Some people have a difficult time embracing change. You know the types — religious fundamentalists, small-town mom-and-pop shop owners and Michael Jordan. These are the leaders, organizations and heroes whose ultimate downfall is their inability to adapt to the times and respond to the demands of the populace.

For the past two years, our nation has heard the anti-change message from our most powerful leaders in Washington. President Bush has responded to Democratic and Republican war critics by telling the American people repeatedly that the only path to success in Iraq is to “stay the course.” Shortly after he began selling this message, congressmen, senators, and administration officials preached the same failed rhetoric on our radio shows and news stations.

No Child Left Behind critics were told “stay the course” in our schools. Diplomats and military experts were told “stay the course” on the War on Terrorism. Even when the majority of Americans demanded an increase in the minimum wage, we were told to “stay the course.”

Americans rejected “stay the course” on Nov. 2. The people of our country sent a message to Washington: We expect our leaders to be innovative, refreshing and pragmatic when it comes to solving problems. Perhaps the Bush administration learned that you can’t continue to drive a race car with flat tires and a rusted engine.

But Washington isn’t the only place that needs to be reminded that change is helpful.

The Oblinger administration could also profit from making some changes. While the out-of-touch and out-of-date Rumsfeldian Student Affairs Division continues to disappoint students, football has been a far worse disaster.

Saturday’s 23-9 football loss to UNC was the blinking red light. N.C. State fans from all over the state and nation are tired of donating our hearts and money to a football program that loses repeatedly to shabby competitors.

If most students and North Carolinians were honest, you would find that our fans no longer go to Carter-Finley Stadium to watch an exciting ballgame. Rather, we go to cook a pig, gulp down a Budweiser and predict how badly we will lose. We can do that in our own backyards for a much cheaper deal.

The question now becomes, “should N.C. State keep coach Chuck Amato?” Every time this question has arisen over the past few seasons, administrators have responded by telling fans to “stay the course” with Chuck.

On Nov. 6, Athletics Director Lee Fowler responded to an interview with the News and Observer by asserting Amato’s job would be secure regardless of what fans wished. “I’m 100 percent behind Chuck,” Fowler said. “We’ve had disappointing losses, and when you lose four in a row by a touchdown or less, things come up such as, ‘If we had just done this or done that …’ I know the frustration of our fan base.”

Sounds a lot like the Bush administration’s response to the war in Iraq, eh?

As if Fowler’s overconfident and hard-headed response isn’t enough, he also said he hasn’t discussed Amato’s job status with the chancellor or Amato himself. While most of us aren’t experts in the athletics business. It’s common sense that threatening someone’s job can be a strong incentive for improving the team.

Most of our graduating seniors have witnessed only one football win against UNC in their past four years — thanks to Philip Rivers, not Amato. This year, we have begrudgingly watched our football team lose miserably to mediocre and poor teams. Who’s excited about a 3-8 record with a highlighted loss to Akron? No bowl games for N.C. State this year …

Fowler can try to convince himself that Amato isn’t the key to our team’s failures all he wants, but he’s wrong. Athletics has poured money into our football team by raising student fees and asking wealthy donors like Wendell Murphy to help solve the problem. The football team itself has tried to switch quarterbacks and develop new plays. All this is to no avail. We need renewed leadership from the top.

Chancellor Oblinger must begin to listen to the bleeding-red fans of N.C. State. We’re tired of hearing “stay the course” with Amato. That course is a losing course. Replace him now or withdraw our team from the field immediately.

E-mail Forrest at [email protected].