"Innovator. Motivator. Disciplinarian. Program rebuilder." Those are the first words on Boston College's website that describe the departing Eagles' head coach, Tom O'Brien. Barring any last minute hiccups, O'Brien is set to become the next head coach at N.C. State. News came late Wednesday night that Athletics Directoe Lee Fowler and NCSU had reached a deal that would make O'Brien the leader of teh Wolfpack football program. Chuck Amato elevated the program to national relevancy. And, that was just about as far as he could get it. Amato was great for State. He did a lot of great things and has placed the program on solid footing for the future. The ceiling for Amato had been reached, but the ceiling for State football has not. Thus, it was time for a change.
O'Brien is just what State needs right now. The program doesn't need to be rebuilt, it needs to be tweaked. There is a definite need for innovation (offensively), motivation (State can't beat UNC or Wake right now) and discipline (the Pack have been seriously hendered by stupid penalties and other issues possitively realted to a lack of discipline). So, if there a College Football M.D., then O'Brien would be the prescription to what ails State.
O'Brien went 75-45 in 10 seasons at BC. Under his direction the program was lifted from the depths of the Big East to perennially top-20 program. The Eagles have made 8 straight bowl games (including this season's bowl), winning 6 straight. However, the bowl games have been lack luster in terms of prestige because of the notorious poor travelers known as BC Eagles "SuperFans." At State a 7-5 season warranted a trip to the "Muffler Bowl" in Charlotte, N.C. At BC that's all a 9-3 season can get.
O'Brien's record against the upper echelon of the Big East and rest of the nation has been called into question. It is not a big deal, because it was at BC. It is a lot harder to win at BC. No one cares about BC football in New England. I mean they have a limit of how many night home games that they are allowed to play because of the people who live near the stadium. The fan support at State is much better than it is in Boston and the monetary support for the program is probably greater as well.
He is 0-4 against former Miami and current UNC head coach, Butch Davis. It was a little different situation then though. Davis had a dynasty in the making in Coral Gables, and O'Brien had a fledgling BC program lucky to be in the top-25.
Three of the things that the Pack lacked on the field this year are 3 of the 4 things that O'Brien brings to the table. Innovation, motivation and discipline kept the Pack from a successful season this year. Had Chuck been able to supply those things, then he would still be roaming the sidelines for State. And I, more than anybody, wished that was the case. It's not the case. The case is that TOB is the new man. And he deserves all the support in the world.
You want to see what a personality such as O'Brien's can do for a team? Then just watch the Orange Bowl on January 2, 2007. Jim Grobe, of Wake Forest, has done a miraculous job at Wake. His strengtths? Innovation, motivation and discipline.
Thank you, Boston College. Three simple words on your web-site have given us the reasons for hiring away your football coach. We need those things here in Raleigh,a nd now we have it. I can't wait for an official press conference. Word is beginning to surface that a introductory press conference could come this Saturday. Could there be an appearance at the heritage basketball game? What better way to be introduced to N.C. State, than to attend a basketball game on the hallowed floor of Reynolds' Coliseum? That would be awesome.
Photos:
1.http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/football/ncaa/12/07/ncstate.obrien.ap/p1.obrien.getty.jpg
2.http://thedirtroad.net/jeff/images/upload3.jpg
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