The NC State Wolfpack left Charlotte with their tails between their legs. A team that had expectations to sneak into a high-quality bowl, ACC Championship game, or even the College Football Playoffs, were exposed. The team struggled from top to bottom. With this embarrassing performance at the start of the season, NC State fans can only hope it gets better from here.
Tennessee Humiliates NC State
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 7-0 in favor of Tennessee. Then in the second quarter, Bishop Fitzgerald intercepted a pass from Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava. Fans began to feel momentum slowly shift as NC State would get a field goal from the resulting drive.
Tennessee responded with a field goal of their own to make it 10-3. On the following drive, NC State was moving the ball down the field. Fans could begin to feel the momentum shift in the stadium. The Wolfpack were in the red zone and it was second down and six to go from the Tennessee 16-yard line. Grayson McCall stepped back to pass and horribly underthrew his receiver straight into the hands of Will Brooks of the Volunteers. Brooks took it all the way back for a touchdown and single-handedly outscored the NC State offense.
This completely sucked the life out of NC State and Tennessee ran away with it from there. The final score of the game was 51-10. Tennessee’s offense and defense and NC State’s defense all outscored the Wolfpack offense.
In the third quarter, Aydan White picked off Iamaleava and returned it for a defensive touchdown. However, at that point, all it did was clean up the score a little bit.
Dave Doeren’s Leadership Should Be Questioned
No player should take any more blame for that loss than any other. Top to bottom NC State got embarrassed in every facet of football. When a total team breakdown happens like that then the coaches need to be questioned. The Wolfpack head coach is 7-26 against ranked opponents and has shown time and time again he is not a top coach. Furthermore, he also manages to lose games every season that the team should win easily. When NC State lacks a player that is a leader Doeren is not the guy that can fill that gap.
If the team loses momentum or his opponent makes adjustments he does not know what to do. He simply cannot get over the hump into being an elite coach. As long as NC State is okay with mediocrity with an occasional upset win he will have a job. However, once that mindset changes he will be out of Raleigh.
Concerns About McCall
Grayson McCall has not played well in his first two starts with the Wolfpack. Where these issues are coming from no one is sure whether it is the system or something else. However, rumors in the locker room have begun to spread that McCall has a nagging shoulder issue that could be holding him back.
Looking Ahead
NC State has been embarrassing to start the season. The team will have one more game to figure out their issues against Louisiana Tech before they play Clemson on the road. Based on the past two weeks NC State should be infuriated with the way their season started and come out fast and strong. However, if the team comes out flat against the Louisiana Tech it could be a long season for the Wolfpack faithful.
After Clemson, the team will play against Dave Doeren’s former team Northern Illinois who is riding high on momentum after upsetting Notre Dame in South Bend.
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