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Wolfpack needs to give fans reason to be optimistic

Posted: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008

N.C. State has to hope for a tidal wave of reverse logic against South Carolina in Williams-Brice Stadium.

On paper, the game is a polar opposite from what the Wolfpack confronted a year ago in Tom O'Brien's coaching debut at the school.

The setting that day was the Pack's Carter-Finley Stadium and the opponent a seemingly outmanned Central Florida outfit picked in preseason to finish in the middle of Conference USA's East Division.

On its offensive first play, Central Florida scored on an 80-yard touchdown run and went on to a 25-23 upset win.

Against the Gamecocks, O'Brien's second State team is a 13-point underdog, with a new starting rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson, and a long shot to win.

But as coaches have been singing since the days of leather helmets and barefoot kickers, season-opening games often defy even the most fundamental logic. Ask Lloyd Carr. Ask Al Groh, whose Virginia team opened last season with a 23-3 loss to Wyoming and finished 9-4, allowing him to exit '07 with the ACC coach-of-the-year award.

Season-opening stunners are why coaches once clamored for a preseason scrimmage game against another school. In a relatively rare moment of brilliance, the NCAA never adopted the suggestion. After all, exploring the unknown is a staple of college life. If nothing else, State's football team qualifies as a classic unknown at the outset of 2008.

Short of a stunner, what O'Brien, his players and most of State's fans need to take away from South Carolina is a collective step forward, meaning a productive performance by Wilson, improved offensive line play, a better rushing game and a more consistent defense.

Other than next week's game against William & Mary, the Pack is facing a formidable early season schedule. Before you know it, State will have to take a trip to Clemson and then return for a game against East Carolina, followed by South Florida.

The N.C. State team Pack fans see against the Gamecocks probably will not the team they see late next month. But the season doesn't need to begin with a wipeout loss.

A 28-17 Gamecocks' win would equate to a successful first step for both sides.

Caulton Tudor is a columnist for the (Raleigh) News & Observer. Reach him at caulton.tudor@newsobserver.com or 919-829-8946

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