New N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien is no stranger to ACC intensity, having previously coached at Boston College. View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

No shortage of coaching star-powerthis season

Steve DeShazo at the ACC Football Kickoff

Date published: 7/24/2007

By Steve DeShazo

PINEHURST, N.C.--Frank Beamer knows all about Butch Davis, having coached against him while Davis rebuilt Miami's program into a national power after a crippling probation in the mid-1990s.

Asked at yesterday's Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff what he expects from Davis' team at his new fixer-upper stop, North Carolina, Beamer didn't hesitate.

"He'll recruit really good players," Beamer said. "They'll be very well coached, very physical and very successful."

Few of those adjectives have applied to the Tar Heels since Mack Brown left for Texas a decade ago. Despite immaculate facilities, a loyal fan base and a huge budget, Brown's two successors, Carl Torbush and John Bunting, went a combined 44-63. The biggest reason: Poor recruiting led to an inexplicable talent deficit compared to their ACC rivals.

Just a few miles down Tobacco Road, Chuck Amato was fired at N.C. State despite a seven-year record of 49-37 and four bowl wins in five tries.

Amato's downfall wasn't as much lack of talent or victories as a dearth of discipline and smarts.

In 2005, N.C. State could have derailed Virginia Tech's ACC title bid in the season opener, but committed several brain-dead mistakes. Last season, the Wolfpack tied UNC for last in the ACC last season in turnover margin and were next-to-last in penalties. Not coincidentally, they bottomed out at 3-9, and their coach paid the price.

Into the void steps Tom O'Brien, a disciplinarian who attended the Naval Academy, served for a decade under George Welsh at Virginia and built Boston College into a consistent winner.

Call him the Anti-Amato.

"Any time you're 3-9, you've got a lot of work to do," O'Brien said yesterday. "The kids were embarrassed to be 3-9, and they've worked extremely hard. Now it's up to us to coach them up and put them in a position to win."

Few doubt that O'Brien will do that. Like Davis, it may take him a couple of years to implement his philosophy and schemes, and to recruit his brand of players. But the Wolfpack and Tar Heels shouldn't be underachievers for much longer.

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Date published: 7/24/2007