DFCF v2.0

Haven’t posted anything in a couple weeks because I’ve been working on DFCF v2.0.  Hope you like it.  Leave feedback in the comments.  While the design of the website may have been upgraded, I’m sad to say I have not been.  Oh well.  DFCF v2.0 will allow me to expand my NC State fanatical reaches in this vast cyber universe.  Enjoy!

I’ve moved to my own host site so please update your bookmarks (all 5 of you).  If you currently subscribe to Dave from Carter-Finley you will still get emails from the new site.  If you don’t subscribe, do so now … or else.

Dave from Carter-Finley v2.0

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from DFCF, Mrs. DFCF, and Ashes!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Murphy Center,
Not a creature was stirring, not even Tom O’Brien.
The stockings were hung by the lockers with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The players were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of ACC Championships danced in their heads.
And Mrs. DFCF in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.

When out in Carter-Finley there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to the balcony to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the banners and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new flat sod field,
Gave the lustre of hope for the future to yield.
When, what to my wondering eyes should await,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight former Wolfpack greats.

“Now Philip! now, Roman! now, Torry and Ted!
On, Bill! On, Dick! On, Dennis and Jim!
To the top of the stadium! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each big foot.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the stairs St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed in NC State red, from his head to his toes,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ads and logos.
A bundle of footballs he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a winner, just opening his pack.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old dear,
Especially since the Pack beat the Heels 28-27 this year.
A wink of his eye and a flash of the wolf sign,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to fear.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And striking the most famous Heisman pose,
And giving a nod, up the elevator he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all Wolfpackers, and to all a good night!”

Cap•A•Cooz

I’m probably a little late here, but I wanted to get in a plug for the Cap•A•Cooz.  They make for great stocking stuffers, party favors, etc.  One of my college roommate’s best buddies is the guy that came up with this brilliant invention.  So that makes this a Wolfpack Made in the U.S.A. product.  That right there should make you want to go out and buy a dozen of them.

When I first heard about the Cap•A•Cooz I said to myself, “a coozie that’s also a bottle opener … why the heck didn’t I think of that?”  While Tarheel alums are out writing B.S. articles for newspapers and magazines us Wolfpack alums are coming up with inventions that change the world.  I have my own Cap•A•Cooz, in red of course, and it works like a charm.  It is a must have and comes with the DFCF seal of approval.  They come in five different colors (red, green, yellow, pink, and blue) and you can even place custom orders with a logo or wording on the side.

Check out their website and place your order today.  http://www.capacooz.com/

DFCF’s Christmas Wish List

Christmas is one of the best times of the year and it’s just a few days away.  I guess my family is a bunch of procrastinators because they are still asking me what I want.  Sure there are those Callaway irons I’ve been checking out for a while now.  There’s even that 50 inch LCD TV that I’d love to replace my 40 inch model that has all of a sudden become too small.  Oh, and I almost forgot that AR-15 I’ve really been jonesing for.  All those material things would be great, but what I really want is:

• an ACC championship - the Pack’s last one was way back in 1979, before I was even born.  I’m tired of being mediocre.  Us long suffering Wolfpackers deserve a championship.
• Russell Wilson, 2010 starting QB - this seems like an obvious one, but he has to return next year to be the QB.  Russell graduates in May and with a good baseball season could decide to go into the MLB draft.  Russell is the best QB in the ACC and he gives us a chance to win every game.
• the 2008 Nate Irving – all signs point to Nate being ready for Spring practice, but who knows how this ordeal has really affected him … physically and mentally.  For our defense to be better next year we need “Nasty Nate” back at full strength.
• no more wave at Carter-Finley – the wave was cool when I was like 5 years old.  If you’d rather do the wave than watch the football game please do us all the favor and just attend your local Pop Warner game.
• the end of the 5 hour rule – it’s just stupid.  We’re all adults (well except for those previously mentioned that love to do the wave every game) so quit treating us like kids.
• a kicking game - our kicking game this year was _________ (you fill in the blank with the worst adjective you can come up with).  We were 73rd (out of 120) in the country in kickoff returns against, 81st in net punting, and 1 of only 3 schools with zero touchbacks this season.  All those have to change for us to be any good next year.
• tackling - I thought one of the staples of a TOB coached team was fundamentals.  Well this year’s defense was the worst tackling bunch I can ever remember at NC State.  Our 3rd down conversion defense of 42.5% was 94th (out of 120) in the country.  Most of that was due to poor tackling.  It wasn’t that long ago that we were consistently one of the best defenses in the ACC.  It’d be nice to get back to that.
• WPC get my parking right – yeah they fixed it this past year, but how hard is it to get it right the first time.  I’d bet they find a way to get it wrong again next year.  Hope not.
• keep my streak going – I did make it to every game this year so my streak currently stands at 12.  It’s no Dewey Corn (402 and counting) but I’m proud of it nonetheless.  Next year will be a little tougher with only six home games, but I’m up for the challenge.
• 4-0 – no explanation needed … GO PACK!

Sign Up Now!

I’m an old school guy that loves traditions.  The one thing about NC State football that disappoints me is that we don’t really have any good traditions.  The few we do have (Walk of Champions, Hey Baby!, wolf statue “Fury” to rub) are all copycats taken from other schools.  It would be nice if we had just one thing that was only ours.  I’ll get to work on coming up with something.

While the football program may be short on traditions, the university has had many great ones from the Delta Sigma Phi Lawn Party to Brent Road to campouts (I’m sure there’s been others too).  Of course all these have ultimately been canceled by the powers that be.  Enter the Krispy Kreme Challenge.

What is the Krispy Kreme Challenge you ask?  Well it’s a nice two mile run from the NC State belltower to the downtown Krispy Kreme store, a dozen delicious glazed donuts to eat, and then a nice two mile run back … and to complete the challenge you have to do it in under one hour.  Sounds pretty simple to me … right???  Maybe not, but all the money raised goes to the NC Children’s Hospital so it makes the decision for me to enter pretty simple.

The first KKC was held in December of 2004, my last semester at State, and it was started as a dare between a few buddies.  Since then the KKC has blown up and became one of the coolest traditions in the country.  Sports Illustrated placed it on its “102 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate” list and last year ESPN sent someone to cover the event (see the YouTube clip below starting about 1:15 in).

I’ve never partcipated before, but that will be changing this coming February.  Registration for the 6th annual KKC opened yesterday and I’ve already signed up.  Not sure what I’m getting myself into, but if it has to do with a cool new NC State tradition I’m there.  Plus I gave my brother a hard time last year for not completing the challenge so I have to back up my smack talking.  Regardless of how I do I’m looking forward to it.  If you want to join me sign up here.  The early Vegas odds of me actually completing the challenge are at 150 to 1.  I picked up my first dozen donuts on the way home from work yesterday so my training starts now … yum!

R.I.P. Uga VII

Uga VII

Sad day for the Georgia Bulldog fans today as Uga VII died suddenly yesterday morning.  I know this is non-NC State football news, but I just had to comment on what I think is one of the coolest mascots in all of sports.  Uga VII will be interred tomorrow in the mausoleum at Sanford Stadium with all six of his predecessors.  Rest in Peace Uga VII.

DFCF Breaking News

If you follow me on Twitter you would have found out about the NCAA granting Toney Baker a 6th year of eligibility a whole day before it hit the media.  As well as the inside info that puts his return at doubtful.

I’ve also been first to tweet about Jarvis Byrd getting his redshirt taken off, Koyal George moving back to WR, and the redshirting of Curtis Underwood, Marcus Kuhn, and Jeff Rieskamp just to name a few.  So follow me on Twitter for breaking news on NC State football.

Outkicked My Coverage

Twelve years ago today was Homecoming night at South Stanly High School. It was my Junior year. I don’t remember anything about the game. I think we won, but that didn’t really matter to me. I was focused on the Homecoming dance after the game and what happened there is something I’ll never forget.

I had been talking to this girl that I had been good friends with since 8th grade and we were going to the dance together. That girl was Jennifer and that night at the dance we started dating. The rest is history.

Our journey has been great and filled with lots of fun and laughs. We get along better now than we ever have. Somehow she has been able to put up with me through the years and always manages to keep that beautiful smile on her face in the process.

Times are a changing though. Jen started back to school to get her Doctor in Education and I started this blog about NC State football. So she’s gonna be bringing home the bacon while I’m driving myself crazy. Good thing she’s a certified counselor. Still not sure she realized exactly what she was getting herself into. We joke to some of our friends that in our prenup I have permission to miss the birth of a kid if it’s on the same day as a State football game. I don’t think Jen’s figured out yet that I’m not really joking.

What an awesome woman. All I can say is I’m one lucky fella and I definitely outkicked my coverage.

We Need More Apache

I miss DaJuan Morgan.  Not really because he was a great football player for the Pack, more so because he was one hell of a dancer.  I’ve been taking dance lessons with Jen for a little over a month now and our instructor hasn’t got to this dance yet.  But she wouldn’t hold a candle to DaJuan anyway so I told her to not even bother.  The dance lessons have been fun.  I recommend them to all the fellas out there.  Great birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s day, etc. gift for the wife/girlfriend.

So Apache is how the Pack celebrates after a win.  I’ve tried to trace it back to its origins, but that is not an easy task.  I’m not sure when it started, but my best guess would be 6-8 years ago.  The band played it randomly in a few games one season and it became popular with the students.  Over the next few seasons it was played more frequently until it became, dare i say, a new gameday tradition.  It reached epic proportions when DaJuan made it the official unofficial Pack victory celebration.

So far this season the band has not played it that much.  I didn’t hear it at all during the South Carolina game and even though we were dominating Murray State I only heard it a couple times.  It was good to see the team celebrate with it after the game led by Earl Wolff, who without a doubt has the best name of any Pack player of all time.

Earl Wolff doing the Apache

Btw, there is video out there of me doing the apache at a wedding this past spring.  I may have had a few drinks in me and I may have looked like a fool, but had a lot of fun nontheless.  If I get hold of the video I’ll post it here so everybody can see my dancing skills.