When Tony Baker fumbled the ball during the Pack’s first possession Thursday night, it was like the clock had struck midnight and Wolfpack nation was trapped in the proverbial pumpkin.

After months of hype, fans remembered being a State fan only means one thing–you’ll be disappointed.

It wasn’t that the team’s effort on the field was atrocious.

Yes, not putting up a point during the first half isn’t something to be proud of, but when the ball slipped away from Baker it was much more than a turnover–it made fans hurt in places that had gone numb since Wilson’s return last season.

But last night’s game wasn’t a microcosm of N.C. State’s football program, it was exactly what Tom O’Brien and his staff built it up as–a season opener.

We are the ones who put the yoke of expectation on this squad, and anyone who knows how O’Brien coaches will tell you that it isn’t about hype. It’s about results.

Results like grooming three capable running backs into contributors, sharpening two high-caliber quarterbacks into playmakers and taking whatever players are laying around and forming them into a solid offensive line.

And you’re not going to see all of that in one game–especially when that game is played under the lights and lenses of the entire nation on a Thursday night in Raleigh.

Yes, winning is important, but it’s not the only thing–especially in a season opener.

Chuck Amato was 6-1 in season openers during his tenure, but he also wore red shoes and also allowed his offensive coordinator to run two flea flickers in a row during his final season.

I’d rather be where we are now–0-0 in the conference with the pieces in place to make a serious run at a championship.

Look beyond the hype and extend your memory beyond last season. It’s not all about how far we can go, it’s also about how far we’ve come.