NC State Football: Assessing Dave Doeren’s impact on the program

Looking Ahead

So Doeren has improved NC State’s recruiting, cured its road woes, and compares favorably to other coaches hired at the same time. He has the Wolfpack on a road to consistent winning seasons at NC State. What’s there not to like?

Is it fair to judge Doeren for his inability to beat the blue-bloods of the ACC? Does a program like NC State need to look in the mirror and realize Doeren’s success may be the height that this program can realistically hope to achieve?

NC State cannot compete with Clemson. It has started to turn the tides on Florida State and Louisville and has the fourth best recruiting class in the ACC for 2019, easily outpacing its Atlantic Division foes and in-state rivals.

This could be a historically good era for the program and considering the talent of its division, it shouldn’t be a knock on the program that it won’t make it into the ACC Championship game this year.

In the future however, there are opportunities to be had that could elevate the program.

Taking advantage of its opportunities to beat Clemson and Florida State when they present themselves will be paramount to Doeren’s fate. NC State had Clemson all but defeated in Death Valley two years ago but a missed field goal cost them a win. The Wolfpack had Clemson on the ropes again last year but couldn’t finish the job at home. A dropped interception in the end zone would’ve sealed a victory over No. 19 Florida State in 2016.

The outcome of these 50/50 games in the future will determine whether Doeren will stay at NC State. He deserves acknowledgment that NC State was in these games and winning them in the future would lift the program. He also deserves criticism for never being able to win the big one.

The Reality of NC State under Doeren

NC State is a solid ACC team that should contend for the ACC title when the chips around it fall its way. Doeren has brought stability and consistency to the program, things that shouldn’t be underestimated.

Taking the next step forward however, will determine whether Doeren will earn another contract extension. Beating Clemson and Florida State and getting to an ACC title game would erase any questions.

As the recruiting continues to flourish, fixing the defense might be the most logical step forward. Until this happens, Wolfpack nation will continue to be split as to the future of the program under Doeren.