Know the Enemy 2024: NC State Wolfpack Football

A friend answers our questions

credit: calbears.com

We asked our friend to answer some questions about NC State football, and Rob (@ RobMcLamb), of Inside Pack Sports, graciously answered the call to be our go-to expert for the upcoming matchup.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Some answers were edited slightly for clarity. Any additional input provided will be clearly denoted with “WFC:” at the start.

To help us learn NC State better, what season do most NC State fans today look back on with the greatest amount of nostalgia?

Football nostalgia at NC State generally centers around players and not particular seasons. Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson, Bradley Chubb, Bill Cowher, and so on are some of the recent great names. The Wolfpack has not won an ACC title since 1979 and has eclipsed 10 wins in a season only once (2002) in its program history. NCSU has never earned a major bowl berth. 

Looking back at the great seasons means the Wolfpack fan has to either be old or nostalgic because the better NCSU teams always have flaws and that 'one game that got away.' Looking back then becomes bittersweet, with fleeting moments of happiness drowned out by what could have been.

How do you feel about adding the Bay Area and Dallas to the ACC’s footprint? Is there a large contingent of fans traveling or NC State Alums in the Bay Area (or West Coast?)

I have no clue if NC State fans are traveling to see the Wolfpack's first 'BayCC' game, but I know I am geeked about it. I want to see so many things when I get to Berkeley and the Bay Area. Sadly, there are not enough hours in the day. Thankfully, I get trips for both basketball teams in the coming months. 

There will be a 'Left Coast' alumni contingent there for NC State and I am happy that they get to see their beloved Wolfpack. Trips to Texas have been a little more common for NCSU, with the Elite 8 win over Duke in March still fresh in the minds of Wolfpack Nation. 

The addition of Cal, Stanford, and SMU caused angst among NC State's rival UNC, and many of the media who kowtow to their Tar Heel overlords. They all seem to think NC State needs UNC, but Cal can testify to how much teamwork there was from their fellow in-state public university when the Big 10 came calling for UCLA to join. 

The Bruins eschewed the Golden Bears so as to have the back of a private school, USC. Fair play, and don't expect NCSU to benefit from anything North Carolina does unless it is a move that provides the Tar Heels with the most financial reward. NC State could kiss UNC's tail for 100 years and the Heels would still bounce from them for more money in a nanosecond. Too bad for them that the additions of Cal, Stanford, and SMU mean they will probably have to wait at least 10 more years. 

And by the way, UNC has every right to look around to other leagues. They don't owe NC State anything. If the Tar Heels can do better elsewhere, good for them. 

What would poor little NC State do if UNC left for the B1G? They would probably leverage the fact that it is the largest public university in North Carolina to move to the SEC or Big 12, especially since the Tar Heels cannot join all three leagues at once. That actually doesn't seem too bad. Maybe the two schools can play in other leagues and never face each other again? Honestly, that might be best as they are probably both sick of looking at the other anyway. 

I say add more teams out west to the ACC. Go get UNLV right now. We all need reasons to go to Las Vegas. I would also have no problem with Washington State, Oregon State, and another Texas school joining the fray. Give our brothers and sisters from Northern California more teams to play without needing the five-hour flights to get there.

Welcome to the ACC, Golden Bears. I love you already. 

WFC: We love you, too.

Dave Doeren has been around for a while. He’s never seemed to bottom out nor kick the door down. With the way this season has gone, is he on the hot seat?

Doeren is a solid coach, but he has just fallen short in "the game to get to the game." A few times he has guided teams to the precipice of competing for an ACC title only to come up literally one or two plays away from taking the biggest step of his tenure. 

In a sense, Doeren is on a hot seat because these are the type of outputs that give his detractors a platform, with NC State's athletic director Boo Corrigan -- a man who has earned his moniker of 'Boo' through a willpower of silence that makes his namesake Boo Radley from To Kill A Mockingbird seem like a motivational speaker in comparison -- shockingly, releasing a statement to fans this past week. 

Doeren will not be fired though. His buyout is too high and he does his best work when expectations are removed from the equation. There will be some shakeups on his staff in January. After that, NC State will probably exceed expectations in 2025 by going 8-4 in the regular season, culminating with an inexplicable win over North Carolina, then get throttled in one of the few second-tier bowl games that they have never been to, and everyone in Raleigh will extol Doeren's virtue and culture. NC State football is like a daytime soap opera. It is often weird but usually predictable. 

What are the main factors contributing to NC State struggling out of the gates this season?

The offense has been stuck in the mud. The starting quarterback, Grayson McCall, was ineffective before he got hurt. C.J. Bailey, bless his heart, is a freshman. The running game has struggled, with blocking playing a major part. Kevin Concepcion, who was touted as a potential First Team All-ACC preseason, has yardage per reception stats that resemble my numbers when I play Madden All-Pro. It is a trainwreck, but it has been a team effort.

First, prayers for Grayson McCall's health. At the start of the season, the QB room of Grayson McCall and CJ Bailey looked solid. What’s been the biggest roadblock in the inconsistent QB play? 

The skill guys cannot burst for explosive plays, and the line has blocked inconsistently.

What is the biggest strength of your team that could help you win?

Complimentary football. Drives have to end in kicks — field goals, extra points, or punts — and cannot end in turnovers as they so often have.

Which player on offense should Cal fans know about?

Noah Rogers is a wideout who could play for almost any team in the nation. NC State must be innovative if necessary to ensure he gets touches. If he does, he can keep the Wolfpack in games. 

Given CJ Bailey's 6TDs to 4INTs, how will the Wolfpack adjust for playing a defense with the second most interceptions this season?

The best bet might be to limit the decisions Bailey has to make (RPOs and such) and give him assigned targets. Let the adults in the room be adults, which helps a freshman learn and grow. 

Which player on defense should Cal fans know about?

Kamal Bonner is getting more burn now that starting middle linebacker Caden Fordham is out for the year. Bonner has talent, but the on-field reps are somewhat lacking. He will have to learn as he goes, and that means there could be some points where he gets exploited not based on talent but more on knowing his assignments. 

Who’s one under-the-radar or X-factor player who could swing this game for you?

Justin Joly is a major threat at tight end. When NC State spaces and then sends Joly up the seems on pass routes, good things happen for the Wolfpack.

What does NC State need to do to win the game?

Win the turnover battle and finish drives. 

What does Cal need to do to win the game?

NC State's worst enemy is often itself. Don't fret if the Wolfpack moves the chains, since they have not been at their best in the red zone. 

How do you see the game going?

My prediction: Cal 38, NC State 20

From the burners: Any idea how open the Wuf's relationship is? Would they be interested in having a bear as a third partner?

Mrs. Wuf has been in a committed and happy marriage to Mr. Wuf for many years. I don't speak for them but I think their marriage, presided over by the Wake Forest Demon Deacon, is strong. 

That said, a trip to the Haight for some killer weed and acid, followed by an excursion into wine country, and I guess anything would be possible. 

We don't condone violence at W4C, but we like this question as an opportunity for folks to air it out. Whom do you most want to punch in the face?

If it came down to fisticuffs, I would want to beat social media fanboys who troll others wherever their favorite team gets critiqued, especially those who hide behind burners or withhold their names. Mike Tyson once said something along the lines of social media gives people undue courage, and he was right. 

WFC: Does this feel targeted for anyone else? Just kidding, We know it’s not, but we certainly love our burners.