This week we are joined by Red White Podcast, an NC State blog and podcast. You can follow Red White Podcast on Twitter at @RedWhitePodcast.
Tell us about yourself and your blog.
Our blog functions more as a home for the podcast but we’re expanding coverage this year to have more written content starting with hoops season. Folks can get on the email list and find all our content at RedWhiteNetwork.com.
What are your thoughts on NC State so far this season?
Man what a roller coaster. I’m not sure there is any other way to describe it and while there are still 3 winnable games to play, I think NC State fans feel like its is another missed opportunity. Everything set up for NC State to make it to Charlotte but the offense came out of the gate miserably slow and unable to support the really disruptive defense. That cost us the Duke and Louisville games which were both winnable and advanced metrics showed NC State should have won both of those games but didn’t. They’ve sort of found a flow lately mixing in packages and leaning on Kevin Concepcion to do pretty much everything but it isn’t exactly an offense that NC State fans feel comfortable relying on.
Given the roller coaster offensively, being 6-3 at the moment with wins over Clemson and Miami feels like a pretty big accomplishment all things being considered.
What’s your favorite memory from the NC State-Virginia Tech series?
Considering we’ve only beaten VT twice in the ACC, there’s not a ton of fond memories from the NC State side in this series. Take 2020 for example. VT was decimated with transfers and no hope on the roster and comes out like they were playing in the Orange Bowl beat the brakes off of the Wolfpack 45-24.
Or the 2010 game where VT and Tyrod Taylor couldn’t do anything in the first half, scored late in the 2nd to make it 17-7 and then David Wilson takes the opening kick 92y for a TD and the game turns into a track meet which VT ended up winning.
Or what about the 24pt basketball game, that was vs VT. Fun times.
I guess I could go back to the 17-16 rock fight from last year but I’m gonna go with the 1908 game that NC State won 6-5. Fond memories of that thriller.
What do you think of the ACC’s new scheduling format?
Meh. It’s fine, we dont have to play peak-Clemson every year anymore (but does anyone? heyooo). Hard to really criticize the schedule without questioning the decision to add Cal, Standford and SMU at the same time and that treadmill horse has been beat to death.
I do like that we get to play the NC Schools on rotation. Silly that NC State and Duke have only played once in 10 years prior to this matchup but really that’s ACC leadership in a nutshell.
How do you view the current state of the Virginia Tech football program?
VT is very analogous to NC State. There are so many parallels between the schools, fans, and program that I hold VT in high-regard. Just like NC State, the fans show up and support their team no matter how big of a dumpster fire the program is. Albeit VT doesn’t have as many dumpster fire years as NC State does but the last 10 haven’t been great but they still pack Lane Stadium.
I did think Fuente would be a decent hire and just like Tom O’Brien did at NC State he left the roster devoid of talent. The Hokies will be able to dig out of it but it is a process to rebuild that brand now. Brent Pry has shown promise and I thought VT was trending the right direction before they laid an egg against Louisville. I really don’t think they are as bad as their record and just going through some growing pains as they retool the roster.
What is your outlook for the future of the ACC?
Dead. ACC is spinning its wheels in the mud and there is no sign of recovering. I have no faith in the ACC leadership as it stands now to pull the league through the changing landscape of college football. That is not just a shot at the commissioner, its a shot at all the ACC Presidents too. They are the ones who could be demanding change but instead they go out and add two more academic schools who stink at football and yet another small private school.
It is so disheartening to see the league erode as it is now and the leadership to seemingly do nothing about it b/c they are happy they think the grant of rights will keep the league together. The reality is, a crafty lawyer or two will find a way for Clemson or FSU to get out and the whole thing will be come crashing down.
What conference do you see NC State belonging to in the next 5-10 years?
Eh, I suspect NC State leadership will take whatever path is easiest and that means staying put in the ACC, as sad as that is.
What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game?
No one knows what you’re gonna get from NC State other than a stout and disruptive defense and schizophrenia on offense.
The offense will lean on and revolve around Kevin Concepcion and he’s elite but with the QB news of the week (MJ redshirting and Armstrong starting), I don’t know what to expect from the offense. If Brennan doesn’t try to do too much, and they keep leaning on the playmakers, we’ll be ok but his propensity to turn the ball over is what worries me.
Defensively, just watch #11. You won’t see many like him. He plays the game 110mph at all times and is one of the best defensively players to come through NC State and the ACC. He is must see TV. The defensive front is stout and has shown the ability to take away the run game for almost every team not name Notre Dame (although i still think we win that game if it doesnt get rain delayed). The corners are strong and can be relied upon but the injury-riddle safety position can be a liability. Teams like Miami were able to find success with the screen game and exploiting NC State’s aggressiveness is how you beat them.
If we don’t turn the ball over on offense we have a chance. NC State will make VT do whatever it is they don’t do well in order to beat them. That’s almost a certainty with Tony Gibson’s defense.
What’s your prediction for the game?
Neither team knows how to advance the ball passed the 50-yard line and both teams end up starring at each other for 60 minutes. The game goes to 11 overtimes before it is mercifully ended by an NC State safety. Pack wins 2-0.
treadmillhorse 