Tag: Dave Doeren

NC State looking to knock Clemson off its ‘stepping stool’

CHARLOTTE – NC State hasn’t beaten Clemson since 2011. The Tigers have rifled off eight straight victories against the Wolfpack, including a convincing 55-10 victory back on Nov. 9, 2019. Clemson and NC State didn’t face off last season, but the two …

CHARLOTTE — NC State hasn’t beaten Clemson since 2011.

The Tigers have rifled off eight straight victories against the Wolfpack, including a convincing 55-10 victory back on Nov. 9, 2019.

Clemson and NC State didn’t face off last season, but the two teams will be back in action on Sept. 25, for what will be the Wolfpack’s first conference matchup of the season.

NC State redshirt sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson recalled the atmosphere being “incredible,” even though the Wolfpack were “terrible,” in ‘19.

Two seasons later, the expectations are much higher for an NC State team that expects to win.

So, how do the Wolfpack go about closing that sizable gap between them and Clemson?

Wilson took a stab at the question during Thursday’s ACC kickoff at The Westin in Charlotte, knowing full well that this is a different NC State team.

“I think it’s just taking it one game at a time,” he told TCI. “When we get to that Week 4, when we’re playing Clemson, I think it’s about knowing what they do, playing our hardest and keeping that chip on our shoulder. 

“NC State does get disrespected sometimes and I think we have the talent to take it to the next level this year. I think this year, it’s more about going out there and proving it, proving to ourselves that we can beat these teams.”

Dave Doeren, NC State’s head coach, later echoed those sentiments.

He firmly believes in the talent his team possesses, much like Wilson, but acknowledged that the Wolfpack’s showdown with Clemson will likely be a must-win game if they plan on contending in the ACC.

As for Wilson, he knows it’s going to take an all-around effort and then some if they plan on knocking off the Tigers.

“We want to play the best teams in the nation, we want to show that we can compete,” Wilson added. “It just takes hard work, discipline and brotherhood to beat someone as big as Clemson. They’re up on a stepping stool, to get there it takes everyone on the team. All 135 guys, not just the 22 out there playing.”

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Former Wisconsin Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda Named Baylor’s Head Football Coach

Former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda named the new head coach at Baylor.

Former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda was announced as the new head football coach at Baylor on Thursday.

Aranda, 43, will replace former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule who accepted the head coaching position with the Carolina Panthers following Baylor’s loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Prior to coming to Wisconsin in 2013, Aranda served as the defensive coordinator at Utah State for one season under Gary Andersen in 2012. Andersen replaced Bret Bielema as the head coach at Wisconsin in 2013 when Bielema left for the Arkansas head coaching position. Despite the one season together at Utah State Andersen hired Aranda to coordinate Wisconsin’s defense.

In Aranda’s three seasons with the Badgers as the defensive coordinator, the Badgers consistently ranked as one of the top defenses as Aranda made the switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4.

Despite Aranda’s short stay at Wisconsin, his impact had a lasting effect.

In his three seasons with the Badgers, his defense’s consistently improved. In 2013 Wisconsin’s defense ranked seventh nationally in total defense (305.1 yards per game), in 2014 they ranked fourth nationally (294.1 yards per game), and in 2015 they ranked second nationally (268.5 yards per game).

Not to mention in two of his three seasons at Wisconsin the Badgers scoring defense ranked in the top 10 nationally, which includes ranking 1st in his last year as the Badgers allowed 13.7 points per game.

Even when Aranda was hired away from Wisconsin by LSU his defenses were still some of the top nationally in his four seasons with the Tigers. Aranda was able to help the Tigers win their first national championship since 2008 on Monday night when LSU beat Clemson 42-to-25.

This will mark Aranda’s first head coaching job as prior to him accepting the head coaching position in Waco he was being discussed as the head coach for the opening at UNLV.

With Aranda being named the head coach at Baylor he is the sixth former Badger defensive coordinator since 2004 to be named head coach of a college football program. Aranda joins a list that already includes Bielema (Wisconsin), Dave Doeren (Northern Illinois), Charlie Partridge (Florida Atlantic), Chris Ash (Rutgers), and Justin Wilcox (California).