Turtledroppings.com – Maryland Football And Basketball Blog

For those who follow the site, you may remember our pre-Clemson post in which we took a look at the world through the eyes of a couple Tiger fans, well since that article got such rave reviews (thanks for the compliment J), I have decided to do it again.  This time however we are moving up I-85 to the Captiol of the Old North State.  I never understood why a state in the south would have a nickname like that, but there is a lot I don’t understand.  I also want to point out that I realize Raleigh isn’t exactly on I-85, but close enough.

So for today I have one NC State alum who is also a RABID Wolfpack fan, and I also have a non-Alum who is also a Pack fan (or else I wouldn’t be interviewing him right?).  Previously I only listed the respondants as R1 and R2, but then I got to thinking why?  It isn’t like I’m asking them to give up dirt on the mob or something, so no more hiding in ambiguity, today’s interview subjects are Stacie and George.  Now here is how it is going to work.  There will be the question, then a response, then my comments, then the next response.  So let’s begin.

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being not worried at all, 10 being very worried, what are your thoughts on playing Maryland this weekend?

Stacie- I would say a 7.  Look, we are battling for potentially the last ACC spot in the tournament according to the latest ESPN pundits.  Right now, Maryland is hot for sure.  You might want to ask me again tomorrow after our game with Wake because if we lose that, our chances are further diminished and this MD game-aside from pride and ability to lambast my brother and spouse- it may not mean much

Comments- Again, the smiley face was not me.  Regardless of what happens on Sunday Stacie, you will forever go down as the first person to use both “pundit” and “lambast” in a turteldroppings.com interview.

George- 2 which is less because Maryland stinks and more because I never thought we had a chance at making the tournament until 2 days ago- so if I never believed before, why get all worked up about it?  But while we’re on the topic of being afraid of Maryland, it’s about time you got rid of that “fear the turtle” slogan; it’s lame.

Comments:  What?  Harry “Curley” Bryd thought that a Terrapin would be a great school mascot.  Growing up in Crisfield, Maryland he knew from swimming in the water to not mess with Terrapin, many a waterman who didn’t fear the Turtle is now short a digit on one of their feet!  So take that.

2. What is the best thing about being a NC State fan?

Stacie- Wearing a wolfhead in public!  But also being part of a really great group of committed people.  No matter what, Wolfpack fans come in droves and love their team…we are dedicated.  Plus, it can also be fun being the ugly red-headed stepchild of Tobacco Road.

Comment- The night we beat you all in Raleigh on the Leroy Ambush fumble play, as we looked out of the stadium and could see all the fires in the parking lot, I was thinking the State fans aren’t just committed, but need to be committed!

George- Who said there was something good?  We are treated like, and subsequently feel like, the red-headed stepchild of Tobacco Road.  We want to relive the “glory years” and rest on the “Hey, we have 2 national championships!” backbone, but truth is, the last one was 26 years ago.  On the positive side though (I’m starting to sound like a Philadelphia Eagles fan! I need to switch gears) the fans are very accepting.  Having not actually attended the school- most are amazed that I chose them as my favorite team and welcome me.

Comments- It says “I choo choo choose you and it has a picture of a train on it!”.  Seriously though, I find it funny how both responses said “Red headed Stepchild of Tobacco Road”.  The psychologist in Raleigh are probably working overtime treating Pack fans. 

3.  What is your ultimate NC State sports highlight? 

Stacie- Absolutely anytime we beat UNC.. but mine personally comes in 1991-1992, my freshman year of college at NC State.  I didn’t have a ticket to the basketball game between NC State and UNC at Reynolds.  But someone dropped their ticket in the cafeteria, to my benefit.  We beat a #10 ranked UNC team that year and it was the best memory I have.

Comment- That kind of reminds me of a story my cousin told me.  He went to NC State and one day he was in the cafeteria and this crazy girl with a wolfhead on came up behind him and hit him over the head with a tray, and stole his UNC ticket…..Hey wait a minute…

George- That I attended in person?  Has to be beating Duke at home when they were #1 in the Nation.  Going crazy jumping up and down at the final buzzer.

Comments- There is nothing like a Duke victory that brings all ACC fans together.  It is like the international language. 

4. Who is NC State’s Rival?

Stacie- UNC, no question

George- UNC.  The rest of the nation thinks it’s Duke just because both of them have been good for 2 decades now.  But the history of NCSU/UNC goes back much further than two decades.

Comments- I’m no theologian (I can use big words too Stacie!) but I’m pretty sure when Moses came down from Mt Siani with the Tablets, #8 said “If ever one state has two public universities and one of those schools has “State” in thy name, then they shall be rivals for eternity”. 

5. What are your thoughts on having a female mascot..ridiculous, or necessary to ensure future generations of mascots.

Stacie- Absolutely ground breaking idea that more universities should follow.  How else do we keep the seed going.

Comment- Look I was just making a playful joke bring up seed is just a little over the top!

George- To be honest I only thought about having a female mascot around 3 weeks ago.  Not sure why that thought came to me, but it struck me as odd that we have two mascots and one of them is female.  Though it’d be pretty gay if we had two mascots and both were male-so in that respect, I love that we have Ms. Wolf!  Future generations of wolves are secure.

Comments- That’s for that little comment George, now I’m going to have a re-occuring nightmare where Sean Penn hunts down anyone associated with turtledroppings.com and beats us all to death with his Oscar from Milk!

6. Current NBA’er or NFL’er who is an NC State Alum, who are you most proud of?

Stacie- Phillip Rivers

Comment- Don’t you mean PhiLLLLip Rivers….sorry it was just sitting out there waiting for me.

George- Tory Holt, has anyone ever said anything bad about Torry Holt?  He goes out, performs at a high level, he’s not a jack@ss- gotta love him.  He does our school proud.

Comment- How come when I spell jack#ss with a “at” symbol it assumes it’s an email address.  Looking at it now if the German SS were still around and one of the members was named Jack, it probably could be an email…egg on my face.

7.  What are your thoughts on the University of Nevada being nicknamed the Wolfpack? 

Stacie- It’s kinda always bugged me but alas at least they are on the other side of the country.

Comment:  Add “alas” to the virgin td.com words list mentioned in question 1.

George- Have you ever seen a wolf in Nevada?  That name is about as out of place as the Utah Jazz! It’s ridiculous.  And according to the Nevada wildlife service, there hasn’t been a wolf in Nevada for centuries!  Pick a new nickname already.

Comment- You either did some research for this interview, or you really know your wolves.  Either way I’m impressed.  Here’s my proposal.  No more dual nicknames in D1.  Let’s settle this once and for all.  Take all schools who share names Miss St- Georgia, Clemson- LSU- Auburn-Missouri and do a decatholon-like competition.  Take all varsity sports, make them worth 1 point.  Compete head to head, whoever has the most points at the end keeps the nickname.  Are you telling me you wouldn’t watch competitive cheer if it was NC State vs. Nevada to keep their nickname?  It would be appointment television.  (Right now all NC State fans are shaking their heads yes, and all Clemson fans are saying what a terrible idea this is). 

8. When traveling to Raleigh, better stop Waffle House or Cracker Barrel?

Stacie- Dependent (not a typo she really said dependent) on what time of day you are there and the amount of alcohol one has consumed, but typically post-game would be Waffle House, as I’m sure you can imagine.  However, next time you are down, forget both and try Brigg’s.

Comments- You see between this Brigg’s discovery and the Clemson Chessey Grits, I feel I know now a lot more about the world.  That’s why I do these interviews people…That’ why!!

George- I used to LOVE Cracker Barrel, but every time I go there the food gets worse and worse.  I was there this week as a matter of fact and it might have been the worst breakfast ever.  Of course, no one has ever punched me in the jaw at Cracker Barrel- I can’t say the same thing about Waffle House!!  I won’t say her name, but her initals are K. Wevodau..No let’s call her Kristin W.

Comments- That’s right!  It was my 30th Birthday I think, and it was the best present ever.  To quote Homer SImpson “It was the best (birthday) ever.  Sure emotionally it was a train wreck, but the turkey was perfect!”. Sometimes I think if I couldn’t quote the Simpson’s I wouldn’t say anything.

9. Now on to something new.  The Clemson fans got off early, but not so for the NC State fans.  In Haiku form, please describe your Basketball Season (Haiku is a poem with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the 2nd and 5 in the last….in case you are wondering).

Stacie-

Courtside Red Jacket

the cleaners are calling you

smoke the Herb again

Comments- Ah…….okay…..I don’t know where to go with that one, but very nice job.

George-

Win our last four games

To the tourney we shall go

Rest in peace Kay Yow

Comments- Wow very good, the Haiku idea went over very well, might have to pull that out again at some point.  By the way mine would read: Greivis scores, Terps win.  Greivis in foul trouble NATCH, Terrapins will lose.  Let’s just say I’m no Japanese Poet.

And that wraps up our look at the world through the eyes of Wolfpack fans.  Hopefully come Sunday night those eyes will be filled with tears.  I will say though that apparently 9 questions was not enough for George who added his own. 

10. If you could borrow Sidney Lowe’s red blazer for one day, what would you do with it? 

George- I would wear it on the day that I play Mark Sherman in fantasy football, because beating him is the most important event of my year!  And he’s a crap Puke fan.

Comment- Wow fantasy football smack talk in Feburary.  My answer would have been, I would have taken it to go play golf and then paid someone in my foursome to put it on me after I walked off the 18th green.  I just think that would be fun, and anyone watching would be like what the hell is going on?

Sorry Stacie, that was not an official question, but I’m sure you would of had a blast with it.  If you like please feel free to provide us an answer in the comments below.

Thanks to both fans, I am impressed by your well thought out responses as well as your blind loyalty to that school, which I will never quite understand.  I will say though a little known Bob W fact is that I was accepted to NC State while in High School.  I can only imagine what my life would be like now had I gone there!

This entry was posted on Friday, February 27th, 2009 at 7:18 pm and is filed under Maryland Terps Basketball. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.