Haven't had a chance to get online since the game ended.

A few thoughts (that have surely been said already, but because I feel like my opinion is unique I will post anyway):
1. Danny O'Brien is very good. I know we have the tendency to make average players look like MVPs, but this guy was fitting the ball in some tight spots, making good decisions. And on the rare occasion we pressured him, he was able to avoid it.
2. SOMEONE COVER TORRIE SMITH. Good gracious...after his first 100 yards of receiving you would think we might rethink our game plan with him. But nope, we let CJ Wilson continue to get embarrassed by the ACC's best WR.
3. The turnovers were killer. Granted, they only scored off the INT, not the fumble. But they are momentum killers and drive killers. The INT should have been pass interference. That was horseshit. The blocked FG hurt too. On a day where MD was perfect, (no turnovers, I don't recall too many costly penalties, and they drained a 50+ yard FG) we couldn't afford any mistakes and we had far too many.
4. We can't handle a taste of our own medicine. We blitz UNC and they hit us with screen passes. Easy call and solution. MD blitzes us and we act like we've never seen a blitz before. The few times we tried quick passes over the middle, they worked (Darrell Davis' catch early in the game where he fumbled but we picked it up was a perfect play). But we didn't do it again until the late 4th quarter.
5. Along the same lines as #4, even though neither team could establish a run game, their line on both sides of the ball dominated us. It didn't matter if they dropped 8 men back into coverage, they were still pressuring Wilson. And when they blitzed, they got him moving and apparently still managed to have good coverage on our WRs. We didn't have any big plays. And on the other side of the ball, we rarely pressured O'Brien. Sacked him once that I remember. He was good at evading the pressure and rolling out or stepping up and making a play.
6. The refs were trash. The no call on the PI that resulted in a INT was awful. Giving MD a first down there at the very end was extremely questionable. One replay angle had camera at the LOS. From this angle you could see the sticks in the background. Their player was stuffed at least a half yard shy of the sticks.

While I saw this loss coming from a mile away, it is still upsetting. We were so close to having a special season...and instead it is going to be rather forgettable for the way it ended.

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 1:33 AM. Reason : ]

11/28/2010 1:31:05 AM

Is it just me or does maryland always seem to have our number? I was excited to be at carter finley last year when we beat them but today is one game along with philips senior day of many that I remember maryland giving us "the business" for when it counts

11/28/2010 1:33:43 AM

Quote :

"It's only Maryland ruining our shit b/c we play them in last game of the season a lot. If it wasn't them, it would have been someone else. That's just how we roll."

This. We are our own worst enemy.

11/28/2010 1:35:19 AM

This game will be in my memory as the game that could have been. If only we could have caught those 2 touchdown passes

11/28/2010 1:41:29 AM

Quote :

"Is it just me or does maryland always seem to have our number? I was excited to be at carter finley last year when we beat them but today is one game along with philips senior day of many that I remember maryland giving us "the business" for when it counts "

TOB's first year they whipped us 37-0. Had we won that game, we'd have been bowl eligible.


It was the first time State had been shut out in like 15 years. IIRC, it was like the 2nd or 3rd longest streak without a shutout in NCAA history.

11/28/2010 1:42:27 AM

I've hated maryland ever since #17's senior day when we turnover anytime mclenden (sp?) And our god awful kicker kiker handed them the game. The classy players then proceeded to stomp on our midfield logo at the end of the game. I honestly think I'd pull for unc over the terps herps

11/28/2010 1:48:13 AM

I would like to know how many games we have lost when Ron Cherry is the referee.

11/28/2010 1:56:36 AM

^^ Two years before that, when we won them the ACC title by beating FSU, they thugged it up, too.

That was back when opposing fans were above the student section (Section 15, upper deck maybe?). They were throwing oranges on the field because they were going to the orange bowl...no biggie. 1:00 left, announcer warns them to let the game end and stop throwing oranges. 10:00 delay to clean oranges. 0:45 left, same thing...another delay. 0:30 left, same thing.

Finally the students were turning around looking up and screaming for them to stop. They start pelting our students with oranges from the upper deck with quite a few snot rockets mixed in.

Needless to say, I saw many many fights after that game.

The game you're talking about, Rivers senior day, was when JoJo Walker assaulted our band member pregame, their team danced at the 50 yard line with a middle finger salute to the crowd after they won, and Fridge watched it all while walking his fatass off the field and doing absolutely nothing about it. Our fans pelted them with bottles as they left the field

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 2:00 AM. Reason : ]

11/28/2010 1:57:56 AM

I got called a pussy by a Maryland fan and a cup was thrown at me.

11/28/2010 3:23:56 AM

I thought we'd be lucky to get 6 wins before this season started. It ends up short of a championship game appearance, disappointing it is, but I see a lot of positive things. Heck we could be 6/6.

If we can maintain at this level and get 7,8 or 9 wins on a regular basis (including beating the cheaters)...

11/28/2010 8:39:41 AM

I figured sleep would help me get over this game.

nope.

11/28/2010 8:41:14 AM

Fuck Maryland

11/28/2010 9:16:40 AM

i thought for sure after seeing a replay of the last 4th down i would call everyone complaining shameless homers, but my god. there is no way maryland converted that. no possible way.

11/28/2010 9:38:15 AM

yea i don't know what happened during that 30 second review, but i don't know how you could call that 4th down converted. i mean we probably wouldn't have scored anyway, but it sucks to go out on a terrible call.

11/28/2010 9:55:42 AM

^^ you mean based off of the yellow line? Or the actual chain?

11/28/2010 9:57:29 AM

based on the actual play.

11/28/2010 9:58:32 AM

I am highly critical of people who constantly complain about officiating (especially in basketball, but that's another story) but I agree with d7. Both the line and the actual chains were, conservative, a half yard away from the absolute furthest the ball could have been.

It was a bad call and it sucks to end a game on that...

11/28/2010 10:00:00 AM

There was no gain on that last play. The ball should have been spotted at the previous line of scrimmage and State should have taken over on downs. Needless to say all we will have from this season is a mediocre bowl game and State will still be disrespected outside the Wolfpack Nation.

11/28/2010 10:08:38 AM

Lets not forget that we missed two open touchdown passes that we should have caught ... which ended up costing us dearly .... 14 points turned into 3

11/28/2010 10:09:27 AM

^^^^ but with the play you still had to base it off of something to know where he had to get... I am just saying I didnt see the actual yard marker. The ball was obviously short of the yellow line but that is off all the time. As for how far he got with the ball, it was short (of the final spot) with his initial jump but I have no idea after he rolled down the pile.

I just wish they never put themselves in a position to have to comeback and reply on a ref's eyes against a team that wasnt nearly as good as them... one of the pregame shows had a guy that picked Maryland because "NC State doesnt have anyone with any experience in a high pressure game like this and they have a lot more pressure on them then Maryland" an I think that is what happened. State has better players, better coaches, have performed better against better opponents but just played really bad/tight in a big game

^ that too

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 10:23 AM. Reason : d]

11/28/2010 10:22:35 AM

i agree, they should have never put themselves in that position in the first place. i guess i had a view of the yellow line in one view and the chain marker in another. he didn't pass either. the ball carrier didn't even make it past his own line with the ball.

the little highlight vid on the espn boxscore shows an ok view:
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=303310120

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 10:26 AM. Reason : k]

11/28/2010 10:25:03 AM

The thing I hate the most about the game is that we don't have a big class coming in. I don't know how we're going to be able to build on this season next year. We needed the type of exposure that an ACC-CG would've brought because TOB is not a naturally great recruiter. The main way I'll be in support of TOB heading into next year is if there are some staff changes (namely at ST/Recruiting Coordinator).

The game yesterday was a total team failure. Spencer dropped 2 TD's, Bryan dropped 1, Graham caused 2 TO's himself, we couldn't punt to improve the field position battle, we got a FG blocked, RW put Mustafa out in a bad situation on that hit, CJ Wilson couldn't keep up with their receiver to save his life and the coaches did nothing to put someone else on that receiver the entire game. Whenever he scored it was always off of him burning CJ Wilson.

Then we had the inevitable NC State shit rear its head again with the call at the end. That capped off a truly amazing game of what encapsulated what it meant to be an NC State fan.

11/28/2010 10:26:50 AM

yeah, like I said, to me he was definitely stopped at first but as he rolled down he pushed the ball out right before he hit the ground. Was still short of the yellow line by a bit but cant go by that totally

11/28/2010 10:29:05 AM

I cussed TJ Graham so much yesterday...the loss actually took my mind off of him. I really would not mind if he never saw the field again. One good punt return does not make up for all the drops. At one point he dropped what 3/4 straight punts? Yesterday he single-handedly gave Maryland two turnovers. I don't understand why he plays or RW even throws him the ball.

11/28/2010 10:54:01 AM

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/its-official-ncsu-screwed-out-of-comeback-bid-29280

11/28/2010 10:59:53 AM

I don't think there is any doubt he didn't make it on the first push, but that ^ video stopped short, didnt show him reach out as he was rolling down the pile. Either way, State shouldnt have let that shit team be within 2 touchdowns of them

11/28/2010 11:08:25 AM

We might not have a large class coming in but our schedule + returners should put us in position for another run at a ACC Crown.

NonConf:
9-17 South Alabama
TBA @ Cincinnati
TBA Liberty
TBA Central Michigan

What about our conference schedule? Who do we NOT play next year?
UNC
@ FSU
GT
Clemson
@ WF
@ BC
Maryland
@ VT
Miami? Duke? Virginia?

If we could sub in a Duke/Virginia for a VT/FSU/Clemson/GT we could have a "Maryland-esque" schedule next year... Except we would be better than Maryland.

11/28/2010 11:09:59 AM

Quote :

"I don't think there is any doubt he didn't make it on the first push, but that ^ video stopped short, didnt show him reach out as he was rolling down the pile. Either way, State shouldnt have let that shit team be within 2 touchdowns of them "

I agree. But that whole thing bugs me. You get 2nd and 3rd efforts all up and down the field, but yet sometimes you are stopped where forward progress is stopped.

11/28/2010 11:11:49 AM

From when I watched the game, he didn't push the ball forward at all while still on camera. He sank into the pile with the ball clutched to his numbers. Maybe he pushed it forward after he hit the ground, but then his spot would've had forward progress already and stopped as per the final shot of the video

11/28/2010 11:18:34 AM

In the video further up you can see him push forward, at least looks like it to me, anyways, should have never come down to a ref's ball spotting judgement

Huh huh huh ball spotting

11/28/2010 11:29:41 AM

Quote :

"I cussed TJ Graham so much yesterday...the loss actually took my mind off of him. I really would not mind if he never saw the field again. One good punt return does not make up for all the drops. At one point he dropped what 3/4 straight punts? Yesterday he single-handedly gave Maryland two turnovers. I don't understand why he plays or RW even throws him the ball. "

+1000

11/28/2010 12:27:32 PM

I watched the video you cited a few times, and I never see him make a move with the ball. If he did he would've been laying on the ground already

Regardless, TJ Graham and CJ Wilson both had terrible days that contributed significantly to this loss.

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 12:35 PM. Reason : no more "xJ" players]

11/28/2010 12:32:41 PM

to me it looks like he goes forward as he falls down, the actual ball is blocked by arms and legs but his upper body (so you would assume the ball too unless he is a complete moron who intentionally moved the ball lower on his body down to his knees)

grr, ok, its not in the video D7 posted, that one cut off early too... let me see if I can find it

well, you can kind of see it in the far away shot, basically at the top of the pile he isnt close, and by the time he lands his helmet is touching the yellow line

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 12:41 PM. Reason : s]

11/28/2010 12:34:27 PM

Well I looked at the aerial view from the ESPN highlight reel. You just see his stupid face looking up as he sinks into the pile

11/28/2010 12:40:51 PM

^ hhahaha

11/28/2010 12:42:02 PM

I think the spot was correct. I think they fucked up with the damn chain. The first down line (the real one, not the yellow one) is just past the 31 yard line. However, the ball was spotted about a foot+ short of the 31 yard line. Whats the point in measuring if youre gonna do it that poorly?

11/28/2010 1:18:29 PM

I've never understood how the chain guys ensure that neither drift while walking into the field. You'd think that in todays modern age they would have some other precise way of measuring. One small step by the maryland chain crew and the game is over

11/28/2010 1:45:00 PM

Quote :

"When a team gains a first down, one of the rod men places one end of the chain on the sideline parallel to the spot of the ball. The other rod man then stretches the chain out to mark the first down line. To ensure an accurate measurement, a clip is usually attached to the chain on the closest 5-yard mark on the field.[1]"

from wikipedia

11/28/2010 1:56:17 PM

I'm pretty sure the chain has a marker that they put to align it to one of the yard lines, ie they know what part of the chain should be on the 35 yd line. that's why they don't have to run out with the chain fully extended

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 1:56 PM. Reason : ^]

11/28/2010 1:56:25 PM

They do have a system for making sure that the chains are lined up. You just never see it in action, because the camera is always only focused on that one end of chains where the ball is.

Basically, someone from the chain gang puts a marker on the chain at one of the main 5 yard intervals in between the chains. That way, when the chains are pulled out, they line up that marker first, and then pull both ends taut.

At least, that's the way they did it when I worked the chain gang at a high school football game.

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 1:57 PM. Reason : Damn this place moves quick.]

11/28/2010 1:56:59 PM

Quote :

"I think the spot was correct. I think they fucked up with the damn chain. The first down line (the real one, not the yellow one) is just past the 31 yard line. However, the ball was spotted about a foot+ short of the 31 yard line. Whats the point in measuring if youre gonna do it that poorly?"

That's what I thought. The spot didn't look that bad...but based on the spot and the call, they had apparently gained the yardage for the first down prior to 4th down. It was weird.

11/28/2010 2:11:11 PM

Quote :

"well, you can kind of see it in the far away shot, basically at the top of the pile he isnt close, and by the time he lands his helmet is touching the yellow line "

They blew the play dead while he was still on top of the pile. Where the ball was at that point was where the ball should have been spotted.

11/28/2010 2:11:54 PM

Quote :

"They blew the play dead while he was still on top of the pile. Where the ball was at that point was where the ball should have been spotted."

not entirely true, if he had gone further at that point, but been pushed back they give him the furthest forward progress

11/28/2010 2:16:05 PM

Is there a contact for the ACC to complain to?

His head might have been close to a first down, but the ball certainly wasn't.



[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 2:38 PM. Reason : -]

11/28/2010 2:38:06 PM

how about before russel snuck in for the td, he threw to bryant for the first down but the refs whistled the play dead (and might have thrown a flag?), ron asked the game clock to be reset, the refs conferred, ron asked the game clock to be set back where it orginally was, they gave us the first down, and there was no penalty on the play.

we came out fine on that, but wtf were the refs doing there?

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 2:45 PM. Reason : ]

11/28/2010 2:44:42 PM

TA was in

11/28/2010 2:45:04 PM

the worst of it was the defender having his arms around Graham's neck, and instead of getting the PI call, the ball tips off his hands and we give up an interception that led to a touchdown. 14 point swing, would have meant the game.

11/28/2010 2:48:41 PM

^^^ one of the dumbass refs blew the play dead and cherry covered for his ass by trying to blame it on the maryland clock crew, who also sucked throughout the game

ACC, CATCH THE EXCITEMENT

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 2:49 PM. Reason : 3]

11/28/2010 2:49:08 PM

That mistake by the refs at the goal line was ridiculous, but who is Bryant

Quote :

" 14 point swing"

Do what

[Edited on November 28, 2010 at 3:13 PM. Reason : ]

11/28/2010 3:13:18 PM

oh look, the nfl refs actually know how to spot the ball.

11/28/2010 3:36:55 PM