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Dave Doeren following win over Clemson:  'Tell Steve Smith this isn't a basketball school, he can kiss my ass'

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•10/28/23•

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Andy Staples' Week 9 College Football Playoff, New Years 6 Bowl Projections | 10.22.23

A few coaches across the country have taken outside messages and used them as motivation. Ryan Day famously called out Lou Holtz following their win against Notre Dame, going on an incredible rant. Even a few weeks later, Ohio State is using Holtz’s words as motivation.

On Saturday, NC State head coach Dave Doeren must have been watching ESPN College GameDay when Steve Smith was making his picks. Smith took Clemson and said the Wolfpack were more of a basketball school than football.

Well, Doeren took that to heart and once NC State took down Clemson, he called Smith out. It was a walk-off interview as well, immediately heading to the locker room to celebrate with his team.

“I’ll tell Steve Smith in the studio,” Doeren said during his postgame interview. “This isn’t a basketball school. He can kiss my ass.”

NC State entered the Clemson game with a 4-3 record and was in danger of falling to .500. Smith was not the only person on College GameDay to predict a loss for NC State but definitely made the loudest statement while doing so.

“Clemson has been struggling,” Smith said on Saturday morning. “They’re not the Clemson that we’ve loved over the years. But NC State, unfortunately, they’re waiting for basketball to start.”

Smith does have a bit of a connection to the area, spending a lot of his professional career playing for the Carolina Panthers. However, he was on College GameDay due to being a former Utah player and the show being in Salt Lake City.

Sure, Smith is correct about basketball being important at the school. After all, it’s the state of North Carolina where ACC basketball takes over throughout the winter.

But Doeren still runs a proud football program and was able to make a statement against Clemson at home. Having just five wins through eight games may not have been the goal heading into the season but there is still plenty to play for moving forward.

NC State fans are likely willing to support both the football and basketball programs, no matter what Doeren or Smith say. Football will have another home game next week, hosting Miami on Nov. 4.

Basketball will get its season started just a few days later, with the Citadel coming to Raleigh on Nov. 6. Fans will be awaiting that game while also continuing the support football through their season.