FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.Russell Wilson got hurt. With all due respect to Rutgers players, coaches, fans and awesome Pulitzer Prize winning alumni, that's about all you need to re: the PapaJohns.com Bowl. Of course, it's also all you need to know about North Carolina State's season -- when Wilson was healthy and in the game, the Wolfpack were one of the most exciting teams in the NCAA, and when he wasn't, well, they were the type of team that could give up a first half lead to a suddenly struggling Rutgers team.
Again though: Rutgers = not bad. They came in having won six straight games, but, caveats aside, you couldn't tell by the time the clock struck zeroes on the first half. The Wolfpacka dominated, Mike Teel struggled mightily, and it looked like a runaway win for State. Then Wilson got hurt.
It happened right before the end of the first half and it was a strained left knee and he was most certainly capable of coming back, but, again, no offense to the pizza tossing Papa, but this wasn't the time and the place to bring the future of a school's football program back onto the field.
And as such, the fate of the PJ.com Bowl fell to Daniel Evans, Raleigh's native son. As was the case for the end of Chuck Amato's tenure in Raleigh, he couldn't come through, and Teel magically morphed into the guy who tossed seven taters against Louisville. State withered, Rutgers rallied, and a pair of seasons got microcosmed really quickly.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
First of all, Not to take anything away from Wilson as being a great quarterback, did you see the score at halftime??? It was no runaway game. Secondly, Rutgers is traditionally a second half team. They adjust and conquer. Whether or not NC lost there QB, the game would have come down to the wire. Secondly, to be a great team, you must have depth, so chalk another up for the Scarlet Knights! Go RU!!! and can we get a little respect...sheeesh!
Listen people....I must admit the QB for NC State is special but with the lead and the momentum at halftime...with or without Wilson, NC State lost to a better team. What happen to NC States defense? Wasn't the defense suppose to stop Rutgers in the 2nd half? Let's just say that Teel and Co. pretty much had their way offensively when the chips were on the table. Great job by Lefedge, Greene, Teel, Britt, Underwood, D"Imperio, Martinek and especially the Special Teams for blocking that punt that turned this game around.
Not only does Rutgers should get respected for the win but the Big East Conference should get kudos too as they consistantly win Bowls games...year after year. Wake up people....you all are sleeping at the wheel....get some coffee....there's a change happening in College Football and it's called Rutgers Football and the Big East!!!!!!!!
regardless of what you think about the game, try posting the score????
You're right, the defense should have stepped up. But you could sort of see in their eyes after Beck was put into the game that the defense had already said "oh crap, here we go again".
The game was a microcosm for NC State's season. Put Beck in the game and you get a strong arm that can't get a first down and a quickly worn out defense that can't keep up anymore. Put Evans in and you get competence, but not enough arm strength to get the ball where it needs to be.
Wilson being able to play in the second half simply changes the game for the Wolfpack, but there's no way they would have played him with any risk of a more serious injury. Wilson has a promising baseball career ahead of him and the coaches don't want to jeopardize that.
Rutgers and Big East football, give me a break.
Rutgers was tied for second in the Big East and they played the number 10 team of the ACC – a conference that was TERR-I-BLE this year!
Oh, by the way, the Big East was a blazing 3 wins, 14 losses against the AP and USAToday Top 25 this year!
And Rutgers was getting manhandled at halftime by a team that many said shouldn’t even be allowed to play in a bowl game with a 6-6 record (one of those wins being against the powerhouse of William & Mary).
As for depth, we’ll see what Rutgers does next year with Teel gone. This season rest of your team combined has completed 7 out of 19 passes attempted with 2 interceptions. That’s almost as pathetic as Beck & Evans were once Wilson was hurt yesterday.
Enjoy your Bowl win. That’s what you’re supposed to. But keep it real.