Wanna-Be's

Before I can go much further tonight I must explain what a wanna-be is.  A wanna-be is someone that yearns for more than what they have.  They wish they were better than they are.

In the football world both Carolina and State are wanna-be's.  They both wish they could win 10 games every year and when they don't  they wish they had and then wonder why they didn't.  A wanna-be  most of the time is just above average but think they are better than that.  Carolina and State fit that description. About every five years they have really good teams but most of the time they are 8-4 but they slip to 5-7 once in a while.  They wanna be like Alabama play for National Championships.  They upset Florida State one week and lose to Virginia the next.

The basketball world N C State has fallen into that wanna-be category.  They wanna be just like Carolina and Duke.  Yes 50 years ago State was there but they have fallen back and yet everyone still thinks they are what they were 50 years ago. Ever since the Valvano fall from grace State has truly been a wanna-be.

One of the biggest problem being a wanna-be is when you think you have a chance to be good you over valve how good you really are and when you don't become as good as you thought you should be  the whole year is a failure.  State football and to some degree Carolina fit that mould this year.

Then there is basketball.  State who prays every night that basketball will return to it's glorious past finds a smooth talking coach who has street cred and every good basketball player  that use to go to Carolina and Duke seem to be going to State now.  Here we go again Pack fans are talking National Championship.

There is no doubt that I am giddy to the prospects of this years basketball team and their first game gives us no reason to be nervous but let's settle down here now.  Here is my expectations this year.  I sure would like to finish this year with single digit losses.  I am tire of having records 16-12, 19-12 24-12.  I am ready for a 27-8 season.  If the Pack is to step that far this year then next year I might be one of those who thinks the Final Four or bust.

Remember the Pack is still a wanna-be.  Yes we were impressive in our opening game against Miami of Ohio.  For me the season starts Thursday at 5pm when the Pack begins play in Puerto Rico against Penn St.  The next  step from being a wanna-be to becoming who we think we are is winning the games you are suppose to win.  If you win all those games single digit loss season will take care of itself.