What Is 1979 NC State Wolfpack football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1979 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season, finishing with a 6-5 record under head coach Bo Rein, who left after the season to take the LSU job.

Key Facts

The 1979 NC State Wolfpack finished the season with a 6-5 overall record
Head coach Bo Rein led the team for the final time before moving to LSU
The team played its home games at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC
They competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and went 3-3 in conference play
NC State defeated Virginia 31-13 in their season finale on November 17, 1979

Overview

The 1979 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the team was led by head coach Bo Rein, who was in his third and final year at the helm before accepting the head coaching position at LSU.

The Wolfpack played their home games at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, and finished the season with a 6-5 overall record and a 3-3 mark in ACC play. Despite missing a bowl game, the season marked a transitional period for the program as it prepared for a new coaching era under Rein’s successor, Monte Kiffin.

Overall record: The team finished 6-5, marking a modest improvement from the previous two seasons and showing signs of progress under Rein’s leadership.
ACC performance: The Wolfpack went 3-3 in conference play, defeating rivals like Virginia and Duke while losing close games to Clemson and Maryland.
Final game: NC State closed the season with a decisive 31-13 victory over Virginia on November 17, 1979, at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Coaching change: Head coach Bo Rein left immediately after the season to become LSU’s head coach, creating a leadership vacuum filled by defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
Stadium: All home games were played at Carter-Finley Stadium, which had a capacity of approximately 51,000 and opened in 1966.

Season Performance

The 1979 season featured a mix of competitive performances and missed opportunities, with the Wolfpack showing offensive potential but struggling with consistency. Several games were decided by less than a touchdown, highlighting the team’s narrow margins in key matchups.

September 8 opener: NC State defeated East Carolina 27-14, setting a positive tone with a strong rushing attack and solid defensive play.
September 15: A 14-10 loss to West Virginia showed defensive resilience but offensive limitations in adverse weather conditions.
October 6: The team lost 10-7 to Clemson in a defensive battle, with the decisive score coming in the final quarter.
October 20: A 24-14 win over Duke showcased quarterback Steve Dils’ leadership and a balanced offensive approach.
November 3: A 17-14 loss to Maryland kept the Wolfpack out of bowl contention, despite a late-game rally attempt.
November 10: NC State narrowly lost to North Carolina 17-16, with a failed two-point conversion sealing their fate in the rivalry game.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1979 NC State Wolfpack’s performance against key ACC rivals from the same season:

Team	Overall Record	ACC Record	Head Coach	Bowl Result
NC State	6-5	3-3	Bo Rein	No bowl
Clemson	8-4	5-1	Dalton Kershaw	Lost Peach Bowl
North Carolina	7-4	4-2	Dick Crum	Lost Gator Bowl
Maryland	7-4	4-2	Jerry Claiborne	Lost Hall of Fame Bowl
Duke	4-7	2-4	Shirley “Red” Wilson	No bowl

The table illustrates that NC State performed competitively within the ACC, finishing in the middle of the conference standings. While they matched Duke’s bowl absence, they fell just short of the postseason despite a winning record, due to limited national recognition and fewer available bowl slots at the time.

Why It Matters

The 1979 season is remembered as a transitional year that bridged two coaching eras and set the stage for future development under Monte Kiffin. Though not a standout season in terms of wins, it provided valuable experience for players and staff amid significant program changes.

Coaching transition: Bo Rein’s departure marked the end of a rebuilding phase and led to Monte Kiffin’s promotion, altering the team’s strategic direction.
Player development: Quarterback Steve Dils and several defensive starters gained crucial experience that carried into the 1980 season.
Recruiting impact: Rein’s brief tenure included recruiting efforts that bore fruit under Kiffin, particularly on the defensive line.
ACC competitiveness: The 3-3 conference record demonstrated NC State could compete with top ACC teams, boosting morale and fan engagement.
Historical context: This season preceded the rise of more successful NC State teams in the 1980s, including the 1980 Peach Bowl appearance.
Legacy: The 1979 team is a footnote in program history but represents a necessary step in the evolution of NC State football.

While overshadowed by more successful seasons, the 1979 Wolfpack laid groundwork for future improvements and remains a part of the program’s developmental timeline.