NC State Wolfpack

By Tony Haynes

The momentum of NC State's 4-0 start is being interrupted by the dreaded bye week. I call it dreaded because when you're as hot as the Pack is, you'd like to keep playing. The good news is that the open date in the schedule will give coach Chuck Amato and his staff a little extra time to prepare for Clemson's 8th ranked Tigers.

Personally, I like the timing of the off-week because it has allowed me to get caught up on some things I've been ignoring, namely the Olympics and presidential politics.

Earlier this week, the remote control guided me to NBC for a quick peek at the games of Sydney. The first thing I saw was a guy jumping up and down on a trampoline. "This must be a commercial," I thought. I thought wrong. You see, Trampoline is now an official Olympic competition. So are Badminton and Beach Volleyball.

What's next, Charades and Name that Tune? I can see it now: "Russian Vladimere Goofiskov will win the gold medal if he can name this tune from Sergio Mendez and Brazil '66...."

As far as I'm concerned, the most eventful moment of the games will take place seconds after the Olympic Flame is extinguished. And according to my Australian clock, that event has already taken place--only you won't see it until next week.

With the Olympics now over (although NBC is trying to convince you otherwise), we can all listen in on the network pundits who are telling us how we should interpret what the presidential candidates are saying. The polls are also interesting. Sixty-seven percent of brown-haired women between the ages of 35 and 36 with three dogs, two cats and more than three back issues of Cosmopolitan in their households are leaning towards Democratic nominee Al Gore.

Balding men who need a tax cut to finance their purchases of Rogaine say they'll vote for Bush. Personally, I'd use the extra money to get a new bucket of range balls.

It's good to see that the Vice President is sticking to his principles. Two days after criticizing the entertainment industry for the sexual and violent nature of some of the television programs and movies they produce, Gore showed he meant business by traveling to the west coast and collecting approximately $7 million from the Hollywood folks. It must have been a fine, yea, dat's what it was, a fine. I'm sure he'll make productive use of the money by touting his passion for campaign finance reform on TV ads.

On second thought, perhaps it would be more prudent of me to stick with NC State football and the things that really matter. For instance, some of you have sent e-mails to GOPACK.com regarding the music that is played during that time before the game when the Wolfpack runs onto the field.

It was pointed out to me that "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns 'n Roses was played as an intro song in 1999. Another reader suggested "Hells Bells" by AC/DC as an intro song. Here's my question: What happen to the tradition of playing the FIGHT SONG while the home team makes its run through the cheerleaders and marching band? Isn't that what they do at places like Michigan, Notre Dame and Florida State? Hells Bells? Makes me glad that I'm usually in the press box elevator when the Pack runs on the field.

Of course, there is one other option. We could always dig up something from Sergio Mendez and Brazil '66.