As an avid football fan who cries himself to sleep following the end of the college and NFL football seasons, the buildup period for the start of a new season is excruciating. The NFL Draft, other offseason news and message boards (yes, message boards) keep me going, but not by much. By the beginning of July, I’m usually aware of the days, hours and minutes until kickoff. For those wondering, the South Carolina game is — gasp — 63 days away. And this year, perhaps more than any year since the Philip Rivers era, I’ve been aware of the ever-intensifying media hype. Several media outlets have picked the Wolfpack to finish near or even at the top of the ACC’s Atlantic Division this season and I’ve heard many Wolfpack fans utter the words “we’re going to win nine games.” 

Being a natural pessimist, I’ve never really let myself get too wrapped up in the hype because in the end, preseason rankings don’t mean jack. But this year, I let myself slip. A little at first, and then more and more as the season got closer. After watching the brilliance of Russell Wilson and the solid play from the rest of the team the last half of 2008, I let myself start to believe the hype. 

And the injury bug that had followed the Wolfpack like a low cloud in Tom O’Brien’s first two seasons seemed to be gone for good. As of last week I was a charter member of the “we’re going to win at least eight games club.”

And then I woke up this past Sunday to hear the news of Nate Irving’s car accident on his way back to Raleigh from his hometown of Wallace, N.C. I think I actually heard an audible sigh from Wolfpack fans throughout the area Sunday. It’s that “you have got to be kidding me” sigh followed by the shaking of the head. It’s what Wolfpack fans have grown accustomed to here lately. 

Remember these names? Anthony Hill (twice), Toney Baker, Andre Brown, Donald Bowens, Russell Wilson, Jamelle Eugene and even Nate Irving. All of these players have missed at least some playing time during the last two years. Bowens missed all of last year and Baker hasn’t made a big contribution to the team since 2006.  

Irving’s injury this week fell right into line with all the injuries before. J.P. Giglio, a sports writer for the News & Observer, even wrote a column in Sunday’s paper discussing the health of the Pack and how fortunate Tom O’Brien must feel to have a healty team. According to the N&O Web site, the story was published at 4:44 a.m. Sunday, just four minutes after police said Irving crashed his car outside of Raleigh on Interstate 40. The story wasn’t even published before somebody was hurt. (By the way, thanks a lot, J.P.)

Needless to say, my feelings about the upcoming season changed on Sunday afternoon. I cancelled my membership in the “we’re going win at least eight games club” and started reining in my runaway expectations. 

But the more I’ve thought about it this week, the more I’ve started to believe the Pack will get past this injury. It’s not like the team hasn’t done it before. In 2007, Jamelle Eugene stepped in for Baker and Brown and finished the season as N.C. State’s leading rusher. Last year, Owen Spencer (minus the drops) and Jarvis Williams more than compensated for the loss of Donald Bowens and George Bryan excelled while Anthony Hill recovered from his second stint on the injured list. 

Yes, Irving’s injury is huge and will certainly have an immediate impact on the lineup and effectiveness of the defense, but his health certainly does not make or break the entire season. One way Irving’s injury may even help — yes, help – the team is by allowing younger players to step up and play. Terrell Manning, coming off an injury of his own last season, Sterling Lucas, Dwayne Maddox and William Beasley will all have an opportunity to try an fill Irving’s rather large shoes on the strongside of the defense. 

So to all those Wolfpack fans who on Sunday had the ”you have got to be kidding me” feeling, relax. This isn’t our first go-around with injuries and it most certainly won’t be the last. Just realize that the glass is still half full. It’s probably more like three-fourths full really. 

And to the healthy members of the football team, you have 63 days. Don’t play basketball, drive, overextend your arm while reaching for the remote or do anything which could even vaguely present the opportunity for injury. I can’t take any more.