Wolfpack is on the right path

CHAPEL HILL -- When N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien on Saturday proclaimed his Wolfpack as the "best football program in the state," there wasn't a convincing counterpoint to be argued and certainly not by North Carolina.

Two days removed from the 41-10 shellacking by the Wolfpack in Kenan Stadium, Carolina coach Butch Davis on Monday could only acknowledge the obvious and search for operating room.

"Saturday, they were the best football team. There's no question about it," Davis said at his weekly news conference. "I think before anybody can anoint themselves, I would say that there needs to be some time invested into the programs. Then, we'll see what happens."

Two years into their rebuilding projects at each school, O'Brien's words had to cut Davis to the bone. The same statement no doubt went down as bitter medicine for fans at Wake Forest and East Carolina, and maybe even a few at Appalachian State.

What's more, the Wolfpack is raking in in-state football spoils at a time when it's beginning to mean something again.

It's important -- vital really -- that O'Brien's team backs up its recent good work against Duke, Wake Forest and Carolina with a win this week against Miami in Carter-Finley Stadium. A 6-6 final record should be good enough to get the Wolfpack back in the bowl business and help erase the baffling 37-0 loss to Maryland that punctuated the final game of 2007 under similar circumstances.

As a group, the five North Carolina programs in what used to be classified as Division I-A haven't been so competitive in several years. Much of that credit goes to Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe and ECU's Skip Holtz, and at least through one season, Duke's David Cutcliffe.

But it's going to be difficult for all five to keep advancing in lockstep, which is why State's late-season surge is so important to the future of the program.

Through the first five or six weeks of the season, there didn't seem to be an apparent end to the Wolfpack's storms. A difficult early schedule, injuries and uneven execution left State in an awkward position. The other in-state teams seemed to be progressing while the Pack looked to be in retreat.

All of that changed when redshirt freshman quarterback Russell Wilson recovered from injuries and gained confidence in his ability to lead the offense.

Wilson's emergence changed everything and is the primary reason why State will begin the 2009 season in an excellent position to build on O'Brien's expectations and resolution.

Davis, overall, probably has had better recruiting results, and he's confident that the meltdown against State didn't undermine his work.

"All the kids that have been committed are still firmly committed," he said. "All the kids that made official visits [last weekend] were fired up and excited. They realize the growth and direction of the program. I think they take a look at the big picture of where we were 18 months ago, where we are today and ... project where we'll be 18 months from today. So far [the second straight loss to State] hasn't had any negative effect."

But in college football, one exceptional quarterback can trump a lot of talent shortages in other areas. Wilson proved that much to North Carolina on Saturday. As long as Wilson can stay healthy and keep improving, O'Brien probably will not have to back away from his words.