FanHouse NC State

March started days ago. The Madness started Wednesday night.

On an evening where bubble teams could've punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament and boosters could've started humming bars of "One Shining Moment," teams turned down invitations like they were to a wedding without an open bar or the People's Choice Awards.

A memo, fellows. This isn't an invitation to a candlelight dinner with Randy Johnson. "Big Dance" doesn't mean you're cutting a rug with Mark Madsen or waltzing cheek-to-cheek with Mike Tyson.

You actually want to go to this thing.

Even if you phrase it as carefully as a major leaguer testifying before Congress, ask Kansas coach Bill Self who he thinks should be the national coach of the year and you're likely to get about the same answer as if you'd just asked him to explain the economic stimulus plan.

Which is to say a whole lot of stammering and more tap dancing than Broadway's spring season.

Tomorrow, Maryland and Clemson face off in Death Valley at high noon. Or regular noon -- one of the two. I think in Death Valley every noon is high noon. Both teams can help their chance to win the Atlantic Division of the ACC with a win. Clemson has been rolling until Virginia Tech rolled over them in Blacksburg last week. Asides from that and a one point loss to BC, Clemson has been dominant this season. They showed Georgia Tech who's boss in the ACC with a 31-7 beating two weeks ago.

Maryland has been on an upswing lately. They've won three in a row against UVA, NC State, and FSU. Yes, those are all games Maryland should have won -- they should have beat Georgia Tech in Atlanta but instead they beat themselves -- but good teams win the games they should. Great teams beat the teams they shouldn't as well. I'm not saying Maryland is going to be great if they beat Clemson, but they won't be if they don't start beating some ranked teams. They have three ranked teams left, the others being Boston College and Wake Forest.

So we've established that Maryland needs to win this game if they want to be considered more than just a decent team. I think that was pretty obvious. Now how does Maryland go about this?

This question was in my head all game. This NC State game was really important for the Terps, and coach Ralph Friedgen kept it out of the hands of quarterback Sam Hollenbach as much as possible. This game was a running game through and through. They ran 41 times and threw nine times.

Hollenbach ran 11 times, which is two more than he threw. And even though the box score has longest pass as 34 yards to Keon Lattimore, we all know that was a short pass that Lattimore was able to run 34 yards. In fact, at least three or four of those passes were a yard or less to a running back. Hollenbach really didn't attempt a pass over 10 yards this game.

It was already rumored that Friedgen wanted to try back-up Jordan Steffy out again. After watching the NC State game, it's tough not to wonder if Friedgen trusts Hollenbach at all -- at least as a passer. He was trusted with running, and he did it well. Hollenbach used his legs Scott McBrien-style to get some big first downs.

There are other explanations though. I was talking to my friend Tom, a fellow alumnus, on the phone after the game and mentioned my theory to him. He responded with, "Yeah, but the run worked." It did. Why go away from the run when it's working the entire game. This was a must-win game. This was not a game that you go to the pass just to see if you quarterback can handle it. The run worked the entire game and it's the best way to control the clock so you stick with it.

Also, against Georgia Tech, the Terps lined up in a five receiver set multiple times and Hollenbach passed a bunch of times. They lined up in the five man set against NC State too, but it resulted in a Sam Hollenbach option.

The Terps won the NC State game and it doesn't matter that they did it running instead of passing. However, the Terps will have to start throwing eventually when teams key in against the run. Then we'll see how much trust Friedgen has in Hollenbach. The answer to that question could decide the rest of the season.

Today was a nice blast from the past for the Terps. For the first time since they were good, they beat NC State. And for the first time all year, they dominated a team. Don't let the close score fool you, this was Maryland's game from start to end. The most surprising part? They did it on defense.

For the last two weeks, I have been giving it to defensive coordinator Chris Cosh hard. But today, he shut me up -- at least for a week. The defensively line put constant pressure on NC State quarterback Dan Evans. Conrad Bolston and Rick Costa could not be contained by the NC State defensive line. Costa is listed as a linebacker, but he would line up on the defensive line most plays and he had some big tackles.

I must apologize. For such a huge game coming up this week against NC State, I should have covered it more. I'll be honest with you. All this week, I was just working and watching Mets baseball. But now that the Mets are out of it, and now that I'm more depressed than I was two days ago, I have my time back.

The reason I say expect the unexpected against NC State tomorrow isn't because I don't have an Fan House blogger to get all my opponent information from. That's just part of the reason. The other reason is that Maryland and NC State have been good rivals the last six years. Do you remember the game at NC State three years ago when the Terps were down big in the beginning, they came all the way back with a few minutes to play on to have Nick Novak miss an extra point? Then the Terps forced a fumble and Novak made a 46 yarder to win the game. It was the night the honored Phil River's number and it ended with a mini-brawl on the field. I'm only starting to warm up to Phil Rivers as the Chargers QB because he was once the NC State QB.

Both teams aren't as good now as they were in 2003, but they lock up as Maryland needs another win to keep their momentum going and NC State needs one to get it back. If Maryland loses this week, last week's huge comeback against Virginia will just a glimpse of a past Terps team. If they use the momentum, they can put themselves on a path to becoming an ACC threat.

The key to this week isn't wondering if they can beat FSU next week. The key is focusing on beating NC State. This is a big game -- a game where I can almost feel the Terps getting ready to throw it away. NC State lost last week by a game winning field goal by Wake Forest, so they're hungry too. This game is going to come down to who is hungrier.

Honestly, I think that Maryland has the edge because it's homecoming in College Park tomorrow. Both teams can benefit in the wide open ACC with a win tomorrow, but I think it's going to be the Terps who take the W. It may sound cheesy, but I think that the Terps found something last week in Virginia that they'll by able to take with them for the rest of the season.

My prediction:

Maryland 28 NC State 17

Just because Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen is over weight doesn't mean he's jolly. Sometimes, he looks downright mean. But after a huge fourth quarter comeback against Virginia, the biggest since 1993, Friedgen's jolly side came out. In fact, he's quoted as saying, according to the Diamondback.com, "I was dancing and jumping up and down and [head] butting them and kissing them and hugging them." Man, would I love to see that. I wonder which players were actually down with the kissing.

Obviously, the Terps players are going to be stoked beyond belief after such a win. However, most coach's keep their composure and assume they're going to win. In fact, the theme of the Fridge's half time speech was telling the players to keep their heads up because they could still win.

This win was more than a win to Friedgen though. This could be his season and ultimately his job. Fans are getting weary with the Terps' weak seasons after such a strong start. The biggest criticism is that he didn't recruit the players that won him so many games. The players that he recruited were part of the non-bowl seasons.

All of that criticism had to weigh hard on the Fridge and finally his team performed, albeit in the fourth quarter only. The Terps are in a great position to make a bowl game now. They have NC State in Byrd for homecoming next week. They have both FSU and Miami at home. Did you ever imagine that I'd mention one of those teams as a good point about the Terps schedule? In fact, asides from NC State, FSU and Miami are the only teams not ranked on Maryland's remaining schedule. The Terps have #12 Clemson, #22 BC, and #25 Wake Forest. If the Terps beat NC State, and then win one more game, they'll make a bowl game and end the season with big hopes for next year.

I would love to see Friedgen laugh, cry, and dance. In fact, I'll pay anyone who has video of it. Seriously. And he did it because the Terps won a game that could have saved his season and relieved some of the pressure, at least for one week. Hopefully if they win next week, he'll whip out his moves for College Park.

Ha! I'll be damned! Maybe this whole time, in order to win, Maryland had to be down until the fourth quarter. After blowing fourth quarter leads as if it's their major, the Terps are finally on the other end.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to watch this game. The dispute between ESPN and Comcast resulted in the game to only be available on the internet for non-Comcast users. I'm a Comcast user. Through all this fighting and power trips, the two never think about the children involved.

It's a shame that I couldn't see the game. No one can really make deductions about a game that wasn't seen. But this win is pretty big.

The defense showed up in the second half. With Maryland being down 20 - 0 in the first half and allowing 255 yards, the defense decided to play some ball for the first time in ages. They held Virginia to some three and outs in crucial spots, and Linebacker Erin Henderson intercepted a ball for a touchdown. Virginia only scored once in the second half.

Keon Lattimiore had a huge run play for a TD (again according to the box score recap) and 114 yards. It's been criticized that Fridge should just go with Lance Ball, but Lattimore proved he can be the man too.

Sam Hollenbach didn't complete a pass over 21 yards, like I said he shouldn't. I don't know how often he tried, but the fact is, he shouldn't. After having a pretty miserable first half, it seems like he turned it around in the second half. Maybe Fridge was trying to light a fire under Hollenbach with those hints of putting in back-up Jordan Steffy. You'd think if he'd do it, he'd do it when they are down 21-7.

Fridge knew he'd be on the hot seat if he lost this game. Instead, the hot seat has been transferred back to Al Groh. This win put Maryland at 4-2 total and 1-1 in the ACC. They have NC State next week. State lost to Wake Forest this week, but I'll get more into that in later blogs. I don't know what happened this game. Maybe Maryland had a hangover during the first half from last week's disappointment. Now, the Terps, who probably played their best football all year in the fourth quarter, need to go beat State which would put the Terps a game away from a bowl.

Maybe this team still has some hope. I'm going to try to find some footage of this game and comment on what I see. Good job, Maryland.

For the second consecutive year, NC State has beaten the once-dominant FSU Seminoles. This 24-20 home win marks the 4th time Chuck Amato has beat his old team since he left Tallahassee in 2000. This one is pretty easy to sum up. We got out-coached. We got out-played. NC State made plays when they had to make plays. We did not. They were more disciplined than us. They wanted it more.

Wolfpack quarterback Daniel Evans played a hell of a game. He was cool in the clutch. His receivers made plays. Evans finished the game with 3 TD passes and 0 interceptions. He brought his team back from a 20-10 2nd half deficit. I was really impressed with how he performed in such a spotlight.

The Seminoles were not horrible in any one area, but were not particularly good in any area either. Drew Weatherford had an up and down game. He looked very good at times, then had some plays that I'm sure he wishes he had back. His lone turnover came on FSU's final drive when a pass intended for freshman TE Brandon Warren was deflected and intercepted. The running game got off to a good start on the opening drive, then didn't do much after that.

The defense gave up 340 yards to an offense that has struggled this year. They also let the Wolfpack do whatever they wanted to with the ball over the final quarter and a half. The NC State running back tandem of Andre Brown and Toney Baker was able to gain first down after first down in the 2nd half. Brown finished with 113 yards on only 18 carries, his second straight game against FSU with over 100 yards. I've already mentioned what Evans was able to do through the air. Our defense was not able to create one single turnover the entire game. I hear those usually help.

NC State easily won in the intangibles department. They played with more passion. There was a different look in their eyes than in our players. I actually believed they were the team with something to prove and not FSU. The Seminoles were once again undisciplined, collecting 10 penalties (that were accepted). Oh yeah, we also again used up all of our timeouts with plenty of time left in the game. That predictably came back to bite us, as we could not stop the clock once NC State took the ball with just over 2:00 to play.

This may sound strange, but I don't want to complain about coaching. About how we continuously lose to supposedly less talented teams. I'm over it. I have accepted the fact that we are a mediocre team playing in a mediocre conference. And that is how I will (try to) look at things from now on. NC State deserved to win this game. The better team prevailed.

The Seminoles ride into Raleigh tomorrow night for a Thursday night showdown with the always dangerous (at least to FSU) NC State Wolfpack. The Noles must avenge last season's 20-15 loss in Tallahassee, when future 1st round D-linemen Mario Williams, Manny Lawson and John McCargo dominated the FSU offensive line ala Mike Tyson vs. anybody in his younger years.

This brings me to the first key to this week's game. This could probably go first every week. FSU has got to win the battle in the trenches. The Seminole big uglies must create holes for the backs and keep the quarterbacks off theirs. The line has had to deal with some minor injuries lately but that should not hold them back Thursday night. Luckily, NC State lost those three first round defensive linemen. However, there is still more than enough talent with DeMario Pressley and Tank Tyler to think it's going to be an easy task. Besides, with us it never is. It would be nice to see Booker and Smith run for at least 150 yards in the game.

The next focus is the big boys on the other side of the ball. We have to be able to put pressure on their quarterback and limit their talented runners. NC State QB Daniel Evans is very inexperienced and has never seen a defense like the one he will see this game in his life. He will make his fair share of bad decisions if we can get to him consistently. FSU's defensive line has managed only 1 sack on the year and that was last game by freshman Dekoda Watson, who is really a LB lined up at the end position. Explosive freshman Everette Brown will be making his first start in garnet and gold at defensive end. It will be a homecoming for Brown, who is from North Carolina. Brown has all the tools to be the pass rusher the Noles have been looking for.

Another key point for this game is letting our wide receivers make plays. NC State's starting corners stand just 5'10" and 5'11". It would be wise to throw the ball to 6'3" DeCody Fagg and 6'6" Greg Carr early and often Thursday night. While they haven't produced as much as I'd like to this point, their ability to create big plays is undeniable. The Wolfpack should not have the luxury of rushing only 3 players effectively and dropping 8 into coverage like they did most of last year's game. This will allow the wideouts much more space to make things happen. Let's also not forget the emerging weapon that is freshman TE Brandon Warren.

Florida State cannot overlook what NC State is capable of. They're an inconsistent team, having lost to Akron and Southern Miss (by 20) but are coming off a big win over Boston College last week. Here's guessing that the Pack come ready to play during primetime against Chuck Amato's former family. They always do.