Alright, so after that severe beating last Saturday I’m not about to go around and hug any Clemson fans, but I’m not exactly thrilled with John Bunting, either.  The dissatisfaction with the program has been well documented here on Heelsblog and elsewhere, and now we’re staring a good possibility of 1-4 in the face since we’ll be going into Coral Gables facing a Miami team looking to climb back into the top-25.

 

Some fans have even joked that the bye week will be favored by 5 over UNC this weekend (that one made me laugh), but in all seriousness this is a pretty crucial juncture for the off weekend to come.  Carolina needs to rebound from their beatings and respond with a solid on-field performance on October 7^th or they will be accused of the ultimate sin in college football – quitting on your coach.

 

Miami is in somewhat of a similar situation, where fans have apparently already started to cheer against their team in hopes of instituting a coaching change.  I can’t imagine the Kenan crowds doing anything similar, but that’s probably because they just choose the easier, less painful alternative – leaving early.

 

I’m interested to hear what the players say in the coming press conferences and what their tone is about this year. It’s one thing to say a season can be salvaged, it’s another thing to actually believe it, and you can tell the difference from tone and body language, so look for those.

 

Last word on Clemson: we may have lost by 45 points, but I mean, just look at their fans. These people NEED football to distract them from doing something harmful, like having children.  My bold prediction is that Roy’s Boys will beat the Tigers in basketball by as many as they destroyed us by in Death Valley; mark it down.

I write to you today embarassed to be a North Carolina football fan. Embarassed for the school I graduated from. Embarassed to have spent money on the team that lost 52-7 today. Fifty-two to seven. That's embarassing. Pitiful.

And now, let's examine the post-game quotes from Head Coach John Bunting.

"We didn’t play very well. I'm very disappointed for our team, for our staff and for our fans."
Well, this is the standard line we've become used to hearing. A classic opener from JB.

"I know that our intentions were good - but we didn't play well. We let some things get to us early."
Your intentions have always been good - you're a likable a guy. I get it - you intend to win. You just don't get it done.

"It's disappointing. We just didn't do a good enough job getting these kids ready."
I thought this was 'The New Blue.' What were the expectations high for? Why should we believe you'll do a good enough job getting ready for any other game?

"We're going into a bye week now and hopefully we can get things straightened out."
Ah, there it is. A slight variation on the 'there's always next game' from the ever-predictable JB.

Everything else is unremarkable. But I am embarassed. This program is not just heading in the wrong direction - it's been in the wrong direction - it's at the wrong end. And it's time for a change. I like the guy, but he's not motivating and teaching these players. This is not UNC football. As seen last week, it's not even Division I football.

I went to the ECU/West Virginia game today. Sure, the Pirates were supposed to lose. They were 21-point underdogs, and they lost by 17. But they played with passion, and an upset was not out of the question late in the third quarter. They faced the #4 team in the country, and played respectably. That's the most passionate football I've seen in a long time. ECU is the best college football team in the state this year, and with all due respect to the Pirates, State and UNC should be ashamed.

So, clear something up for me. Is this the new blue, or was it losing to Rutgers and Virginia Tech? Is this worth what we're paying.

I don't know if I wanted to win or lose that game. It was pathetic. We don't know how to finish people. We don't know how to stop people. Our defense is like a Taco Bell - easy to drive through, and it gives you the runs just thinking about it.

I don't know if this team with this staff can put together a complete game, because I haven't seen it yet. And it's going to be hard to put it together at Clemson or Miami. Clemson is coming off a big win, and Miami is coming off a huge loss. An emotional roller coaster, with the Tar Heels the next victims. I just don't see it happening. Of course, I hope I'm wrong, but I have no confidence in this team anymore. We were up 14 in the first two minutes Saturday, and then were outscored by 11 points over the next 58 minutes. By a I-AA team. No disrespect to Furman, but if this is the new blue, it looks an awful lot like the old blue. And it's going to leave fans blue.

 

I love Carolina. There can be no argument about that. I graduated from UNC. Mom and Dad met at UNC. Without UNC, there is no me.

I love football. That's why I'm sitting in front of a television right now watching ESPN, and HeelsBlogGirl is in Charlotte for the Panthers game without me.

So, we've established that I love those two things: Carolina and football. But I'm beginning to hate Carolina football.

Don't get me wrong. I don't wish failure upon our coaches and players. In fact, I'm dying for success. But it's just not happening. From 1999 to 2002, I sat in the student section. Saw some good games. Saw a bowl team. Didn't see consistent success. Didn't see many wins over teams we should have beaten. Since 2003, HeelsBlogGirl have sat in our seats, section 109, row O. We've seen some good teams. Saw an inexplicable bowl team. Made the trip to Bank of America Stadium to see the Continental Tire Bowl. Still haven't seen consistent success.

I'm not asking for this team to be in the Top 10 every year. Yet. I don't think I'm being unreasonable. What I am asking for (and paying for, for that matter), is effort. And I'm not seeing it. Why, with two minutes to go in the first half, with the ball, did we let the clock run out? We're down 14-3. We're getting the ball after halftime. If we get just a field goal, we're down eight going into the locker room with some momentum. But no. A few run plays and the clock runs out. That was a coaching decision. That was a poor coaching decision.

I like John Bunting. He's a Carolina guy. Perhaps the most appealing thing was that, were Bunting to take Carolina to the top, he wouldn't bolt to the NFL or another program. He is interested in making Carolina great, not making John Bunting great. Well, John Bunting ain't great. I like the guy, but I'm tired of the excuses. I'm tired of the missed opportunities. I'm tired of the "We'll hit the practice field hard for next week"s. I'm just exhausted as a Carolina football fan.

Those videos on the jumbotron? You want me to stand up, Jesse Holley? Give me something to stand up and cheer about.

Incidentally, I have no qualms with the defense's performance yesterday. They played well enough to win, if the offense would have a) not given Virginia Tech the ball inside the five-yard line, or b) had sustained drives that would give the defense some rest.

So, what do we have? An offense that showed up one week, and a defense that showed up the next. We've got to have better playcalling. We've got to have better motivation.We'll probably beat Furman next week. Hip hip hooray. Then we'll get it handed to us at Clemson and Miami. We've got to have better coaching from the coaches, and better efforts from the players.

Otherwise, what did I get for my $420 for two tickets and Ram's Club donation? Apparently, I got unlimited M&M's and Goldfish in the Rams' Room. Next time, I'll just go to Target.

All the hype, all the preseason expectations (from within the fanbase, not necesarily from the outside), and this is what we get? A 21-16 loss to Rutgers? Rutgers? I know they were a bowl team last year, but we cannot give up 200 rushing yards to one player against the Scarlet Knights. With all due respect, Rutgers?!

Sure there were some bright spots. Hakeem Nicks and Brooks Foster both had great days catching the ball. Joe Dailey can run from under center. But can he throw? He's already at one touchdown to two interceptions on the season. And why didn't Cameron Sexton at least see the field. He did not look happy in a headset on the sideline.

But hey, this is Carolina football. Perhaps the worst part was, on the last drive, I just knew it wasn't going to happen. That's Carolina football lately.

But you know what else is Carolina football? The unexplained upset at the most ridiculous time. For that reason, and that reason alone, I'm picking us to beat Virginia Tech. Because it will make absolutely no sense.


Sorry for the delay in posting - I've started graduate school this semester and time is at a premium.