Bryan Underwood staying in bounds vs. Clemson.
Just thought that was an interesting nugget from this ESPN story: https://www.espn.com/college-footba...ys-texas-troubles-wide-open-playoff-race-more
In 2016, the Wolfpack missed a short kick in regulation and eventually lost. Similar heartbreak in 2017, when NC State led at halftime and eventually lost. But Doeren felt different about this team headed into the season because it returned so many veterans, and he believed his players had a greater understanding and appreciation for the work that goes into winning a championship.
Yet reality was right in front of him: "There's something on the table we want to have and Clemson's been a team that's taken it every year," Doeren said in early September. "So we've got to get over that hump, if that's possible. We finished second to them twice so I think it is possible. I feel like we're in a pretty good spot."
Those words seem prophetic now. NC State did not wilt the way it has been known to do. Rather, the Wolfpack rose to the occasion, steeling itself in double overtime behind a magnificent touchdown pass from Devin Leary to Devin Carter and a defensive stop that won't soon be forgotten in the second overtime. It hardly matters that Clemson is down. NC State beat a top-10 team for the first time since 2012. Doeren beat Clemson for the first time, and now NC State is in the driver's seat in the Atlantic Division.
During an interview on ACC Network afterward, Doeren smoked a victory cigar and had a smile a football field wide. But NC State is also a team that scored 10 points at Mississippi State just two weeks ago and has a history of bad stuff happening when things seem to be going well (there's a phrase for it, too!). The bulk of the season remains for NC State to truly flip the script and put its past history where it belongs. -- Andrea Adelson
Just thought that was an interesting nugget from this ESPN story: https://www.espn.com/college-footba...ys-texas-troubles-wide-open-playoff-race-more
Finally, some good NC State fortune for a change
After Christopher Dunn missed a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation against Clemson, you couldn't help but get a sinking feeling about NC State. The same script unfolded so many times against the Tigers in nine years under Dave Doeren. In 2013, Bryan Underwood had a touchdown called back that changed momentum in the game, and for years afterward Doeren kept a screenshot on his phone that showed Underwood tiptoeing the sideline in-bounds as a reminder of what should have been.In 2016, the Wolfpack missed a short kick in regulation and eventually lost. Similar heartbreak in 2017, when NC State led at halftime and eventually lost. But Doeren felt different about this team headed into the season because it returned so many veterans, and he believed his players had a greater understanding and appreciation for the work that goes into winning a championship.
Yet reality was right in front of him: "There's something on the table we want to have and Clemson's been a team that's taken it every year," Doeren said in early September. "So we've got to get over that hump, if that's possible. We finished second to them twice so I think it is possible. I feel like we're in a pretty good spot."
Those words seem prophetic now. NC State did not wilt the way it has been known to do. Rather, the Wolfpack rose to the occasion, steeling itself in double overtime behind a magnificent touchdown pass from Devin Leary to Devin Carter and a defensive stop that won't soon be forgotten in the second overtime. It hardly matters that Clemson is down. NC State beat a top-10 team for the first time since 2012. Doeren beat Clemson for the first time, and now NC State is in the driver's seat in the Atlantic Division.
During an interview on ACC Network afterward, Doeren smoked a victory cigar and had a smile a football field wide. But NC State is also a team that scored 10 points at Mississippi State just two weeks ago and has a history of bad stuff happening when things seem to be going well (there's a phrase for it, too!). The bulk of the season remains for NC State to truly flip the script and put its past history where it belongs. -- Andrea Adelson
