On the brink of the month of November, with fall in full bloom and ACC regular season play upon us, coaches, players and fans alike are forced to examine the status – the good, the bad, and the ugly of Wolfpack athletics. Thus far, this season has been filled with surprises, disappointments, and some of the same old N.C. State shenanigans that have remained constant throughout recent history.
With just three nationally ranked teams – men’s soccer, men’s golf and men’s cross-country – State fans find their athletic program yet again somewhere in between lackluster and unsatisfactory. These three programs are the sole bright stars in a rather dark, cloudy sky that is N.C. State athletics.
The No. 14 ranked men’s soccer team has been a pleasant this season after going 9-9-1 last year and losing in the second round of the ACC tournament. Led by redshirt senior Ronnie Bouemboue, who currently leads the ACC in points, the Pack has already surpassed last year’s win total, with four regular season games remaining. In the best soccer conference in the nation, State sits in fifth, behind three of the top five teams in the country.
By far the most disappointing program this fall, for me and many, or perhaps all, of my fellow students has been the Wolfpack football team, if only because of the lofty expectations surrounding the season. After a 6-7 campaign where the Pack rallied to win its final four conference game en route to bowl eligibility, returned a first team all-ACC quarterback and more than half of its starters on both sides of the ball, many picked NC State to win, or at least contend for the Atlantic Division Title. Thus far, I have been disappointed, almost appalled, with the play of the team. But remember the team from last year that started 0-4 in the ACC and won four consecutive games.
I have faith the coaching staff and players will address and attend to the offensive, defensive and special teams’ miscues. There is a lot to fix, and who knows how the holes will be patched, we have done it before? Who is to say they won’t do it again?
The volleyball program, however, is no stranger to failure, winning just three ACC games since 2006. This year is the same song, but to a slightly different tune. It is currently 0-8 in conference play and 7-16 overall. However, if the Pack can scrounge up three wins in its final twelve games, it will pass last year’s win total of 9.
As for women’s soccer, a team that won zero games in the previous two seasons of ACC play last year has already amassed a record of 2-5 in conference play and 7-7-1 overall. Men’s and women’s golf have both steadily improved, and men’s and women’s cross country have remained a constant point of strength for the athletics department.
What I’m getting at is that there is forward progress, for the most part, from many of the teams. I know it may seem small and insignificant, but you have to walk before you can run. I know all too well the frustration that accompanies cheering for the Pack and I’ve wanted to pull my hair out as much as the next guy, but the important thing to do is realize the positive strides the programs are making, embrace those favorable improvements and try not to dwell on negative.
