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By B.J. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor B.J. Bennett talks about the North Carolina - NC State rivalry.
North Carolina and NC State have long been considered sleeping giants in college football. Both UNC and NCSU have been relatively mediocre at football throughout history. The Tar Heels have won 56% of their games, the Wolfpack 50%. Neither program has won a national championship. Carolina's last ACC Championship came in 1980; State's came in 1979. The last time North Carolina and NC State combined for 18 wins in a single season was 1992.
With over 28,000 students at UNC and 31,000 students at NCST, both schools have resources and the fan bases to be major contenders anually. Both schools have had sporadic success the past two decades, but neither has been able to put together three-straight eight win seasons the last 25+ years. The Wolfpack have won 94 games the last 15 years, the Tar Heels have won 92. NCST had more success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, UNC experienced a spike in the early and mid 1990s.
Two basketball powerhouses, hardwood success has overshadowed gridiron consistency for much of the last century. Both North Carolina and NC State have been more well known for their basketball prowess and their lush, picturesque campuses. When you think of the state of North Carolina, you think about roundball and clean, inviting landscapes -- not necessarily college football dominance. Driving on I-77 in the Tar Heel state, such a game almost seems out of place amongst the towering pines, bright flowers and dark green grass. In a state with crisp, deep forests, snow-capped mountain ranges and storied beaches, sometimes football just fades into the distance.
That sentiment is changing.
Both programs made made major football commitments when hiring their current coaches. UNC nabbed former Miami coach Butch Davis after a stint with the NFL's Cleveland Browns. NCST was able to lure O'Brien away from league rival Boston College.
Contenders are being built in Chapel Hill and Raleigh. The Tar Heels and Wolfpack might not total 18 collective wins in 2009, but consistent success does seem likely as both Davis and O'Brien are establishing strong foundations at both schools.
North Carolina is expected to contend in a top-heavy ACC Coastal Division. Eight wins in 2008, along with a handful of elite recruiting classes, have prompted optimism. With junior quarterback T.J. Yates returning and a star-studded defense intact, the Tar Heels are one of the most complete teams in the league on paper. Replacements must be found at wide receiver, but there is an abundance of young talent on the roster, a collection of speed and athleticism that rivals any team in the league. Games against Virginia Tech, Georgia and Florida State, in particular, will provide the Heels will national showcase opportunities against teams likely ranked in the top 25. With wins against the Hokies and Yellow Jackets (who UNC beat last fall), Davis and his team could find themselves in the ACC Championship this winter.
The UNC players are taking a team-first approach towards getting to Tampa. The team got a taste of contention last fall and wants more in 2009.
"If we go out there, and Dwight Jones has 70-something catches this year, and I have five, but we're in the ACC title game, I don't care," junior tight end Zack Pianalto said. "I hope that's the goal of everybody on this team, and I think it is."
Sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson leads the Wolfpack and he is one of the premier young players in college football. Wilson had a remarkable first season, throwing for just under 2,000 yards, 17 touchdowns and just one interception. He added 388 yards and four touchdowns rushing. The top quarterback in the league, Wilson makes NC State a threat to win any game on their schedule. His efficient play is representative of O'Brien's collected, perfectionist approach. Wilson is the team catalyst and he has the talent to lead the Wolfpack to the ACC Championship Game. The defense will need a big senior season from talented defensive end Willie Young, a rangy athlete with an explosive first step off the line of scrimmage, and powerful senior tackle Alan-Michael Cash. Young had 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2008. Young and Cash's leadership will be vital as the front seven recovers from losing All-ACC linebacker Nate Irving to injury via a car accident.
Many have picked NCST second in the ACC Atlantic Division. Progression is expected in year two, as the 'Pack move forward adter six wins and a postseason berth last fall.
“As a competitor, I feel like we are ready to live up to the expectations that people are talking about,” NC State senior running back Jamelle Eugene said. “But as members of this team, we are not focused on it. If you start listening to that, you will start getting into trouble and feeling pressure and pressing. Our goal this year is to come out and do what we are capable of doing and maximizing our talents and listening to the coaching staff, not predictions that are being made about us.”
North Carolina has had great success throughout history against rival NC State, but the Wolfpack have won two games in a row. State won at Carter Finely Stadium 31-27 in 2007 and defeated the Tar Heels 41-10 at Kenan Stadium last fall. With expectations up for both schools, this year's showdown in Raleigh could be the biggest game in the series in quite some time. If both teams enter the meeting with good records, a real possibility, this underrated rivalry could get some much-needed national media attention. Both programs are poised to become national names in the coming years.
The fact that both North Carolina and NC State are on the rise at the same time is great for the ACC and good for college football. Wake Forest's recent success has helped revitalize the heart of ACC country and has given the league plenty of national media attention. The Tar Heels and Wolfpack both have tremendous facilities, have produced solid NFL talent, have large fan bases and have the framework to be successful over the longhaul.
These two archrivals are on the upswing, blooming at the same time. And as everyone knows, everything is more beautiful in Carolina.
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Comments
Hey now...South Carolina is pretty nice too…
I think the major change is that both schools have finally stepped up to the plate financially when it comes to football. Now can it be maintained over the long term? That is the question.
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