Part 2 of our BC Interruption travel guide series takes us to Raleigh, North Carolina, for our second road test of the season against the NC State Wolfpack. Jeff and I will be in town this weekend for the second annual Tom O'Brien bowl.

Here is Part 1 of our travel guide series on Cleveland, Ohio.

Opponent: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, North Carolina
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008
Kickoff: TBA

Getting There

Distance from Chestnut Hill, MA – 725 miles, about 12 hours, 5 minutes
Distance from Brian – 518 miles, about 8 hours, 32 minutes
Distance from Jeff – 339 miles, about 5 hours, 14 minutes

Flights are currently a little less than $300 between Boston and Raleigh-Durham (RDU).


Recent History

Carter-Finley Stadium wasn't too kind to the Eagles a few seasons back. The Eagles last visited NC State in 2006 where they were upset 17-15 on a heart-wrenching, last second 34-yard touchdown throw by Wolfpack signal caller Daniel Evans. The loss set the #20 ranked Eagles back to 3-1 on the season, and if not for those late game heroics, the Eagles could have been 8-0 going into their November 4 date with Wake Forest that season.

BC looks to avenge that loss as well as solve their North Carolina ACC road woes. The Eagles are 0-3 in ACC road games since joining the conference in 2005 (losses at Wake, UNC and NC State). Hopefully this is not a trend that continues as we have road dates with each of those opponents this year.


Things to see and do

Museums. Raleigh isn't without its fair share of museums, many of them offering free admission. Some of these museums are the North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina Museum of History and the Raleigh City Museum.

Oktoberfest. I am staying at Duke down the road in Durham for the NC State weekend. What better way to ring in Oktoberfest and tailgate in style than with the Durham World Beer Festival on Saturday. Only issue is the time of the event. Depending on the game start time, there are two sessions – 12 noon to 4pm and 6pm to 10pm, so hit up the beer fest either before the game or (more likely) coming back from Raleigh. The festival has over 300 beers and will take place at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Tickets go on sale August 20.

A Round of 18. Raleigh has a few options if you want to get a round of golf in on Sunday, want to hit the driving range or the putting green. Apparently, the Tobacco Road Golf Club and the Wil-Mar Golf Club are two of the better courses.


Famous Raleighites, BC Interruption version

• Clay Aiken – American Idol participant
• John Edwards – pol and US Senator
• Andrew Johnson – 17th President of the United States
• Petey Pablo (from nearby Greenville, Wikipedia claims him as a Raleighite anyway) – "This one's for North Carolina! C'mon and raise up!"

Packing Checklist

• Superfan shirt to show your school colors
• German beer stein
• Golf clubs
• Poster board and Sharpie markers, to make large greeting cards for our former Head Coach

For More Information

• Official Raleigh, NC website - http://www.raleighnc.gov/
• Visit Raleigh tourism site - http://www.visitraleigh.com/
• News & Observer newspaper - http://www.newsobserver.com/

Know something going on in Raleigh that weekend that we missed? Attending the game? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. Go BC!

Next week we look no further than 20 miles down the road as we profile Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for our October 25 date with Butch Davis and the upstart(?) North Carolina Tar Heels.