NC State Football Leader Dave Doeren: 'Embarrassed as a Coach'
On Saturday night, the 2024 NC State football team did not avoid the program's first losing campaign since 2019. Likewise, the Wolfpack (6-7, 3-5 ACC) did not avoid getting into an ugly fight with under a minute to play in its 26-21 loss to the in-state rival ECU Pirates (8-5, 5-3 AAC) at the Military Bowl in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.
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Five NC State football players, along with three from ECU, were ejected. Umpire Rod Tucker, who tried to break up the scuffles alongside the other referees, left with a seemingly serious cut under his eye.
It was not a good look for the Wolfpack, as redshirt sophomore defensive back Jamarcus Cooley did not react in a mature manner when ECU's Yannick Smith slyly snatched his towel while the Pirates were running out the clock with victory in hand. Cooley chased down and tackled Smith. And multiple brawls ensued around midfield.
"First, congratulations to ECU on the win," 12th-year NC State football head coach Dave Doeren said in his opening statement to the media afterward. "They earned it.
"I'd also like to apologize for our football team for how that ended.
"I'm embarrassed as a coach. And I know our players are too. That's not how people in this program, players in this program, staff in this program want anything to do with something like that. And to me, it's a terrible response to something that happened to one of our players, and there's no excuses for it.
"And so, I apologize to ECU and their team."
NC State welcomes ECU to Carter-Finley Stadium in Week 1 of the 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30.
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Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of NC State Wolfpack on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining NC State Wolfpack on SI in 2024, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.