Definitely not the showing we wanted, but…
I waited a while to write my recap about Saturday’s football game, some because I wanted to do it without letting emotions get in the way, some because of my personal going ons and some because I wanted the web boards to calm down (since they have been stirring up a bunch!) But now it’s time to talk about what was the wrong way to end a good season, as #23 North Carolina (8-4, 4-4 in the ACC) was beaten by an inferior North Carolina State (5-7, 2-6 in the ACC) by the final score of 28-27. Definitely not the way that head coach Butch Davis wanted to end this season, as he is now 0 and 3 against the Wolfpack since becoming the main man in Chapel Hill.
As I said in my small preview when you put up two rivals you have to let go of the records and how they are playing during the season. The Heels played a good first half and then the air was let out of the balloon. Was it due to the defense staying way too much on the field because the offense wasn’t moving the ball, or was it because the D just didn’t play how they have in the last month. Each person I have talked to/chatted with/read their posts has their own theory and the reality is that all of them have merit. My thought on the game is pretty simple: everyone had something to do with the loss.
A great drive by the Heels offense coming out with zero points because of a fumble by Johnny White at the one yard line didn’t mean much when UNC was up by ten at halftime. It was looming very big when Carolina lost by 1 point. A Wolfpack drive that basically was fueled by Heels’ penalties was also a killer. In all Carolina was penalized ten times for 122 yards, and that is unacceptable as well. A Barth’s block field goal, who has been on the money for most of the year (16 FGs in a row), was another blow. The D not being able to stop the Wolfpack on not one, not two, but three third downs in the final minutes of the game was also a major strike against UNC. Here is the fact that should have us all wondering what really happened: Carolina had 481 yards (a season high) and lost the game!
In the end this was a game where no one takes the blame, the team does. From the first to the last, including the coaching staff, that somehow (in my opinion) did not focus the squad enough in the second half. As I said before, this was a rivalry game, the records go out the window! The head coach of the Heels said it best in this quote:
“It’s very disappointing,” Davis said. “We didn’t play very smart today.”
Here is the post game press conference by coach Davis:
In all this game is one to forget (and do it quickly), because I truly believe that this team had made steps forward, especially when you think that this squad began the ACC season 0 and 3 and ended up at .500 (only 2 other teams have been able to do that). Now this squad must concentrate on the future, which means the bowl game, spring ball and then the 2010 season with what could be a team that has plenty of pieces coming back. Yes, the game against N.C. State was not what we expected from the Heels after last month, but it was not that far ago when this same team was not winning in the ACC. They had a mis-step, a bump in the road, but let’s be realistic, most teams in college football have those. I want to see how the Heels react to it, that will be the true test that these young men have to face.
For now only thing to do is to see where Carolina ends up in the bowl landscape and against whom. From there we will see how they go at it and if they can better last year’s 8 and 5 record.
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