Bidding Farewell to Blogger

Cardiac Pack is on the move to WordPress.

Go here to check it out.

I hope everyone who has read my blog in the past will continue to read at the new location. Same old blog, new place.

N&O Previews the Pack

News & Observer's Ethan Hyman

The News & Observer released its N.C. State preview this morning and decided to focus on Tom O'Brien and how he has tried to change the program since he's been in Raleigh.

Nothing earth-shattering but a good write-up from Ken Tysiac. Caulton Tudor wrote a column to go with the package and broke the news that N.C. State needs to keep Russell Wilson healthy and find a replacement for Nate Irving to be successfult his year. Is he serious? Could he not at least try and come up with something a little more original?

I hate to see the N&O waste space on a topic that everyone already knows. I would rather read about how much Willie Young and Toney Baker love how to fish than how important it is for Russell Wilson to stay healthy. I never would have guessed that the Pack will be better if Russell Wilson is on the field all year. Thanks for clearing that up Caulton.

On a more positive note, the season starts in 8 days. Next Thursday can't get here soon enough.

Phillip Rivers gets extension with Chargers

Per ESPN's Len Pasquarelli: Rivers gets extension with Chargers

The San Diego Chargers made a great decision by signing Phillip Rivers to a contract extension today. I'm glad to see perhaps the greatest Wolfpacker ever getting some boost for his bank account. The reported 6-year, $92 million dollar extension, which is rumored to be worth $38-39 million in guaranteed money, will make sure Rivers spends the better part of the next decade on the West Coast.

I had a discussion with my roommate this evening about the Rivers deal and he said he hopes Rivers finishes his career in San Diego. I don't know if that will happen, but I'd sure like to see it. He seems to fit in well and he's a player San Diego can continue to build around, especially after LT and potentially Merriman leave town.

It's always good to see someone from N.C. State succeed, and Rivers is the model of success at this point. I tip my hat to you, Mr. Rivers. Keep it up.

Adrian Wilson gets some press recognition

Former Wolfpacker and current Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson got some positive press Thursday courtesy of SI.com's John Lopez, who named Wilson the most indispensable member of the Arizona Cardinals.

SI.com's take:

The Cardinals never have had an identity, or at least not a positive one. Wilson embodies everything a franchise craves, within and outside the locker room. He leads. He's durable. He's a winner. He shows everyone else the work ethic necessary to succeed. And he's loyal, staying with the Cards despite opportunities to leave until he saw a Super Bowl run happen.

It's not a stretch to say that Wilson is among the most, if not the most important player in Cardinals history. He certainly is the most important since the move to Arizona in 1988.

He is underappreciated outside of Arizona. But imagine the raves and tickets to Canton that already would be punched for him if he had played in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles? Only nine players in NFL history have recorded as many as 20 sacks and 20 interceptions in a career. Wilson will become the 10th in 2009, presuming he stays healthy.

I, for one, am glad to see Adrian getting the credit he deserves for being one of the top safety's in the NFL. And I'm also glad to see that a writer can look past Larry Fitzgerald and others. Obviously Fitzgerald is talented and for many people the best WR in the league, but defense wins championships. It's glad to see a writer with his head screwed on straight. I've gotten too used to the N&O and WRAL clowns.

The article, which makes great points about several players in both the NFC and AFC who the average fan might not necessarily know, is worth the read. It also got me to thinking -- is Adrian Wilson the second best defensive player to come out of N.C. State in the last 20 years? Is he the best? I would assume most people would take Mario Williams, but maybe not. It's great to see that Adrian is playing as well as he has over the last three seasons while also being a great member of the Cardinals off the field.

Thursday Quick Hits

I've been doing lots of reading about the upcoming season and one of my favorite stops is the ACC blog on ESPN.com. Heather Dinich gets on my nerves because from time to time she can be completely ridiculous, but overall it's a good blog. One interesting little piece of information she posted Wednesday is that Russell Wilson is very close to breaking an ACC record. If Wilson can throw 22 more passes without throwing an interception he will break the ACC mark held by Drew Weatherford (seriously?).

Also on Wednesday, Dinich picked Wilson as her "Most Exciting Player" in the ACC.

From the blog:

His ability to keep plays alive and scramble and improvise makes Wilson one of the most exciting players in the conference to watch. Unless, of course, you're watching from a defender's perspective.

And, at least according to TOB, Wilson now knows how to slide.

If Wilson can stay healthy, emphasis on the IF, he could most certainly live up to the "Most Exciting Player" moniker. The UNC and Miami games last season are a perfect testament to the skill he possesses. As for the passing record, I really hope Russell can get to 270. Drew Weatherford does not deserve to hold any ACC passing record -- ever.

On a lighter note, the Winston-Salem Journal published a story this morning about how busy Wilson is because he plays both football and baseball. Aren't they about six months behind on this story? Every newspaper in North Carolina and Virginia who has any interest in N.C. State has written this story twice already. It's really kind of sad how often I've seen in it. But good press is better than by bad press any day of the week. Story

Wolfpack scrimmage again, continue to work

N.C. State held another scrimmage Tuesday evening and from the looks of the stats it appears the defense is continuing to progress. Russell Wilson and Mike Glennon threw three interceptions combined and the defense also blocked a punt and a field goal, returning the blocked punt for a touchdown.

O'Brien hasn't said as much lately about the linebacker position, but from the stats, it appears Sterling Lucas and Terrell Manning are both playing well. Audi Cole jumped off the stat sheet once again, hauling in 9 tackles and a sack. His development has made me feel much better about the loss of Nate Irving. Obviously it's still a huge loss, but the more I hear and read about Audi the more I'm put at ease.

As September 3 gets closer and closer, I've started to rethink some of my predictions from earlier in the summer and Spring Practice. With a healthy Nate Irving and relative health around the rest of the team, I felt like State could be an 8-4 team. With the departure of Dominique Ellis Jimmaul Simmons and the injury to Irving, I'm thinking it will be more like 7-5.

And I don't like making predictions about wins and losses because it always seems like you set yourself up for disappointment if the team doesn't perform. But I really do feel like this team can compete in every game and win more often than not. We shall see.

On the Wolfpack injury update, which I feel like gets updated daily, tight end Mario Carter is out for the South Carolina game at least and offensive lineman Denzelle Good is out for the season. Carter had a knee scope while Good re-injured his shoulder and had season-ending surgery.

I'm Baaaccckkk

After a layoff that was much longer than intended, I am officially back in action on the blog scene. Obviously I have been keeping up with N.C. State since May, but I've simply let life take over and got "too busy" to update this thing as often as I should.

In case you didn't know, I'm now a graduate of N.C. State. I received my degree in history this past May and have yet to find a full-time job. I've been working part-time since May at Golf Galaxy in Cary, N.C. and have been looking for any and every opportunity to write and stay fresh.

Alright, now that I got the proverbial life update out of the way, back to N.C. State.

For those who weren't aware, the Wolfpack take the new field at Carter-Finley Stadium in a little more than two weeks. TWO WEEKS!

I'm more excited for this season that I've been for any season since Phillip Rivers left Raleigh. The Pack has a legitimate chance to contend in the ACC and even with the loss of the Predator (Nate Irving), my expectations are still high. I'm not a big prediction maker, but personally I would be disappointed if State didn't make a mid to high ACC bowl.

TOB has the program headed in the right direction and things will only continue to get better.

Keep checking back in the coming days and weeks for more updates and news about N.C. State. Also, I'm expanding my presence by adding Twitter to my blogging repertoire. You can follow me at www.twitter.com/cardiacpackblog.

Got comments? Questions? Hit me up.