Front Office Football Central - View Single Post

aztarheel · 01-30-2007, 02:14 PM

Steve Victory JOURNAL – Back to 2023-24 Season

Actually those brutal Alabama fans may have played a part in kickstarting N.C. State’s Final Four drive.

The previous season (2023-24), Victory's third in Raleigh, the Wolfpack visited Tuscaloosa for a mid-November showdown (that Victory himself arranged). State was ranked 25th in the nation. Expectations ran high in Raleigh, with the administration “strongly admonishing” a visit to the NCT this year after two sub-.500 campaigns.

‘Bama had been to the Big Dance the year before in Barkley’s second season and the Tide, too, had big dreams for the season ahead.

The whole night belonged to Alabama. A packed house howled with delight as the Tide rolled over the Pack 68-57. Fans taunted Victory. Fans taunted The Sheriff, the new lead assistant coach at NC State. “Stick this up,” they shouted with one certain finger extended high into the air. It wasn’t pretty. Frank-Fred was in heaven.

In the post-game locker room session Victory went off – as fiery as he’s ever been in his career. “Listen, two years in a row I’ve recruited what the experts called a top five recruiting class. It’s time you guys start playing like you’re the best guys in the nation. It’s time you seniors lead the way as we try to pull N.C. State out of the pit of mediocrity. We’re better than these guys, but we certainly didn’t show it.”

The players responded, both young and old. State beat five-straight patsies, then followed up a close loss to Notre Dame (CRI 35) with another five-game winning streak. Among the victims, #12 Georgetown, TCU (CRI 37) and Victory’s other former team, College of Charleston (not so good this season).

State ripped through the ACC campaign, earning a 13-3 record and the regular-season championship! The only teams to befuddle them – Wake Forest twice (The Deacs were top 10 most of the year) and Virginia on the road. During one stretch, NCSU won seven consecutive ACC contests, including an 88-51 pounding of Maryland and satisfying back-to-back wins at Duke and at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The Pack finished the regular season 24-5 and was ranked ninth in the nation in both polls. Senior PG Andre Anderson, one of the holdovers from the old regime, earned All-ACC honors. Freshman PF Toni Zupic made the All-ACC Frosh team.

Senior Jerry Williams, a squatty 6-5 power forward playing center because of the lack of experience at that position, turned into the unsung team leader. Despite giving up lots of size each night, he finished the season averaging about 10 ppg and 6 rpg. Not bad for a “short” guy.

Other key players: Sophomore SG Andre Baker (10 ppg) and senior SF Geoff Burns (14.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg – why not all-conference as well??). Zupic had scored close to 10 ppg in his debut season, starting most games. Anderson scored better than 13 ppg and dished out 6 apg...

01-30-2007, 02:14 PM	#173
aztarheel High School JV Join Date: Sep 2006	Steve Victory JOURNAL – Back to 2023-24 Season Actually those brutal Alabama fans may have played a part in kickstarting N.C. State’s Final Four drive. The previous season (2023-24), Victory's third in Raleigh, the Wolfpack visited Tuscaloosa for a mid-November showdown (that Victory himself arranged). State was ranked 25th in the nation. Expectations ran high in Raleigh, with the administration “strongly admonishing” a visit to the NCT this year after two sub-.500 campaigns. ‘Bama had been to the Big Dance the year before in Barkley’s second season and the Tide, too, had big dreams for the season ahead. The whole night belonged to Alabama. A packed house howled with delight as the Tide rolled over the Pack 68-57. Fans taunted Victory. Fans taunted The Sheriff, the new lead assistant coach at NC State. “Stick this up,” they shouted with one certain finger extended high into the air. It wasn’t pretty. Frank-Fred was in heaven. In the post-game locker room session Victory went off – as fiery as he’s ever been in his career. “Listen, two years in a row I’ve recruited what the experts called a top five recruiting class. It’s time you guys start playing like you’re the best guys in the nation. It’s time you seniors lead the way as we try to pull N.C. State out of the pit of mediocrity. We’re better than these guys, but we certainly didn’t show it.” The players responded, both young and old. State beat five-straight patsies, then followed up a close loss to Notre Dame (CRI 35) with another five-game winning streak. Among the victims, #12 Georgetown, TCU (CRI 37) and Victory’s other former team, College of Charleston (not so good this season). State ripped through the ACC campaign, earning a 13-3 record and the regular-season championship! The only teams to befuddle them – Wake Forest twice (The Deacs were top 10 most of the year) and Virginia on the road. During one stretch, NCSU won seven consecutive ACC contests, including an 88-51 pounding of Maryland and satisfying back-to-back wins at Duke and at UNC-Chapel Hill. The Pack finished the regular season 24-5 and was ranked ninth in the nation in both polls. Senior PG Andre Anderson, one of the holdovers from the old regime, earned All-ACC honors. Freshman PF Toni Zupic made the All-ACC Frosh team. Senior Jerry Williams, a squatty 6-5 power forward playing center because of the lack of experience at that position, turned into the unsung team leader. Despite giving up lots of size each night, he finished the season averaging about 10 ppg and 6 rpg. Not bad for a “short” guy. Other key players: Sophomore SG Andre Baker (10 ppg) and senior SF Geoff Burns (14.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg – why not all-conference as well??). Zupic had scored close to 10 ppg in his debut season, starting most games. Anderson scored better than 13 ppg and dished out 6 apg...