Huffman: A Killa Day For N.C. State

Football players are fond of putting mottos on the black strips they put under their eyes, and N.C. State linebacker Ernest Jones is no exception.

On the strip beneath his right eye was: “Season.”

“Killa Season” - as in, this could be a killer year for the Pack.

But the effect was different when you looked at Jones. It seemed to read “Season Killa,” and that’s exactly how the Clemson loss felt for N.C. State.

The Wolfpack slumped to 1-3 overall and lost its eighth straight ACC game.

This season almost seemed over. The honoring of the 1957 and 1967 teams at Carter-Finley Stadium provided a rare moment of relief on a brutal day for State fans.

This much is clear: 2007 Wolfpack is nothing special.

“We’re not a very good football team. It’s pretty obvious after today,” coach Tom O’Brien said. “They could have done whatever they wanted to do today.”

The outcome begged the question of what it will take for N.C. State to contend in the ACC.

O’Brien, in response, made an interesting point. He said State players were often in the right place, and had the right technique, but were overwhelmed by players who were bigger and faster.

“We’re going to have to recruit players who can play like their guys,” O’Brien said. “It comes down to personnel.”

Lou Holtz in 1972 and Dick Sheridan in 1986 turned the Wolfpack around right away, but that’s not happening in the first year of O’Brien. Anyone who thought O’Brien could come in, instill some discipline in Chuck Amato’s recruits and win is mistaken.

The irony is the N.C. State program has never had it so good.

The field house is amazing. Think Holtz got to dazzle recruits with statues of wolves and swank locker rooms?

Carter-Finley is enclosed in both both ends and the program is stuffed with amenities. The Richard Vaughn press box soars over the stadium and is packed with luxury suites. On the third floor is a big painting of Vaughn himself, standing in a dark suit at a construction site as two bulldozers work behind him.

This program has some building ahead, too.

Or perhaps some lingering problems have to be bulldozed, depending on your point of view. State had the look of a Amato team Saturday, with an offside call allowing the Tigers a second chance at a field goal a the end of the first half and a late hit helping set up a Clemson touchdown.

Even without the gaffes, this outcome was inevitable. State’s problems along the offensive line continued as Andre Brown had to battle for his 66 yards on 19 tries.

“We are who we are. That’s it,” O’Brien said of the Pack’s front. “They’ve been getting better. We took a step back today.”

The rest of the offense wasn’t much better. Starting quarterback Harrison Beck completed just 1 of 6 throws before suffering a knee injury. O’Brien said he would know more on Sunday but doesn’t expect the injury to linger.

Daniel Evans came in and completed 16 of 25 throws for 123 yards and a score. But compared to the brilliant day of Clemson’s Cullen Harper, Evans looked ordinary.

“I thought he did a good job,” O’Brien said of Evans. “We need to get better performances out of that position.”

N.C. State’s defense was a disaster. Even when State had a good play, like when Wolfpack linebacker Martrel Brown nailed Davis once, Clemson got the last word.

“I said, ‘You just ran into a brick wall!’” Brown recalled.

“He started laughing. He said, ‘Keep it up, 41.’”

The Pack doesn’t want to keep this up at all. N.C. State once dreamed of matching Notre Dame in football. At least this season, it has.

The Wolfpack's history in football includes moments of brilliance, but Saturday was a shattering dose of humility.

“I definitely guess you can say we got killed today by Clemson,” Jones said.

Yes, State did.

With more days like this, those wolves in front of Carter-Finley might as well be dachsunds.