The schedule for the 2008 football season was released Friday. Here is the schedule and some analysis from Sports Editor Clark Leonard.
Aug. 28 @ South Carolina (Thursday)Sept. 6 William & MarySept. 13 @ ClemsonSept. 20 East CarolinaSept. 27 South FloridaOct. 4 Boston CollegeOct. 16 Florida State (Thursday)Oct. 25 @ MarylandNov. 8 @ DukeNov. 15 Wake ForestNov. 22 @ North CarolinaNov. 29 Miami
Big games at homeThe Carolina game is away, but the home slate should provide plenty of big-ticket games: East Carolina, South Florida, Boston College, Florida State and Miami all visit Carter-Finley Stadium.
State will be looking to follow up its win against ECU last season in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Meanwhile, the team will be looking to make a better showing than it did on trips to BC and FSU last season.
The Thursday home game against the Seminoles is becoming something of a staple in the schedule, the third time in a row State has played FSU at Carter-Finley on a Thursday.
Bring back DukeState will face Duke for the first time since 2003 in a Nov. 8 road contest. The Pack has a 10-game winning streak against the Blue Devils, but has only won three of those games by more than a touchdown. On the surface, it looks like a welcome addition to the schedule, but with new coach David Cutcliffe and the series’ history, why expect anything other than a close game?
Deacs a challengeThe Pack hosts Wake Forest on Nov. 15. Not long ago, this game was almost a given for State. After winning 13 of 15 games against the Demon Deacons from 1988 to 2002, the Pack has lost a once unimaginable four out of five against the Deacons.
Carolina late againAfter years of mainly September and October games between State and Carolina, the game against UNC will be in November for a third straight season. The Nov. 22 game at Kenan Stadium, the next-to-last contest of the season, will pit second-year coach Tom O’Brien against second-year UNC head man Butch Davis, as O’Brien looks to go 2-0 against Davis since the two started their latest jobs.
