Dave Doeren reveals the pivotal point that turned NC State's season around

NC State coach Dave Doeren took a look back at the turnaround point for the Wolfpack this season, who now have a chance to end the year with 10 wins.

Following a 24-3 loss to Duke on October 14th, NC State was 4-3 and it looked like it would be just an average season. Not for this crew.

Doeren took a step back, evaluated, trusted his staff and players and the rest easy history: five straight wins to end the regular season.

“It was a pivotal moment in the season and I think we were right at a point where we needed to really commit and we weren’t at that time,” Doeren said. “I think guys were doubting things, and deservedly so. As a coach, you know, I had to really, really think hard about what we needed to do and put a plan in place. And really just came up with some really fun things that I wanted to see happen in all three phases of the game. 

“You’ve seen what happened, you know, we started huddling because I felt like we were disconnected on offense and wanted to connect. Talked about being efficient. I asked the coaches to get rid of all the plays that are inefficient. And look at all the ones that are that are efficient, look at who makes plays and get them the ball more. And focus on not turning the football over.”

Doeren basically simplified the offense and did the same on defense. It was a focus on not giving up the big play and putting the unit and eventually the whole team in bad situations.

“On defense, get rid of explosive plays for touchdowns,” Doeren said. “And on special teams just keep flipping the field and make plays and play complimentary football and I think you saw that, you know as time went on, in the five weeks, and then we had a lot of other things going on too.

“But I think just the brotherhood of this team is special, it’s unique and I would love to win 10 with them, you know to be that team that does that because they deserve to have that legacy item and we’ll get there when we get there.”

NC State ended its season with a win over in-state rival North Carolina, 39-20. With that, the Wolfpack take on Kansas State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl Thursday, December 28th.

With another win, Doeren and crew can get that 10th win to cap off a special year. It’s not the ACC and it’s not the College Football Playoff, but it’s sure as heck one great year after some questions in October.