RALEIGH — Dave Doeren felt like N.C. State football "tarnished" its reputation in its bowl loss to East Carolina .

The loss, which ended with a brawl and multiple ejections, was a game Doeren referred to as embarrassing throughout the offseason. The mood shifted from embarrassment to elation on Thursday, Aug. 28, in the 2025 season opener against the Pirates.

"I felt like we tarnished our reputation. It was a game that really hurt me, seeing the way our guys couldn't stop the run — 300 yards rushing was an embarrassing thing as a head coach who considers himself a guy who knows how to play defense. Then having the actions that we had afterwards, it was embarrassing," Doeren said after N.C. State's 24-17 win against ECU at Carter-Finley Stadium.

"This game wasn't about ECU. This game was

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