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North Carolina State University

State's bowl hopes could be impacted by Clemson

Miami head coach Randy Shannon meets with N.C. State head coach Tom O'Brien before kick off on November 29, 2008.

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Dec 1, 2008

N.C. State remains in contention for one of the nine bowls with an ACC tie, but how the NCAA views Clemson could be a factor in where the Wolfpack lands.

The Tigers are 7-5 overall and the Wolfpack is 6-6. An NCAA rule prohibits a conference from placing a six-win team in a bowl over a team with a winning record. However, two of Clemson’s wins were over teams in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). The Tigers beat The Citadel and South Carolina State. The rule does not address games against FCS schools. NCSU played one game against an FCS school, beating William and Mary.

“The conference is looking at both of us and waiting on the NCAA to talk to them,” said Dave Horning, senior associate athletics director for men’s sports at N.C. State.

Michael Kelly, the ACC’s associate commissioner for football operations, said the Wolfpack still could wind up in one of the nine bowls with ACC ties.

“There is a chance that they could be with one of our ACC tie-ins, but it is more likely that they would play in one of the at-large bowl slots,” Kelly said.

The new EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C., would love to have N.C. State. That bowl will feature the ninth ACC team against Navy on Dec. 20 at RFK Stadium. Steve Beck, the executive director of the bowl, told 99.9 FM The Fan on Monday that the Wolfpack is the bowl's top choice.

If the ACC can't put State in the EagleBank, the Wolfpack could wind up as an at-large selection.

Several leagues, including the SEC and Big 12, are unlikely to fill their bowl slots. So if State doesn’t wind up in an ACC bowl, it could land somewhere like the Independence or PapaJohns.com or the Motor City, which may not have a Big Ten team qualify.

Horning said N.C. State may hear more this week but a final decision may not come until Sunday, when most bowl bids are announced.

State does not have a winning record but does have some advantages. The Wolfpack closed the season with four straight wins, including an impressive victory at North Carolina. The Wolfpack also has a passionate fan base, something that is appealing to bowls, especially when selling out is a concern in a tight economy.

“We have a great team. We have a great quarterback. We’re playing better than most of the teams in the country. We have a large, large fan base," Horning said.

“We’re not going to be picky but we feel we bring a lot to the table.”

Most Recent Comments

By OriginalDukeFan
Posted Dec 2, 12:14 p.m.

Rank: Bench Warmer
Posts: 43
Joined: Nov, 2008
Location: Durham, NC

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Buttpack athletics suck

And you had better hope the graduation rates rise over there in Buttpackland, because if they don't you'll be on probation.

By OriginalDukeFan
Posted Dec 2, 12:12 p.m.

Rank: Bench Warmer
Posts: 43
Joined: Nov, 2008
Location: Durham, NC

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RE: State's bowl hopes could be impacted by Clemson

Shut up, Buttpack fans. You're all a bunch of whiny losers. You'll see once you have another losing season next year. And I won't even mention basketball season. You dumb rednecks ran the best coach you've had in quite some time clear out of town. Stupid no class Buttpack fans.

By ciscopack
Posted Dec 2, 10:11 a.m.

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Location: Zebulon, NC

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RE: State's bowl hopes could be impacted by Clemson

NC State has the best football program in North Carolina! WE are the STATE UNIVERSITY! NC State will soon be one of the best programs in the US (top 15)...as a matter of fact, we're playing as a top 25 team right now! Injuries improved this team; it made us fight. Comparing how much fans from different area universities love the game of football is comical. ECU is by FAR the closest competition in NC! BY FAR!!!!!!!! Talking QBs....NC State has the "top 2" QBs in the ACC, the top 2! That's right Russell Wilson and Mike Glennon are the best 2 QBs in the league. Well maybe Glennon's standing is just on potential but he has a lot of it. Russell Wilson, what a guy. I totally understand why Coach O'Brien said that one day he may be President. I think he said or Mayor or Governor too? Watch the WRAL interview that is now on the site....poise, brains, caring, attitude, etc. The guy won't just be good at football and baseball. Coaching...NC State has the best staff in the ACC. Not just for football but for the future of each and every team member. Watch NC State GPAs and graduation rates over the next 6-7 years. Chuck's guys did not get into trouble with the law like the guys at UNC Chapel Hill were during his tenure and he had a fairly good number graduate but too many fell through the cracks. That will decline sharply and graduation rates will rise. Put that in with GREAT football and NC State's football program is what others will want to emulate. Football is a GREAT game and NC State fans LOVE IT! We look forward to our football future....GO PACK!

By OriginalDukeFan
Posted Dec 2, 9:36 a.m.

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RE: State's bowl hopes could be impacted by Clemson

Buttpackers go away. Too much whining by the Buttpack fans.

By tomo69
Posted Dec 2, 12:34 a.m.

Rank: Rookie
Posts: 73
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Location: Youngsville, NC

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RE: State's bowl hopes could be impacted by Clemson

By the way, Big Bro...

"NC state has a fanbase? where? In raleigh? WOW!! UNC has a WORLDWIDE fanbase...sorry the crackpack can't say the same."

This was the comment I was responding to...I wasn't trying to be substantial, I was trying to be sarcastic.