RALEIGH, N.C. — Shaun Thomas was standing by the bar at Mitch’s Tavern, a regular hangout for NC State students since 1974, two hours before Florida State was set to kick off against the Wolfpack on Friday night.
Only a few feet away, employees at Mitch’s Tavern were selling T-shirts that read, “Beat FSU.” Thomas wasn’t about to purchase one, though. He had made the nearly three-hour drive from his home in Morehead City, N.C., to Raleigh to support the Seminoles.
Thomas, a 2004 FSU graduate who now serves as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, was looking forward to attending his first game at Carter-Finley Stadium. He was stationed in Japan the last time the Seminoles played at NC State in 2022, and he was hoping to watch FSU win easily.
“I’ve only been back to North Carolina for about a year and a half,” Thomas said. “I came back from Japan, but when I saw this on the schedule, no doubt that I was coming to this game.”
By the end of the night, there was little reason for FSU fans to celebrate. They had arrived at the stadium with high expectations, only for some of them to leave before the start of the fourth quarter to avoid watching another disastrous end to another painful loss.
If there was any silver lining, at least they didn’t have to deal with a hostile environment. NC State fans, who have dealt with their own heartache this season, welcomed FSU fans into their tailgate parties before kickoff and were accommodating hosts for the most part. They didn’t talk too much trash or give FSU fans the wrong directions to get to the stadium.
“So far, so good. It has been great,” said Irving Velez, an FSU season ticketholder from Charleston, S.C. “No one has said anything. Everybody has been nice.”
Losing seems to bring FSU and NC State fans together.
Gone are the days of the 1990s when the Seminoles traveled well and brought a high-scoring offense, a dominant defense and a sense of arrogance to opposing stadiums. That arrogance was shared by FSU players and fans who accompanied the team during road games.
Back in the days of yesteryear, the arrogance that came from the Seminoles constantly winning rubbed opposing fans the wrong way. Fans often faced disrespect, disagreements and fights in the stands. There was more booing than kind words.
Fast forward to 2025, and the angst is gone. There is peace and tranquility amongst the fan bases. And thanks to the Seminoles finding new ways to lose games, opposing fans have gotten several opportunities over the past two seasons to storm the field after an FSU game.
That sense of community was evident in Raleigh on Friday night. FSU fans didn’t have any problems walking around outside the stadium dressed in garnet and gold. NC State fans were polite, letting FSU fans get ahead of them in line and enjoy the game for the most part in peace.
One FSU fan said she had been warned that NC State fans have been known to throw bags of urine at opposing fans, but none of that happened. She remained dry in the stands and didn’t face constant heckling from the Wolfpack sitting in the same section of the stadium as her.
In other words, FSU’s disgraceful play on the field has brought grace in the stands. A communal feeling could be felt. FSU didn’t supply its Seminole Clubs and Chapters with blocks of seats in Carter-Finley Stadium, so Seminole and Wolfpack fans sat together with no signs of problems.
“We’re not rivals. We don’t hate each other,” said Michael Scarangella, an at-large board member of the Triangle Seminole Club that includes Raleigh. “They love football. We love football.”
Fans of both teams posed together for photographs. Only once was there a disagreement in the section of the stadium where the family members of FSU players congregated to watch the game.
It occurred early in the game when an NC State defensive player was called for a targeting penalty on a hit on FSU wide receiver Lawayne McCoy. Even then it was just one NC State fan being belligerent, and he got quiet and moved on soon afterward.
“I’d say whenever we start winning they’re a little bit rowdier against us (as) the opposing fans,” FSU fan Camden Kelly said. “But they’re more respectful than just about every team (we) played around North Carolina. I’d say NC State fans are pretty chill people.”
