Did NC State finally earn respect after its big win over BC? Dave Doeren hopes so

Put some respect on N.C. State’s name.

That’s what the Wolfpack said without actually saying it during their 33-7 road win over Boston College.

N.C. State pitched a shutout after the first quarter, perhaps their most dominating conference performance in years. The Wolfpack won its fourth straight game and first on the road this season.

At the beginning of the night, the Eagles’ student section, located just above N.C. State’s entrance to the field, were yapping and trash talking the Pack players. By the time N.C. State headed back into their locker room, only about a dozen fans remained.

“Watching them leave after that third quarter was definitely satisfying,” linebacker Isaiah Moore said.

It was a satisfying win where so much went right for N.C. State. That’s not supposed to happen for the No. 22 Wolfpack. Even ranked in the top 25, N.C. State is supposed to find a way to blow it. The Wolfpack, coming off its bye week, was supposed to choke on the road. Didn’t happen and the rest of the ACC has been put on notice: This isn’t the old N.C. State.

“I think the whole team just feels like we haven’t got the respect I think we’ve earned,” defensive back Devan Boykin said. “As far as all the teams in the ACC and what everyone is saying about us. We’re not too worried about what everyone else is saying, we just know we have to come out there and play everyday and do what we do.”

Boykin, who had a scoop and score in the second half, admitted the team likes having that chip.

“We have that different edge every time we step on the field,” Boykin added.

N.C. State played like it. The defense kept BC out of the end zone for three quarters. They scored on big plays (40 and 79 yards) and forced two turnovers. The Wolfpack came on the road and hushed a crowd that was in a frenzy at the beginning of the game. Did the convincing win do enough to silence haters in the ACC who expect N.C. State to fall flat?

“I can’t control the lack of respect that we seem to get publicly,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “We know about it, our team recognizes that people don’t think we’re good and we’re just going to take care of what we can.”