Mark Thomas

Triangle players getting ready for the NFL show

Thu, 02 May 2013 05:38:03 -0400

Many college players from this area either got drafted or signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. For those players, it's a dream come true. You're going to have an opportunity to suit up and get paid a king's ransom to play a kids game.

Pack preparing for Kay Yow Spring Game

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:29:57 -0400

Spring practice is coming to an end for college football. For the Wolfpack, there is an anticipated build up to the Kay Yow Spring Game with new head coach Dave Doeren and his staff.

Gottfried aware of gaps in Pack offense

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:06:27 -0400

Mark Gottfried is getting prepared for next season. It ends and begins just that fast for a college basketball coach.

An NC State run can be found in the numbers

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:56:47 -0400

There are statistical keys to victory for the Pack to make a run to another Sweet 16. And as good as the freshman TJ Warren, Rodney Purvis, and Tyler Lewis are, winning will have to be driven by the upper classmen.

Pack ready for postseason

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:25:25 -0400

In Mark Gottfried's second year, the "state" of the North Carolina State University basketball program is on everyone's mind. Simply put: Is Wolfpack basketball improving?

NFL Combine Welcomes 12 Triangle Players

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 13:28:37 -0500

I had been watching the NFL my entire life, and now they wanted me - at least they wanted me to come and work out for them.

State can overcome disappointing ACC start

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:33:40 -0500

If you would've told me at the beginning of the year that NC State would be 5-5 through 10 games of the ACC schedule, I would've said,'Well something is up.'

Super Bowl XLVII: The WAIT is on

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 09:09:05 -0500

While you're busy getting ready for the Super Bowl, the players are sitting around watching the clock, experiencing the most brutal wait of their lives.

Wolfpack play the way they should

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 07:12:15 -0500

It just felt right. NC State playing in The Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden. This March will be 20 years ago that the game's namesake Jim Valvano stood in Madison Square Garden and inspired so many with his famous ESPY speech

Film Study: NC State and Duke lay eggs

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:38:13 -0500

The game film for both teams wasn't pretty to watch. Actually some of it was down right pitiful.

Film Study: Devils, Heels and Pack Week 6

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:00:50 -0400

The three teams in the triangle were 3-0 this weekend - that's pretty impressive. What's even more impressive is that Virginia, Virginia Tech and Florida State were the teams going home with losses.

Film Study: Three wins for Triangle teams

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:20:07 -0400

Duke, UNC and State go 3-0 in Week 3. Mark Thomas says the film always looks better after a win.

Film Study: Devils, Heels, and Pack Week 2

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:38:48 -0400

Each week, I'll watch the game film and tell you what I see.

Film study: Devils, Heels and Pack show promise

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:51:20 -0400

Each week, I'll watch the game film and tell you what I see.

Tim Buckley should be a good fit at NC State

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:04:14 -0400

The transfer of Penn State safety Tim Buckley to NC State is not as big as it appears. The reason Buckley has gotten as much attention as he has is because he’s the first to leave the Nittany Lion program for greener pastures. The majority of players, for the meantime, seem to be sticking with the program. Head Coach Bill O’Brien is trying to do everything possible to keep his team together. But you can’t blame Buckley for wanting to join the Wolfpack.

Advice for rookies heading to the NFL

Wed, 02 May 2012 21:27:57 -0400

The NFL Draft is over. Many college players from this area either got drafted or signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. For those players, it’s a dream come true. You’re going to have an opportunity to suit up and get paid a king’s ransom to play a kids game. What a feeling! The NFL awaits your talents. These guys should enjoy every second of it. But the honeymoon is about to come to an abrupt end. Camp is about to start. In two days, 9 teams will be having there rookie mini-camps with the other 23 teams starting a week later. So before the rookies head off to the airport, here’s some advice for camp.

UNC can win it all with White

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:51:25 -0400

Though the media quickly took UNC out of the running for a National Title with the loss of Kendall Marshall, North Carolina can still win it all with Stilman White at the point.

What worked for the Pack

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:47:54 -0400

'Reprimand followed by praise' it's a teaching of the great John Wooden and it's something that the Mark Gottfried lead coaching staff follows with their players.

Harrison Barnes in Beast Mode

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:14:17 -0400

Harrison Barnes is the most gifted player in the ACC. He's is quick, athletic, smart, and can hit in the clutch. So why isn't he the "best" player in the ACC? Why isn't he even the best player on his own team? That distinction goes to Tyler Zeller. I would go so far as to say, as we are learning in John Henson's absence, UNC can play at a high level as long as Zeller, Henson, and Kendall Marshall are on the floor. In the ACC Championship game against Florida State, there is a glimpse of Barnes taking over a game and going into "Beast Mode." It reminds me of Dan Majerle on NBA Jam when you heard "He's on Fire." The focus, the Zone, whatever you want to call it, Barnes has that GO button that is unstoppable. So why doesn't he do it ALL THE TIME?

The NFL Combines from the inside

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:02:16 -0500

Just imagine your dream job. Now imagine yourself the night before you're to interview for that job. Now imagine that you have to do that interview 32 times.

Karl Hess: Fans care, players don't

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:23:59 -0500

Karl Hess, Karl Hess, Karl Hess, Karl Hess, Karl Hess, Karl Hess. There. Head official Karl Hess wanted to be the main focus of the Florida State-NC State game, and now he is.

The Russell Wilson saga needs to end

Wed, 04 May 2011 17:42:48 -0400

O'Brien didn't tell Wilson to leave the program. But he did make it clear to Wilson that he needed a guy who was going to help his team during the entire offseason.

NC State Spring game thoughts

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:15:46 -0400

Spring football. Gotta love it. Most football diehards, this time of year, are gearing up for the NFL Draft. But nothing gets you wanting more football than seeing college football teams buckling it up for their spring football game. Although we get to see so many of these now that they’re being televised on ESPNU, they are still a rough product of what fans hope to see of their teams come September. The Kay Yow Spring Game for the NC State wasn’t far from that. Fans got to see a rough product of what appears to be a different football team than the one that finished the year 9-4. It’s difficult to say right now if that means better or worse than last years team. Without Russell Wilson and Nate Irving, the Wolfpack is looking for leaders to step up as leaders, on and off the field. Here were some observations from the game.

Who's the next NC State basketball coach?

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:49:07 -0400

Could there be a more popular question right now among Wolfpack fans?

All-ACC voting is a joke

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:45:08 -0500

Do you want to vote for the All-ACC team? Do you have $10? Then you're qualified.

Second time is charm for UNC

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:03:24 -0500

Carolina's second-chance points ended up winning them the second contest with their rivals.

Any hard feelings at Duke for Harrison Barnes?

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:17:40 -0500

UNC's Harrison Barnes heads to Cameron Indoor Stadium to meet his "second" college choice, Duke.

Highlights, history characterize NC State basketball 100-year reunion

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:14:58 -0500

Two hours before NC State tipped off against Miami on Sunday, more than 80 former players, coaches and athletic directors got together on the second floor of the RBC Center to celebrate the history of Wolfpack basketball.

3 things that could improve Russell Wilson's play

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:10:44 -0400

What's wrong with Russell Wilson? That's the main question I got following the East Carolina game. The NC State quarterback has guided his team to a 5-2 record, but the question on fan's minds is not what went right in the 5 wins. It's what went wrong in the 2 loses? And in those 2 loses, what was Russell Wilson thinking in the final drive of the first half against Virginia Tech. How can Russell throw that ball into coverage in overtime verses East Carolina. Russell Wilson has thrown 9 picks this year. Where's the guys who set an NCAA record of 379 passes without an interception? I can't answer the inopportune interception question against Tech or ECU for that matter. He made two very costly mistakes. However, there are some things Wilson can do from here forward to improve his play.

Mel Kiper evaluates Austin, Little, and Quinn

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:45:15 -0400

Maybe this is what got UNC's Marvin Austin, Greg Little, and Robert Quinn in trouble to begin with. These guys were considered the top recruits in the country at their position by draft experts like Mel Kiper. And agents went out of their way to "financially" recruit these underclassmen because of that evaluation. I've heard fans say that ranking a college athlete's draft status before they declare for the draft is unethical. It's absurd! NFL scouts, NFL coaches, and even college coaches are constantly evaluating their players. So it stands to reason that there are resources for college fans to see where their favorite college players stand compared to other players around the country.

UNC Game preview and other game predictions

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:06:15 -0400

UNC vs Rutgers –

NC State vs Cincinnati Preview

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:10:43 -0400

NC State vs. Cincinnati- Too much has made about NC State's Tom O'Brien's comments about the ACC screwing up their schedule. Most of the time, teams are given the Thursday night game coming off a by week. And the ACC should of never given the Wolfpack the late game on Saturday. But for players, it's just the next game on the schedule. You don't concern yourself with scheduling. If anything you will get a longer weekend to rest up for ACC play after the game.

UNC Keys to beating LSU

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:08:45 -0400

The story is getting old already. There are players that will be held out of the game this weekend against LSU. Regardless of the uncertainty about who will or will not play, 1 thing is for certain. This Saturday at approximately 8:13 Eastern, 11 guys are going to line up for the Heels and play football. Meaning? As long as you have an opportunity to play, you have a chance to win. And regardless of who is playing, there are keys to winning the game that are consistent.

NC State preview 2010

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:40:29 -0400

N.C State Wolfpack- Prediction - 6-6 3-5 (ACC)

Duke poised to FINISH in a bowl game

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:52:01 -0400

Duke Blue Devils - Prediction - 6-6 3-5 (ACC)

2010 ACC football prediction

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:59:47 -0400

I guess being a part of the media now I'm supposed to pick Florida State and Virginia Tech to win their respective divisions, right? But just to be clear, I looked at EVERY game and gave an honest assessment of what I thought would happen.

What's the RUSH for Russell Wilson?

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:42:55 -0400

What’s the rush for Russell Wilson? Seriously! Russell Wilson wants to play college football next season for the NC State Wolfpack. The Colorado Rockies were aware of that fact when they took him in the 4th round of this year’s draft. But my question for the Rockies and for the fans of sports (not just State fans) is, “what is the big rush to get Wilson into a Major League Baseball uniform?”.

Who should be the AD at NC State

Wed, 05 May 2010 11:48:47 -0400

Here are 4 names of people already linked to the job of Athletic Director at NC State

College football players are held to a different standard

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:00:04 -0400

Four N.C. State Wolfpack football players are facing marijuana charges.

O'Brien ready for the Spring game

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:39:57 -0400

NC State coach Tom O'Brien discusses the upcoming Kay Yow Spring Game. Nate Irving will get limited reps as well the role new linebacker's coach Jon Tenuta will play.