Wolfpack Weekly v25 - Stuff You Might Have Missed

Hello again!

I figured I’d roll out the red carpet from my keyboard to your inbox to bring you another action-packed edition of the world famous Wolfpack Weekly newsletter.

It’s only been…

…checking the stats here…

128 days since I last wrote to you!

That’s OK. Super normal period of time to have passed between sending emails to a group of people that actively want to hear from you b/c they went through the trouble of signing up to your newsletter.

Well, enough of all that, let's get to it.

In this newsletter:

• Tenn. vs NC State
• James Henderson's View on CFB Expansion
• Noah Rogers
• NC State's Odds to win the ACC
• Devin Leary's Elite-11 Pro-Day
• Philip Rivers highlights.
• Fan destroys Swofford in Andy Staples Mailbag
• Speculation from David Thompson
• How the Pac-12's fate ties to the ACC
• $5 Million for Carter-Finley
• Payton Wilson and Drake Thomas Love
• Markell & TJ Warren Deals
• New Baseball Commit
• Tweets of the Week

Tennessee Volunteers are doing it right

It's weird to start off an NC State newsletter with a Tenn. story but stay with me.  We discussed this on last night's pod but I for one love what Tenn AD Danny White did yesterday.  

He came out and communicated to his fans, coaches, the media and anyone who will listen and established his goals to win all kinds of championships.

White released a strategic five-year plan on Thursday that indicates his expectations for Tennessee athletics moving forward.

The “Rise Glorious” plan states that UT will win at least one national championship every four years. And every sport will win a conference championship at least every five years.

TENNESSEE WILL WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN AT LEAST ONE SPORT EVERY FOUR YEARS, AND EACH SPORT WILL ACHIEVE AT LEAST ONE NATIONAL TOP 16 FINISH EVERY FOUR YEARS

EACH SPORT WILL WIN A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS; TENNESSEE ATHLETICS AIMS TO CAPTURE FIVE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ONE ACADEMIC YEAR WHILE AVERAGING AT LEAST THREE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS PER YEAR OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

I love it.

Now, Will pointed out that Boo did release a strategic plan in 2021 that has almost the same messaging in there but the difference is the way it was communicated. Danny White is out there painting the picture and establishing a vision for everyone involved in UT Athletics, we got a 14 page PDF (here) and a press release.

I know Boo is a 'behind the scenes' guy but the NC State and Tenn fanbases are very similar in the fact that they are sensitive and needy.  We both need a vision to rally around and someone to deliver that vision.

UT has it, I'm not sure we do.  

As someone in the #podchat said it best "All I want from our athletic department is consistent communication on big matters (i.e., Omaha snub, strategic plan, basketball NCAA case, football/UCLA debacle, etc.)"

Proof the Tennessee Vols aren’t playing around under athletic director Danny White

A to Z Sports Your On-Demand Sports Talk Show. Live Weekday Mornings at 8am in Nashville, Dallas, and Kansas City. Tennessee Vols

A to Z SportsZach Ragan

James Henderson's View on CFB Expansion

Put out a pod with James Henderson of InsidePackSports.com earlier this week.  He makes some strong points about why he's not worried about NC State's position in the landscape of CFB.

Ep 268 - James Henderson Talks CFB Expansion and the Death of the ACC

James Henderson of InsidePackSports talks about the changing CFB landscape and why he’s not worried about NC State’s position.

Red & White NetworkEvan R

10-Minute Takes: Noah Rogers

If you missed it, we're rolling out new feature for members that will show up on the site and in your members feed.  When a hot-topic comes out, we'll drop a quick 10-min or so pod.  The second one we've done was on Noah Rogers.

Ten Minute Takes: Noah Rogers

Our 10-minute take on Noah Rogers.

Red & White NetworkEvan R

Devin Leary's Elite 11 Pro Day (Video)

A lot of high throws and lazy receivers here.

Devin Leary 2022 Elite 11 Pro Day Script

Watch North Carolina State quarterback Devin Leary work through the 2022 Elite 11 Pro Day script while serving as a counselor at the prestigious quarterback

Sports IllustratedJohn Garcia Jr.

NC State's Odds to Win the ACC

Feel like Pitt and Miami are a bit overvalued here.

Philip Rivers is still the Best

I'm pretty sure I remember each and everyone of these plays.

Fan destroys Swofford in Andy Staples Mailbag

Will John Swofford prove to be the man that killed the ACC? Early on, ACC czar Swofford was lauded for his ruthlessness in raiding the Big East to save the ACC. Plus, he helped bring Notre Dame closer to the ACC. However, under his watch, the ACC Network was continually delayed. He was in charge when the ACC signed that albatross of a 10-year contract even as content rights were rising exponentially. They added teams whose best football was behind them. Miami, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Boston College would have been great in the ’80s and ’90s. He gave us nonsensical divisions. He failed to convince the league to nab West Virginia and Louisville during the early days of expansion. Both programs would have enhanced the football and basketball product. Supposedly both programs were not up to ACC academic standards. Yet, he stood by as UNC effectively neutered the NCAA and academic integrity, not to mention removed any doubt of connection of student-athletes. Maybe the ACC was always doomed. Its core members are smaller universities with small enrollments. However, Swofford and his team bet like they were playing in the 20th century. The Big Ten and the SEC were looking to the 21st century.
— Cameron

Staples responds

When I mentioned North Carolina above, I didn’t mention NC State. I’ve long thought the Wolfpack would thrive in the SEC. I’ve just always been told that most in the league would rather have the Tar Heels. But conference realignment also is a political game. What if North Carolina were blocked from leaving NC State behind and joining the Big Ten? Would the SEC be willing to offer membership to both? That would lock up a state that, as we noted above, is big now and only getting bigger by the day.

Speculation from Fay Observers's David Thompson on what happens to NC State.

https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/2022/07/06/where-does-nc-state-football-turn-if-acc-disbands/7813561001/

How the Pac-12's Fate ties to the ACC

Dan Wetzel wrote an excellent piece on the fate of college football and how the Pac-12's fate impacts everyone else.

$5 Million for Carter-Finley Upgrades

We'll be getting fancy LED lighting at the stadium this year and speculation that a new scoreboard will be in play for 2023.

Payton Wilson and Drake Thomas Love

Markell Johnson and TJ Warren Sign Deals

New Baseball Commit

2025 RHP....2025!

Interesting Tweets of the Week