Will Chuck Amato be back as N.C. State's head football coach?
It certainly depends on who you ask. And most of those, not all, but many, don't appear to be backing the coach. Some even say it's a done deal that he's gone, and that it goes beyond football. Of this, I don't know. We hear so many things from so many people, many of whom have an agenda. I do know many State fans are mad and disappointed, some so much they want East Carolina to win on Saturday. And that's just wrong.
This has been a dreadful season for State football, and there's no other way to put it. And Amato, who was a hero just a few seasons ago, is finding very few allies, and I find this somewhat sad. But it is his program, and the buck stops at the top. And yes, he's made mistakes, but to be fair, who among us hasn't?
Chuck Amato is a not fly-under-the-radar person. He's out there, and he's polarizing. He's brash, cocky and flamboyant. His overconfidence can wear on you. He argues with and can be condescending to the media.
These are qualities that are hurting him now, but State fans loved it when he was winning and talking of a bright future and about bringing championships to N.C. State.
They loved him because he was confident and he thought big thoughts and had dreams. The sunglasses and the red shoes, they were big too, until the losses started equaling the wins.
It says here Chuck Amato brought much needed excitement to State football -- excitement that hadn't been there since maybe the days of Lou Holtz. (Dick Sheridan was a good solid football coach who won 52 games in seven years, but the buzz wasn't there with the low-key Sheridan like the buzz Chuck Amato brought.)
He came in talking big and thinking large, and there was nothing wrong with that, and it paid off. He got people excited about State football, and that's exactly what was needed. Facilities were built and people were talking State football. ESPN game day came, State football was a program on the rise. Players were being selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Wolfpack football was getting recognized, and Chuck Amato was at the forefront. Should that be forgotten?
State fans don't want to hear this, but they know the Wolfpack has never been a consistent power in football. There have been good seasons, to be sure, but really, no great seasons. Duke, of all schools, has as many ACC titles as State in football (both have more than Carolina). State hasn't won an ACC title since 1979. That's a long time. It's never been easy at State.
Now Amato, in his seventh season, has a struggling team. It's been close, but close doesn't count in the game of football. State has not been a winning football team this season, but it's been competitive -- so many close losses where a play here or there has made the difference. Inches in some cases. And State came up short every time. Yes, they can blame themselves for mistakes and penalties and such, but they were there to make it interesting.
Many key players return from this team that never quit on the coach. If a team quits on a coach, you know it. This State team has kept playing hard. They keep battling, and next season, these close losses are maybe wins. There is talent there now and talent coming in. Chuck Amato brought them here.
It's easy to turn on someone when things aren't going well. It's the unfortunate nature of life. Amato has taken State to five bowls in his seven years as coach. He got State fans caring again and oh, do they do care. So much. Change can be good, but it's not a guarantee of anything. You never know.
Does Chuck Amato deserve to see if he can get it started again? Does State start over with the unknown, or do they stick with someone who put the pride back in Wolfpack football and who will always love the red and white? Should he have the opportunity to take the young talent that will be back and that is coming in and see what he can do? Or has the coach taken this program as far as he can? And this question, how far exactly can this program go?
Nothing with Chuck Amato is ever simple.
