Week 13 brings us N.C. State’s most anticipated matchup of the season for many reasons.  For some people, the end of Saturday’s game against UNC will be the end of a long, difficult season full of disappointment and letdowns.  For others (depending on the outcome), it could mean one more year of gloating despite an underachieving season.  Regardless, I know I am absolutely stoked for the regular season finale.  It’s a rivalry game at high noon on a perfect, fall day.  You can throw all records and stats out the window, because when State and Carolina get together, anything is possible.

How I Really Feel

I thought I’d take this moment to relay how I really feel about Carolina fans.  It seems appropriate because this is the last game of the year and it presents a good opportunity for me to rant.  I genuinely don’t like Carolina.  I don’t like the school, I don’t like the fans and I don’t like their sports teams.  I feel like Carolina fans have a false sense of entitlement and when something doesn’t go their way, they whine (see puppy joke from earlier post).  Carolina fans are also bad joke tellers.  When they feel like they’ve got a funny joke about your school, like always telling State fans to ‘ride home on their tractors,’ they run it into the ground.  There is simply no originality.  It is depressing and downright annoying.  State fans, on the other hand are loyal.  Sure, there are some fans that leave the stadium or coliseum early, but every school has fans who do that.  Where else can you find a fanbase thats expectations are through the roof for every sports team every year?  Some may call that blind ambition, but I’d rather have that ambition than lower my expectations.  I like expecting the very best year in and year out.  Some may say that’s not being realistic, but I say that’s just being hopeful.  It is that hope and anticipation that gives me so much pride in being a State fan.  Where else can you find a fanbase that ‘never gives up,’ even when others throw in the towel?  There is no other university like N.C. State University.  There is no other fanbase like Wolfpack Nation.  Wolfpack fans display loyalty, ambition and passion like no other school.  It is that drive and positive attitude that will keep me a State fan long after my time on Earth is done. 

Keys to the Game:  N.C. State

• NO MISTAKES!!!! - I don’t think I can emphasize this enough.  If State’s offense turns the ball over, State will lose.  If penalties begin to mount and halt the Wolfpack’s momentum, State will lose.  The Wolfpack will need to play smart, disciplined football on Saturday and stay out of its own way to have a chance at victory.  Carolina’s defense has been collecting turnovers like coins in a Mario game, so the Pack will have to be careful with the football. 
• Defense - This is a very broad key, but an important one nonetheless.  Carolina’s offense has been inept at times, but so has State’s defense.  If the Wolfpack can get stops, more opportunities could arise for the Pack to pull the upset.  The secondary will need to play well and the front seven will have to put pressure on T.J. Yates. 
• Offensive Communication - Former Graduate Assistant Jay Civetti was brought in to help the Wolfpack due to Offensive Coordinator Dana Bible’s recent cancer diagnoses.  Civetti has helped the Pack all this week in preparing for the Heels’ tough defense.  Russell Wilson will need to lead the Pack’s “O” without Bible at the helm.  It will take some work, but it can and must be done for State to come out on top. 

Keys to the Game:  UNC

• Defense - In case you haven’t noticed, Carolina’s defense is very good at causing turnovers.  The Heels are in the top 10 nationally with 28 turnovers forced this year.  If the defense can continue that trend, the Wolfpack will be in for a long day. 
• T.J. Yates - Ok, I’ll say it; T.J. Yates is not a good quarterback.  I’ve watched him play the past few years and honestly I’m not impressed.  He doesn’t throw the football down the field very much and this year he has three more interceptions than touchdowns.  He’ll have an opportunity to prove me wrong on Saturday, playing against a struggling defense, but one game still wouldn’t change my mind.  Yates will have to play well against the Wolfpack and give his team a chance to win.  That means no turnovers and a lot of completed passes. 
• Control the Revenge Factor - Last year, State thumped Carolina 41-10 in a game that State fans haven’t let Tar Heel fans forget since.  The Heels remember that game all too well, so emotions will be running even higher than normal.  Carolina must find a way to channel that energy and use it in a positive way.  If you get too over-excited, it could lead to some poor play.

What This Means

Tomorrow should be an exciting, yet interesting game between two long-time rivals.  Carolina has the edge defensively while State has the superior offense.  I’ve heard a lot of people say this season that if you put State’s offense with Carolina’s defense, you’d probably have an ACC champion.  Since that’s not possible, both teams will have to duke it out for one more year of supremacy.  (Sorry about the “D” word in the last sentence.  It just kind of happened).  The atmosphere will be great tomorrow, along with the weather.  I’ll be screaming my head off as usual, so hopefully I’ll see you there.  Look for me; I’ll be the one in red!