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It’s a talking point that has constantly been discussed for years at NC State. Most of the time the debate is over the student section.

The big time football fans are disgusted by the inability to get the student section filled by kickoff and the start of the second half. The more basic fan does not really see the issue and views football Saturday as more of a day-drinking, Bojangles catered party where a football game breaks out.

A few days ago, NC State’s student newspaper, The Technician, touched on this very issue in their commentary titled “NC State student section first to file out.” In this piece, the author touches on these issues from the perspective of a serious Wolfpack football fan and makes some good points as to why this has become a problem in her eyes.

NC State has tried to fix these problems many times during the years, threatening to limit ability to leave the stadium at half time and come back in. However,  many believed that would decrease filling in the student section even more, since people may still leave and now would not be able to re-enter.

Reading the article, the Technician makes the case that Football is more important than tailgating and if you are lucky enough to get a ticket you should be in the stadium cheering on your team. A good point, understood by those who are diehard fans.

On the other hand, the argument from some students are that they are paying the tuition fees too and they can use their ticket however they please. To some, the tailgate is the draw. The time drinking or eating Bojangles out in the cool fall breeze is the fun part, and the football game is just the catalyst for bringing everyone together. Again, a fair point likely understood by those who have pride in being a Wolfpacker, but aren’t as diehard a fan of the actual sport.

Complaining about the divide in these two mindsets is fun and makes for an interesting and ongoing debate, but it’s not going to change anything. Creating rules or regulations around getting to your seat on time or staying in the stadium might be counterproductive as well. So what’s the fix?

I honestly don’t know if there is a controllable fix. Tailgating is something that NC State does well and something they are known for. It holds a lot of memories for a lot of former State students. It’s a part of the culture and something that makes attending college in Raleigh pretty special. I think the byproduct of that is that sometimes, for some people,  the excitement of the tailgate trumps the excitement of  the actual game.

For instance, we at Pack Insider watch every single play of every single game, and we did that before we owned or worked at this website. We’d consider ourselves diehard fans. However, some fans don’t really feel like they need to see every single play to get the gist of whats going on in the game. Do those people not deserve tickets? Some will say yes, but their tuition statement says otherwise.

We’ve been around this program for quite some time, and while we don’t have the exact attendance numbers, we can tell you that there is a noticeable correlation between how good a team NC State has and how packed the student section stays. There is also a noticeable correlation between how big the stakes are of an individual game and how packed the student section stays. If NC State builds a team that is an ACC powerhouse year-in-and-year-out every game will matter, and if every game really matters (again this is subjective) then I don’t believe this conversation happens. But until then, the discussion will rage on.

Where do you stand?

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Is this really a thing?
Is this really a thing?
7 years ago

I started at NC State in 1998 when Mike O’Cain was coach. What was our record then? 7-5. We are still a 7 win per season program after spending hundreds of millions of dollars into facilities, coaching changes, new uniforms, and fancy scoreboards. The one thing that has improved? Our game day environment and attendance. We set a season ticket sales record despite continued mediocrity.

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The All Knowing
The All Knowing
7 years ago

I know you hardcore football fans don’t like it, but without the tailgate, do you think you would get nearly the support in the stadium that you do now? Do you think those kids would take the time to make it out to the stadium just to go watch a sub-par football team? Until we put a quality product on the field to contend with the top of the ACC, be glad you have a tailgate worth going too.

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James Vernon
James Vernon
7 years ago

We as State fans have an important job…..support the damn team …..I could care less about the tailgating, nice but an afterthought to me .I’m there to see the game and leave with no voice left…my daughter is a junior at State and the students leave a lot to be desired…..let’s take the good parts of the idiot clempson fans and turn CF in to a REAL advantage!

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NC State Football

NC State Offers FCS DT Brandon Lane

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4 hours ago

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May 6, 2024

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NC State offered Stephen F. Austin (FCS) Transfer Defensive Tackle Brandon Lane (6’3″/300) yesterday.

Lane started in 6 of the 11 games he played in for Stephen F. Austin this past season. He finished the year with 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 74.6, which ranked 4th on the Lumberjacks Defense. His 79.9 Run Defense Grade ranked 3rd on the team. In 2022, Lane played 7 games as a reserve for Stephen F. Austin, recording 11 tackles 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Lane spent his first two collegiate seasons at South Dakota State (2000-21). In 2000, he played in 1 game. In 2021, he played in 3 games as a reserve for the Jackrabbits. The 2000 season was the Covid Year, and the 2021 season was his redshirt year. As a result, Lane still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Around a week-and-a-half ago, Lane committed to Michigan St., but then he decommitted from the Spartans on May 2nd.

I don’t think Michigan St. is necessarily off the table, and he has visited Washington and West Virginia.

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NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

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3 days ago

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May 3, 2024

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Congratulations to the 7 NC State Football Players that just graduated this Spring.

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2024 Football Spring Graduates

Linebacker Devon Betty (1 year of eligibility)

Defensive End Davin Vann (1 year of eligibility)

Cornerback Aydan White (1 year of eligibility)

Offensive Guard Anthony Carter Jr. (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Matt McCabe (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Tackle Patrick Matan (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Brendan Lawson (no longer on the roster)

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NC State Football

Proposed Bill in the NC House Would Require NC State & UNC To Play One Another, as well as ECU, UNCC and App St.

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3 days ago

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May 3, 2024

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A bill has been proposed by members of the North Carolina House of Representatives that would force NC State and UNC to play one another, as well as East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

According to House Bill 965, which you can read here in full, NC State and UNC would be required to play one another annually in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball. The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels would also be forced to play a game annually in all three sports against either ECU, UNC-Charlotte or App St. Every six years, NC State and UNC would be required to have played a home and away game against each of the three school in all three sports.

Here’s the exact wording from the proposed bill:

Competition Required. – A high-enrollment institution shall do all of the following in each eligible sport: (1) Every academic year, play at least one home or one away game against (i) another high-enrollment institution and (ii) an eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. (2) Every six academic years, play at least one home and one away game against each eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. A high-enrollment institution shall alternate home and away games that are scheduled against the same eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution.

For glossary of terms being referenced above:

For the purposes of this bill, “High-enrollment institutions” = NC State and UNC, while “Eligible constituent institutions” = East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

It’s worth noting that NC State already has games schedule against each of these teams home-and-away in Football between now and 2031.

2025 – East Carolina (H)

2025 – @ App St.

2026 – App St. (H)

2028 – @ East Carolina

2030 – Charlotte (H)

2031 – @ Charlotte

What are your thoughts?

For more details, check out this article at WRAL.

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NC State Football

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. will Take an Official Visit at NC State Next Week

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4 days ago

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May 2, 2024

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Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. (6’1″/195) confirmed with me that he will be taking an Official Visit to NC State next week beginning on May 7th.

After receiving an offer from NC State yesterday, it didn’t take him long to set up the visit.

Martin Jr. is familiar with NC State, because he was recruited by Wolfpack Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson before he left West Virginia to come to Raleigh. Even though he never coached him, a relationship was established.

Martin Jr.’s connections to NC State are deeper than that. Former NC State Cornerback Derrek Pitts, who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Bucs, is his cousin.

This past year, Martin Jr. recorded 45 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups for Akron, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. His PFF Grade was 68.9.

In 2022, he had 53 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass breakup, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. Martin Jr.’s PFF Grade was 60.9.

In 2019, as a Freshman for West Virginia, Martin Jr. earned PFF Freshman All-American honors, recording a grade of 70.6, with 50 tackles and 3 pass breakups.

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