 yards and 1 touchdown.

Houston was a 3-Star prospect in NC State’s 2019 recruiting class out of Flint High School in Oakton, Virginia.

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NC State Football

Philip Rivers will Finally be Enshrined in the NC State Hall of Fame in April

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Wolfpack legend Philip Rivers will finally be inducted into the NC State Hall of Fame on April 20th!

Rivers was elected into the Hall of Fame back in 2013 (2nd year of the NC State Hall of Fame), but he has deferred his enshrinement over the years due to time constraints.

 

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Rivers pretty much owns every NC State record for Quarterbacks, and still has the most Career Passing Yards and Passes Completed in ACC history, and he ranks 3rd in Touchdown Passes. Rivers was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2000, and the ACC Player of the Year in 2003.

You can buy your tickets here.

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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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