Commentary

Is N.C. State cursed?

In the honor of Halloween, former Deputy Sports Editor Langdon Morris speculates whether N.C. State Athletics is cursed.

If you haven’t noticed, N.C. State Athletics is struggling. Not just struggling, but pretty bad. With the exception of a few non-revenue sports, the majority of our varsity teams are near last in the ACC. Last season, the basketball team finished in dead last and the football team has yet to win a conference game this season.

I know what you’re thinking: “Thanks man, if we weren’t cursed before, than you’re definitely jinxing us now.” In response, I ask you as a fellow fan, and in the spirit of Halloween, to consider some of the following evidence and to ask yourself — is N.C. State cursed?

The injuries

This football season is a perfect example. Name any other team in the nation that loses its top running back and receiver before the season begins and then loses its starting quarterback and tight end in its first game (though Wilson and Hill later returned). We later lost, at least for a while, the best defender (Nate Irving), the best defensive lineman (Alan-Michael Cash), and even the backup tight end. It simply doesn’t happen — except to State.

The curse of Philip Rivers?

The football team hasn’t been good since Philip Rivers’ departure — period. Sure, the year after he left, in 2004-05, we won the Meineke Car Care Bowl, but is that really an accomplishment? Shouldn’t a team with Mario Williams, Manny Lawson and John McCargo do a little better?

The curse of Jim Valvano?

In no way do I want to belittle the legacy and spirit of Jim Valvano or the Valvano family with this notion. We all know what coach Valvano means to N.C. State and what his enthusiasm as a coach and individual have done for the University, and what his family has continued to do for cancer research.

With that being said, the last ACC Tournament N.C. State won was in 1987, and the last regular season championship was in 1989. Valvano was forced out of the head coaching job (perhaps unfairly) in 1990 after allegations that some State players had sold shoes and tickets. The University put the team on a two year probation and banned the team from competing in the 1990 NCAA Tournament. Since then, State has been without a championship in either the regular season or in the ACC tourney, despite a plethora of talented players.

Additionally, it appears as though nearly every N.C. State team sport has been down since Valvano was pressured off the N.C. State sidelines. Women’s soccer, volleyball and women’s basketball have all seen their winning percentages drop significantly. Only baseball has improved markedly since the end of the 1989-1990 season. You do the math.

                Before 1990                After 1990

Women’s Basketball

Overall        300-108 (.735)           343-206 (.625)          

ACC            124-36 (.775)            155-123 (.558)

Women’s soccer

Overall       89-27-15 (.767)             193-165-26 (.539)

ACC            7-2-2 (.778)                33-87-11 (.275)

Volleyball

Overall       362-190 (.656)               193-405 (.323)

ACC           41-14 (.745)                 34-249 (.120)

Wrestling

Overall       336-221-12 (.603)            183-135-6 (.575) 

ACC           89-66-2 (.574)              59-39-1 (.602)

Men’s soccer

Overall       267-210-40 (.560)           163-158-32 (.508)

ACC           52-115-19 (.311)            35-75-11 (.318)

Baseball

Overall        1249-804-26 (.608)       725-396-2 (.647)

Football      

Overall        403-418-54 (.491)        122-101-1 (.547)

ACC            120-100 (.545)           68-78 (.466)

Men’s basketball

*ACC          591-467 (.559)               63-127 (.332)

*Record is against teams currently in the ACC, even if they were non-conference games before joining the conference.