Dave Doeren expects NC State to respond after loss to Notre Dame

NC State didn’t have enough in the tank to pull off the upset over Notre Dame last weekend. As they entered this week, though, that 21-point loss to the Irish has motivated the Wolfpack from the very start.

Dave Doeren said as much during his press conference to start this week. He said his team is well aware of the chance that they missed against a Top-10 opponent. He added that they also all understand that the best thing that they can do now is prepare to be at their best come their matchup with VMI tomorrow afternoon.

“We acknowledge there was an opportunity there to do something against Notre Dame. But we also realize the improvement that we need to make as a team, and we will make, to be the team that we want to be,” said Doeren.

“This team will respond. There’s really good leadership in this locker room,” Doeren said. “The best way to get over this feeling is to get out and play, go get after somebody else.”

NC State’s loss to Notre Dame was already more complicated than they were planning due to weather conditions around Raleigh. Still, the Wolfpack missed several opportunities to keep the game close at the end of the first half and over the course of the second.

After coming within three points with two minutes left in the first half, the Irish extended their lead back to 10 with a three-play touchdown drive before heading into the break. Those missed moments only continued in the final 30 minutes with two interceptions from Brennan Armstrong, which brought his total to three on the day, a missed field goal, and a turnover on downs which helped Notre Dame extend their lead to the final margin of 45-24 inside Carter-Finley.

Doeren and NC State know that they’re a better team than what the final score showed last weekend. He noted how that was apparent as early as the next day after their first loss of the year.

“The guys know. They understand what happened in that game,” said Doeren. “There was a true sense of anger in the team room (on Sunday). They know that they let one go and that they’re better than they showed in that game.”

That frustration has since only fueled them over this week. Now, Doeren fully expects NC State to take that irritation out on their next opponent.