N&O Video from the Miami game

An especially sweet video this week...it's fun to watch O'Brien express some restrained joy with Andre Brown, a player who's been vital to the success of the team's transition from Amato to its new head coach.

Edit: Thanks to SlackZac for bringing attention to the unintended duality of the meaning "critical" in the original post. It was poorly worded, for sure.

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Is it right to feel this good about a team that's 6-6?

I think so, given they were 2-6 just a month ago.

As a friend asked me today at the game, "What would've happened if this team had stayed healthy all year?"

It's tough to know.

(Continues)

A couple more wins were there for the taking this year. The BC game, perhaps. Maybe the Florida State game or the Maryland game.

But what effect did the adversity at the beginning of the year have on molding the team into the squad that ran the table over the final four games? Freshmen and walk-ons had to step in and play more minutes then they ever could've thought coming into the year. That built some experienced depth to rely upon for spelling the starters later in the year.

Folks like Owen Spencer have emerged late in the season as the opportunity to shine has presented itself. It's tough not to look ahead to next year when a (hopefully) recuperated Donald Bowens returns to the lineup on one side of the field and Spencer lines up on the other.

Russell Wilson...what can you say, other than "wow." The kid continues to amaze, turning busted plays into scores, breaking the will of opponents just when they get a glimmer of hope. I know he may be a couple of games late to the Player of the Year discussion, but there simply can't be another contender for Rookie of the Year in the ACC, and without a doubt NO other player in the conference means more to the success or failure of their team than Wilson.

To go 4-0 over the final four games, against an upstart Duke and three teams ranked at some point in the year, is one of the more remarkable things I've ever seen a Wolfpack football team achieve as long as I've followed them. From where I sit, the future is indeed bright.

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Bradley Pierson: Placekicker, Badass

NC State
## Player Solo Ast Tot TFL/Yds FF FR-Yd Intc BrUp Blkd Sack/Yds QH
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
56 Irving, N. 4 7 11 1.5/3 . . 1-40 . . . .
34 Leonard, R. 3 7 10 2.0/4 . . . . . . .
30 Gray, J. 8 1 9 1.0/2 . . 1-0 . . 1.0/2 .
14 Neal, J. 6 1 7 . . . . . . . .
31 Floyd, B. 3 2 5 . . . . 1 . . .
44 Michel, R. . 4 4 . . . . . . . .
94 Willis Jr., K. . 4 4 . . . . . . . .
26 Pierson, B. 2 1 3 . . . . . . . .
21 Morgan, D. 2 1 3 . . . 1-0 2 . . .
1B Goodman, R. 2 . 2 . . . . . . . .
99 Rieskamp, J. 1 1 2 0.5/3 . . . . . . .
7A Lucas, S. 1 1 2 1.0/2 . . . . . . .
96 Holmes, A. 1 1 2 . . . . . . . .
83 Hill, A. 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
49 Cash, A. 1 . 1 1.0/1 . . . 1 . . .
91 Kuhn, M. 1 . 1 1.0/10 . . . . . 1.0/10 .
11 Augustin, A. 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
32 Simmons, J. 1 . 1 . . . 1-32 . . . .
97 Young, W. . 1 1 . . . . 1 . . 2

If this whole kicking thing doesn't work out, Bradley, there's always room in the secondary for a guy that flies to the ball and brings down guys 1.5 times his size.

Add in the punt that rolled out at the two...not a bad day.

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Guest blogger at the Sun Sentinel for the Miami game

I was approached by Shandel Richardson of the Sun Sentinel to appear as this week's guest blogger heading into the Miami game.

Enjoy!

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Happy Thanksgiving everybody

Try not to kill yourselves this year.

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