NC State chasing FSU, Clemson in 2012
July, 26, 2012
7/26/12
10:30
AM ET
By
Heather Dinich | ESPN.com
NC State quarterback Mike Glennon and coach Tom O’Brien will both tell you that the Wolfpack have already beaten both Florida State and Clemson.
The trick now is doing it in the same season.
NC State was picked by the media to finish third in the Atlantic Division behind the Seminoles and Tigers, respectively, but those within the program are obviously aiming higher. They have reason to be confident.
“This is by far the most experienced and deepest team we’ve had,” O’Brien said.
“We have the second-most experienced line in the country,” Glennon said. “We have all three running backs back. We have four secondary guys who have played at least three years, including an All-American. We just have a group of guys who want to win. We feel this year can take us over the top.”
Last year, NC State shocked then-No. 7 Clemson, 37-13, but was beaten soundly by Florida State, 34-0. In 2010, the Wolfpack beat Florida State, 28-24, but lost to Clemson, 14-13. If NC State is going to take the next step under O’Brien, it will likely have to go 2-0 this year against the division frontrunners. But it also can’t repeat 2011 losses to unheralded division opponents Boston College and Wake Forest. NC State will have home-field advantage against the Noles this year, but has to travel to Death Valley in late November.
If NC State is truly ready to leapfrog Clemson and FSU in the Atlantic Division standings, we won’t be sure of it until Nov. 17.
The trick now is doing it in the same season.
NC State was picked by the media to finish third in the Atlantic Division behind the Seminoles and Tigers, respectively, but those within the program are obviously aiming higher. They have reason to be confident.
“This is by far the most experienced and deepest team we’ve had,” O’Brien said.
“We have the second-most experienced line in the country,” Glennon said. “We have all three running backs back. We have four secondary guys who have played at least three years, including an All-American. We just have a group of guys who want to win. We feel this year can take us over the top.”
Last year, NC State shocked then-No. 7 Clemson, 37-13, but was beaten soundly by Florida State, 34-0. In 2010, the Wolfpack beat Florida State, 28-24, but lost to Clemson, 14-13. If NC State is going to take the next step under O’Brien, it will likely have to go 2-0 this year against the division frontrunners. But it also can’t repeat 2011 losses to unheralded division opponents Boston College and Wake Forest. NC State will have home-field advantage against the Noles this year, but has to travel to Death Valley in late November.
If NC State is truly ready to leapfrog Clemson and FSU in the Atlantic Division standings, we won’t be sure of it until Nov. 17.
Heather Dinich | email
College Football- ESPN.com ACC blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2007
- Wrote for The Baltimore Sun
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Heather Dinich
Dinich covered ACC and Big Ten football for five seasons before joining ESPN.com in November 2007. She's an Indiana grad but somehow her favorite day of the week is Saturday.
Andrea Adelson
Adelson joined ESPN.com in 2010 after spending time as a college football columnist at The Orlando Sentinel. She has covered college football since her days as a University of Florida student, and lives in Orlando, Fla.
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