Let me begin this column by saying that I am a complete optimist in every aspect of the word. I always try to look on the bright side of things, even when they are the gloomiest. And as tough as it is for me to say this, it needs to be said. The win against Florida State was huge for Tom O’Brien and the N.C. State football program, but it does not mean the season is over. A spot in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte is by no means a guarantee.     There is still a ton of football left, four games to be exact, and nothing is going to be easy. As we all know, being N.C. State fans, the Pack doesn’t exactly like to do things the easy way.    Everything that I have heard so far since last Thursday nights victory over the Seminoles is, “hooray, hooray, the Pack controls its own destiny.” Heck, even the Technician wrote the game story headline as “Hello, driver’s seat.” But the team controlled its own destiny at the beginning of the season as well. All  the Wolfpack had to do was win every game of the season and it would win the ACC title and potentially even be playing for a BCS Title, but its just not that easy.    This team has played exceptionally well at times, but has also played horrible at times. For example, the ECU game and second half of Virginia Tech. With four games to go, three of which on the road, starting with a very talented Clemson team coming off a loss who nobody seems to be talking about this week, this may be the game to tell all about where the Pack are going. If State is able to go down and win in possibly one of the most hostile environments in the ACC, Death Valley, then I may feel a bit more confident, but only a little.    At this point State is tied with Maryland in second place in the Atlantic Division at 3-1, a single game behind Florida State, who is 4-1. But due to the head to head match-ups and the win against the Seminoles, the Pack only has to win out to capture the crown.    In this three team race State has one of the toughest remaining schedules. Florida State  has arguably the easiest with only three ACC games remaining, at home against North Carolina and Clemson and on the road at Maryland. With this remaining schedule it’s not hard to think that the Seminoles could wind up 7-1 in the ACC, leaving the Pack with zero room for error.    The Terps on the other hand have a pretty brutal remaining schedule playing at Miami, at Virginia then finishing at home against Florida State and finally the Pack. Maryland’s has not really beaten anyone special, instead has taken advantage of the weaker teams in the ACC. So I don’t expect them to stay in this race much longer and could see them losing three or even all of these games.    And then we have the Pack which travels to Clemson this week, has Wake Forest at home the week after, and then finishes on the road against Carolina and Maryland. The way Florida State’s schedule sets up State can’t afford to drop a single game. Three of the four remaining games on the road will be tough and State will need to bring its A game every week.    One single slip up could derail this team’s ACC title hopes and leave many of you people who are planning on or have already bought a ticket to the ACC championship left scalping it right before the game begins. I for one don’t feel particularly comfortable and don’t think everyone should get their expectations too high just yet.      It is possible that this is just because I have been hurt too many times by N.C. State athletics. So much so that I am to scared of getting my hopes up in fear of ending up with a broken heart yet again. I’m not trying to knock this team, I love it and think that it is the real deal, but I just am not drinking the Kool-Aid yet and am trying to possibly sway you to do the same at least for the time being.