HeelsBlog.Com: Read. Recap. React.

Friday, July 24: Tar Heel Headlines

jtw3 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:03:00 -0400

Football:

Kenan Stadium plan moves ahead

The University of North Carolina's Board of Trustees approved the
design for a first phase of plans to substantially expand the Tar
Heels' football stadium.

This is good news. A commitment to expand and improve Kenan Stadium is a commitment to make the football program a serious contender.

Countdown to Kickoff #36: North Carolina

If the Tar Heels can improve upon
their 96th-ranked turnover margin and win half of the close games they
lost last season, seven wins and North Carolina's first bowl since 2004
is likely.

Basketball

Tar Heels know pressure will be on to win title

After an uncertain offseason that ended with an unlikely outcome by
today's standards, the Tar Heels are left with an inescapable fact:
They are the clear preseason favorite to win the national title that
has eluded Hansbrough in his first three years.

Baseball

Forbes promoted to Associate Head Coach

Following a stint in Chapel Hill as an assistant from 1999-2002, Forbes
has served as the Tar Heels' pitching coach for the last three seasons
and has helped guide Carolina to three straight College World Series
appearances.

Fun with Photoshop

jtw3 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:51:00 -0400

Podcast postponed until Tuesday

jtw3 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:28:00 -0500

Hey Gang -
I set the next HeelsBlog podcast for today, but I'm pushing it back to Tuesday, so we can have a more complete show for you. We'll have recaps from the men's game against BC and at Florida State, and talk about the women's games at home against Maryland, at Wake Forest, and Monday night's game at Duke. Plus, we'll preview football signing day, which is Wednesday. And, we'll have a special guest. So thanks for your patience.

Nice win over Boston College last night. Ty Lawson's line for the last two games is amazing - 20 assists and one turnover. Deon Thompson played perhaps his best game as a Tar Heel, and Tyler Hansbrough was Tyler Hansbrough.

Will the team look past Florida State on Sunday? I don't think so. They might have if they had not lost to Maryland, but I think that game woke the team up. Toney Douglas will be tough to guard, but the guys can get it done.

The pieces of a program

jtw3 — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:44:00 -0400

North Carolina's football team is 1-4 right now. One win at the beginning of the season, and four straight losses since, with five and six staring them in the face as Miami and South Carolina come to Kenan. But three of those losses have been by a combined 12 points (with 7 of those being at Virginia Tech). North Carolina was 1-4 at this point last season, but the feeling is incredibly different.

In talking to players, coaches and football staff, it becomes apparent that the tide of this program is turning. We aren't yet seeing the results on the scoreboard, but look closely at this football team. They're hitting harder. They're making plays. They're building a program.

Certainly it's not all there yet. Certainly there are pieces that aren't yet in place. But North Carolina football under Butch Davis is turning around, and it is an exciting time to watch this football program.

The Ups and Downs of Sports

jtw3 — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:43:00 -0400

Carolina lost to East Carolina on Saturday. That much is certainly true. It was a heartbreaking, last-second defeat to the Pirates with plenty of missed opportunities that could have changed the outcome. I'm sure it was disappointing to the players, coaches and fans.

I fall into that third category: fans. And as a fan, there's something I've realized over the past few years: I can't do anything about what happens on the field. I don't have anything to do with it. I can get excited and cheer, get sad and discouraged, but ultimately, nothing I do will make a difference. Sure, there are times when the crowd can motivate (or de-motivate) a team, but really it's up to them to perform.

With this in mind, I've sort of taken a new approach to athletics, particularly wins and losses. I have made it my mission to enjoy the journey and not place so much value on the result. If my team loses a game, I used to forget about the beautiful plays that made me so excited in the course of a contest. Now, I try to appreciate the way I felt watching those plays, even after the score is decided.

So, while I still feel disappointment in losing, I recognize that nothing I could have done would have changed the outcome. I appreciate the opportunity to witness terrific athletic performances that, while they may not have resulted in a win, brought me such great joy in the moment.

A D-line story, and some podcasts

jtw3 — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:34:00 -0400

Thursday, TarHeelBlue ran a story of mine on the defensive line. Check it out. Also, don't forget to keep checking this page for my podcasts. Recent interviews include Johnny White, Durell Mapp, Hakeem Nicks and Greg Little. It seems like there is a lot of buzz around this program. The players appear to be excited, the coaches are passionate, and the fans suspect something's up in Chapel Hill. It's a great time to be a Tar Heel.

New perspective

jtw3 — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:48:00 -0400

Hey folks. Long time.

This fall, I am working an internship with TarHeelBlue.Com and Tar Heel Monthly magazine, so I've been quite busy. What I'll continue to do here is provide some analysis and also links to my work over there.

Since Friday, I've interviewed Zack Pianalto, Mike Paulus, Trimane Goddard, Hilee Taylor and Marvin Austin. Check out these audio interviews at the Training Camp Central section of TarHeelBlue.

I should have some feature stories coming as well as football season progresses. If I do, I'll let you know. In the meantime, Adam Lucas and Lauren Brownlow are doing some great stuff.

There is a lot of excitement around the UNC football program right now, and I'm lucky to be close to the action. Thanks for reading.

Turner

Still Recovering From a Tryptophan-Induced Coma

UNChotdog — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:23:00 -0500

So yeah, we’re admittedly not “real” bloggers, because we left Heelsblog a little bare over the holidays and slightly beyond, but here’s to hoping you can forgive and move on. But in case you missed it, here’s a slight wrap-up of what’s been going on since we last posted:

Football: Butch Davis officially introduced as coach of the UNC Tar Heels. Everyone seems to be in love with this guy in Chapel Hill, and here’s to hoping the unrealistic expectations don’t lead to a complete meltdown, a la this year. Plenty of takes on this one, but I think the most out there by far comes from Barry Saunders of the News and Observer, who tries to argue that Davis’ Native American heritage is a big step (actually, he uses the word “momentous”) toward the racial diversification of ACC coaches. WHAT?? Really?? Seriously, talk about creating significance where there is none. I get upset enough when the race card gets played in sports journalism all too often (hello, Scoop Jackson!), but this article actually seemed to accomplish the rare feat of having the potential to offend all parties involved: intelligent readers such as myself, and Native Americans who this guy is saying should be proud of a football coach who looks a lot more like General Custer than Geronimo to me. Thanks for that insightful piece of journalism, Barry.

Basketball: The Heels fall to Gonzaga, but still takes third in preseason NIT after a beatdown of still-overrated Tennessee. Unfortunately there was not a Bruce-Pearl-sweating-through-his-neon-orange-jacket sighting. Not much to say about those games other than “the Tar Heels ARE who we THOUGHT they were!”; a young team that won’t be hurt by a few early losses due to growing pains. They still go twelve deep, and they’ll still probably be pretty much unbeatable at home, which I think they’ll show in the marquee matchup of the Big Ten-ACC challenge tonight: #6 UNC vs. #1 (or 3) Ohio State. In case you hadn’t noticed, the ACC has been rather dominant thus far and I can’t see this going in OSU’s favor. Not sure if Roy will play the card that the guys should get excited about knocking off the number 1 team in the country to get his boys excited tonight, but regardless they come in at home in a major TV matchup with something to show the national audience. Personally, I’m hopeful that this will be a statement game for the Tar Heels; Kansas and Florida seemingly made the rest of the sports world forget about UNC with their unbelievable barn-burner in Las Vegas that has a lot of experts talking about them being the two best teams in college basketball far and away.

It’s time for us to enter back into the conversation. Without Oden, I’m thinking this thing gets out of hand early and the Heels cruise.

The Butch Effect

jtw3 — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:16:00 -0500

Sorry for the delay in posting - been super busy. Thanks for bringing us back, Zeke.

So what does the Butch Davis hire mean for UNC football? Well, I can tell you what I think it means, as an alumnus and fan of Carolina football.

It's true that Butch Davis last coached in college when Carl Torbush led the Tar Heel squad. It's also true that he had a forgettable stint as head coach of the Cleveland Browns. What else is true? Well, that Butch Davis is a name coach. Butch Davis was by far the #1 choice, and I thought a longshot to come to North Carolina. But his name is on the dotted line, and he'll roam the sidelines (for at least a few seasons) as the head man for the Tar Heels.

People know Butch Davis' name, and it gives the program instant credibility. I'm thinking we're a national championship contender right away. I'm kidding, of course.

I don't know what's going to happen, but people are excited about the program for the first time in a while, definitely since the beginning of this season. Players are excited, recruits are excited, and it's going to be a lot of fun to watch.

What do you expect?

Well, it's official

jtw3 — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 21:51:00 -0400

Carolina To Make Football Coaching Change For 2007 :: John Bunting will continue to coach the Tar Heels for the rest of this season.

Announced tonight by Baddour and Bunting.

I wanted a coaching change, but I can't say I feel great about it right now. John Bunting is a good guy who, like me, loves his alma mater. He just couldn't get it done on the field.

Coach, you gave us two of the greatest wins in Carolina football history. It wasn't always pretty, but it was clear you loved this University. Good luck.

Lee Pace unleashed

jtw3 — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 08:43:00 -0400

Extra Points: A Long Night In Charlottesville :: Lee Pace on Thursday's loss at Virginia.

If you haven't read the above-linked article, do check it out. As you probably know, Lee Pace is the on-the-field analyst for the Tar Heel Sports Network. He's a writer for the school's official web site. He literally 'wrote the book' on John Bunting at Carolina. And now he's saying things like this:

The dislocations all around Bunting's program are staggering as the Tar Heels lurch into the second half of the season with a 1-6 record.

How does a coach with a reputation cast in granite over a playing and coaching career of discipline and focus continue to have issues like Garrett White making an inappropriate gesture to the Virginia fans, just one day after Bunting pointedly directed the Tar Heels to not be affected by the crowd? Bunting chewed out the sophomore linebacker after the pre-game incident and banished him to the sideline in street clothes, later saying the behavior was "unbecoming of any young person, certainly of this football program and this great university."

How does a coach who is forever talking about teamwork have a player like receiver Jesse Holley who stomps his feet and flails his arms after Dailey throws the ball elsewhere on one play in the third quarter and then drops a pass thrown to him on the very next snap?

Something's brewing folks, because Pace is usually right in line with Bunting and the University. Finally, it appears, he's had enough of having to pretend that there is a foundation being built. That foundation is crumbling.

A buyout in the works? And WCHL borrows without asking...

jtw3 — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 22:47:00 -0400

Eddy Landreth of CarolinaBlue says a buyout is on the way for Bunting. Very interesting. Landreth says the decision on the next coach is above Dick Baddour and the chancellor. Still, I feel like this hire, moreso than even the Roy Williams hire, will ultimately be what defines Baddour's tenure as AD at Carolina.

Funny that yesterday WCHL 1360 was reporting that Bunting would resign soon at this page. They've changed the story now, and they've also changed the picture on their site. The picture they currently have is located at http://www.wchl1360.com/images/bunting.jpg

The original picture that ran with their original story is now at http://www.wchl1360.com/images/bunting2.jpg

Where did they get the 'bunting2' picture? Why, HeelsBlog.Com! Thanks for noticing!

I took that picture myself in May 2005 at the Tar Heel Tour stop in Cary.

WCHL is the original and flagship station of the Tar Heel Sports Network. A fixture of news and talk radio in Chapel Hill. And they don't have a picture of John Bunting on file? Let's be honest: I'm not making any money off of HeelsBlog. I don't do this for a living; in fact I lose money on the site every month. I do it for love. But please, if you are the webmaster or whomever is responsible at WCHL, can't you just do your job, and not have to have me do it for you?

I emailed the station manager (very politely, if I do say so) and the picture came down not long after, but the whole thing is laughable. And they still have the picture on their server.

HeelsBlog makes the bigtime

jtw3 — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 22:39:00 -0400

College program 'ownership' seems to be touchy subject

The link above goes to a story in the Rocky Mount Telegram. Hugh Kellenberger interviewed me the other day (a day before the Virginia game) to talk about what I as a Ram's Club member and Tar Heel fan expect out of the football program. I think he did a pretty good job summarizing how I feel.

I'm not married yet, by the way, and with this quote,

"I contribute a little bit of money every year and I go and support the players," Walston said. "But with the efforts that we've seen and the lethargy, I can't do it anymore,"

I was actually referring to not attending the Old Well Walk lately. Why should I get to a noon game at 9:45 to see a bunch of uninspired players stroll through campus.

Overall, I got a good kick out of the whole thing. I still can't believe he printed my M&Ms and Goldfish quote.

What does it take?

jtw3 — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:56:00 -0400

There's three minutes left in the game at Virginia, but I think I can go ahead with this post.

North Carolina would owe nearly $2 million if the current coaching staff were let go. I think that is the sticking point here. John Bunting received a contract extension at the end of 2004, when the team finished 6-6 after a loss in the Continental Tire Bowl. We rewarded mediocrity, and we are being rewarded now with crap. This team is the worst in Division I college football, and is worse than some Division I-AA teams. Probably most.

I don't think it's Xs and Os with Bunting, although I've hated a lot of the play calling this year. I think Bunting and this staff have lost the ability to motivate this team. We've got some good players. We do not, however, have a good team. It's painful to watch. It's embarassing for ESPN announcers to laugh at our team, which Fowler and Herbstreit have done tonight. This is my alma mater, a school that I have given my money, heart and soul. It's pitiful.

I am not going to any more Carolina football games this year. The money is gone, but I don't have to subject myself to any more embarassment. I am thoroughly disgusted by the performance of this football team, and I'm through investing in this program until a change is made.

A note from Ted on what this team has to do

jtw3 — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 18:39:00 -0400

Unfortunately, I forgot to post this before the South Florida game. You all saw it. This team has quit, so I have quit blogging about them. But Ted gave me a nice writeup about what this team ought to do. They're not doing it, obviously, but it's a nice summary of some things that should be happening.

Cam Sexton has shown that he has the physical skills and savvy to succeed at the college level. However, he cannot lead drives on his own and has yet to receive much support from the rest of his offense. Although Sexton is quite agile in the pocket, the offensive line has offered him little or no protection leading to sacks and lost yardage. To compound the problem, the wide receivers have maintained their inconsistency from a year ago and continue to drop balls at crucial points in drives.

Against Miami, the Tar Heels used a single-back offense almost exclusively. Having three or four receivers spread out on the field gave Sexton many more options in the passing game. Using the shotgun for the majority of the game should have given him more time in the pocket but as previously mentioned, the protection broke down too often. The blocking scheme seemed to have more success adding a tight end to the line in place of a fourth receiver. Besides serving as an extra blocker, Jon Hamlett also gave Sexton a good passing option when the pocket did break down.

In order to take some pressure off Cam Sexton and his receivers, the running game desperately needs to find a spark. No team can expect to win, or move the ball consistently for that matter, when they total only 58-yards rushing. Critics are quick to blame the offensive line for the shortcomings although part of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the halfbacks. Many people highlight the fact that Ronnie McGill was highly ranked on Mel Kiper’s list of senior halfbacks and therefore assume that he is an NFL-caliber back. However, they fail to realize that the majority of NFL-ready backs leave school after their junior years, severely watering-down the senior talent pool. If players like Reggie Bush, LenDale White, Laurence Maroney, and others had returned for their senior seasons, McGill wouldn’t be rated nearly as high. McGill proved that he can have success breaking tackles once he gets into the open field; however, he has struggled to find holes quickly enough in the new blocking scheme.

The lack of rushing success led the coaches to all but abandon the I-form on Saturday in favor of single-back looks. Barrington Edwards seemed to grasp the new scheme well, getting good acceleration before the handoff and slicing through the line. Yet, he was never able to break a run over four yards. The staff seems reluctant to try other options at the position, but Richie Rich did see some action on Saturday. Rich is a smaller, shiftier, back that can also catch passes from the backfield, giving the offense another dimension. The staff needs to give him more playing time earlier in the game as he has the potential to break a big run after a screen pass.

Another aspect of the offense that has been underutilized is Jesse Holley’s ability to make defenders miss after the catch. Holley is a very fluid runner and has shown in the past that he can break multiple tackles to gain extra yardage. The staff needs to look to him more across the middle with a few short passes each game that have the potential to turn into big gains.

With the injury to Hakeem Nicks, someone will need to step in against South Florida and take over the role of Cam Sexton’s most reliable target. Holley will probably benefit the most as he is expected to shift into Nicks’s spot. However, Kenton Thornton and Dirk Engram will also get a chance to step on the field and see what they can accomplish.

Tar Heels battle to a scoreless tie against bye week

jtw3 — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 18:40:00 -0400

Hey - at least it's not a loss.

I always enjoyed reading Woody Durham's thoughts on the old GoHeels.com site. Here, he rounds up the preseason takes on the basketball Tar Heels.

Woody's Word: UNC Hoops Highly Rated

A Plague On Both Your Houses!

UNChotdog — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 12:23:00 -0400

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.

A public embarassment

jtw3 — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 20:00:00 -0400

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.

A Three point win over a I-AA Team

jtw3 — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:02:00 -0400

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.

Ugh

jtw3 — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 11:46:00 -0400

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.

This is the new blue?

jtw3 — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 22:15:00 -0400

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.

Paulus to UNC

jtw3 — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 07:23:00 -0400

Carolina football received perhaps the biggest commitment since Ronald Curry yesterday, when quarterback Mike Paulus (brother of Duke point guard Greg) committed to UNC. Paulus is a top 10 QB in the nation, and his commitment will likely inspire more top-flight players, including Durham WR Greg Little, to come down to Chapel Hill.

John Bunting is building something special.

HeelsBlog Podcast #2

jtw3 — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 23:42:00 -0500

HBG is MIA, but I talk post-Duke, looking ahead to Miami, and chance encounters.

Heels get Signing Day Boost

jtw3 — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:06:00 -0500

So today was National Signing Day for college football recruits. The Heels did well. I've seen our class ranked as high as #24 in the nation and #4 in the ACC.

It's definitely the best class of North Carolina schools, so that looks good to the in-state players and coaches. Building your core from in-state players is key, especially for a state-supported university.

Check out video and stats of our signees at TarHeelBlue.

The two big names you'll hear most immediately are Jarrell Miller, from Virginia, and Aleric Mullins, who played his senior season at East Wake. Miller committed in January at the Army All-American Bowl, but was courted by schools like Virginia and Virginia Tech up until today. Mullins chose Carolina over Auburn and Tennessee.

I heard Roy Williams and Tyler Hansbrough were called in to help recruit Mullins during his official visit last weekend, so that really shows you how closely the two programs run together. Hansbrough played high school basketball against Mullins.

I am very excited about the class recruited by John Bunting and company, and hope you'll welcome them to Kenan Stadium with open arms.

One more thought: Tommy Thigpen has been named several times as the big reason these defensive recruits are swayed to Carolina. What a great addition to the staff he has been. Already paying dividends on the recruiting trail.

The Trouble with Mike Mason

jtw3 — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 23:46:00 -0500

Mike Mason has been dismissed from the Tar Heel football team.

I am inclined to believe his dismissal has to do with the zero-tolerance substance abuse policy recently implemented by the UNC athletic department.

I am extremely disappointed in Mike Mason. Disappointed he won't be able to contribute on the football field, and disappointed he likely won't complete his college education at UNC.

What are you thinking, putting an artificial high in front of a college football career? Putting your education in jeopardy in the middle of your junior year? Taking an opportunity so few people would get (and the rest of us would do anything for), and letting it go up in smoke?

I am not so naive as to think this is just a Mike Mason issue. It's not just a Carolina issue. It's a college athletics issue. These kids, 18-22, have an incredible opportunity to play a game and get a free college education for it. Kids know their jersey numbers. Hundreds line up two hours and 15 minutes prior to a game simply to see them walk by. People give up their Saturdays to see these young men represent their universities. And it seems to mean so little to so many of them.

I know it's a lot of responsibility to carry the heart and soul of a fanbase onto the field, but you've got to respect yourself enough not to throw these things away.

Football

jtw3 — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 22:39:00 -0500

The 4th quarter of the game is about to start in Blacksburg. The Heels trail, 27-3. There are several things that are frustrating me about this game.

The officiating has been horrible. There have been at least two plays in which replay could have or would have changed the outcome of the play in the Heels' favor. First, Virginia Tech's touchdown catch. Some say it was a trap.

The second, Marcus Vick's fumble that wasn't. Looked like a fumble to me.

The facemask flag that was picked up, when ESPN's replay clearly showed the flag that was thrown (and picked up) should have stayed on the ground.

Dropped balls. This has been the story all season. Jesse again drops a touchdown catch. This story is way old.

Also really old is the offense's ineptness. You can only ask so much from the defense. We should have been able to win against Wisconsin. We should be able to be competitive in this game. But when we punt from the 1 and put the D against the wall, what do you expect? Unreal.

"That guy should have a maroon shirt on." - Bob Davie during the ESPN broadcast of North Carolina at Virginia Tech, after Ronnie McGill broke four or five tackles.

So North Carolina can't have athletes that can break tackles, Bob? Anyone that might be able to do things like that ought not to be at a program such as North Carolina, right?

Give me a break. I love Carolina football, but this is all driving me crazy. It's hard to be a Carolina football fan sometimes.

And now Kyndraus Guy is out. We don't need kids getting hurt in blowouts.

Thanksgiving break

jtw3 — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 16:46:00 -0500

I've been busy with a short week at work and the same amount to be done. I'll be back Saturday with a wrap of three basketball games and a wrapup or preview of the game at Virginia Tech.

Have a great Thanksgiving and Go Heels!

The weekend that was...part 2

jtw3 — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 23:00:00 -0500

Welcome to Kenan Stadium.

So it was Senior Day for guys like Matt Baker. Tommy Davis. Derrele Mitchell. Chase Page. Tommy Richardson. Jarwarski Pollock. It was against Duke. The rival. The 1-9 Blue Devils. The terrible, terrible team.

Welcome to Kenan Stadium.

We scored on the first drive. Great. Harder than it should have been, but we were going to win this one by 38 points, right?

Welcome to Kenan Stadium.

We give up a touchdown to Duke. Whoops. A goal line stand and then Asack goes in on 4th down. Okay..... We're still going to win this one by 38 points, right?

Welcome to Kenan Stadium.

We go down 14-7. Wait. This isn't supposed to happen, is it? This is a joke, right?

Welcome to Kenan Stadium.

Baker connects on a 38 yard TD pass to Mitchell. Senior to senior. Nice. 14-14. Here we go, right?

Welcome to Kenan Stadium.

Wrong. Well, we got a Barth field goal to close the half up 17-14, but we're still playing Duke, right?

Welcome to Kenan Stadium.

Cue a pretty boring second half. No third-quarter scoring. Then in the 4th, we go into "play not to lose" mode. And give up another touchdown. So we're down 21-17 with five minutes to play. We're down. At home. To Duke. Football.

"This is your Senior Day, Matt Baker." That's what I kept saying to myself. I had my hat inside-out, like Randy Quaid in Major League II. Hands in pockets, wearing a disgusted frown; I was the anti-fan. "This is your Senior Day, Matt Baker."

Welcome to Kenan Stadium.

Ronnie McGill gets a generous spot on a 4th down run and we're driving. Ronnie's running and we're driving. Matt's running on 3rd and 10 and we're driving.

"Did he get it? Did he get it?" The HBG (HeelsBlogGirl to you new readers) says to me. I nodded my head. She turns around, bouncing up and down in time to the fight song.

Ronnie's in and we're up 24-21. Tommy Richardson intercepts ("This is your Senior Day, T-Rich") and we win. Sigh.

Duke did an excellent job bringing their personnel in to play. They also did an excellent job attempting to hurt North Carolina's athletes, ripping off helmets, shooting for knees and blocking in backs. I once had respect for Ted Roof. Felt sorry for him and Duke football, even. No more.

The Heels played terribly and won a game that would have been a thriller against a better opponent. Normally I would say we have a shot at an upset this weekend at Virginia Tech, but with injuries and the attitude with which the Heels approached this game (this game against Duke), I just don't see it happening. The Hokies need to beat us to go to the BCS. We need to beat the Hokies to go to 6-5 and have a shot at a bowl bid.
Guess who's got the most motivation?

Welcome to Kenan Stadium.
Sigh.

Well dang

jtw3 — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 22:45:00 -0500

If you weren't a fan of either team; if you didn't care who won (or if you were a Maryland fan), yesterday's football game against Maryland was a great game. It was a classic matchup between two evenly-matched teams. Neither team was the best in the country. They both wanted to win badly. Maryland won.

As the game entered its final minutes, it was clear that this was going to be a game to be remembered. By the winning team.

So we lost, and here we are at 4-5, needing to win at home against Duke and on the road against Virginia Tech.

How is it that we kept getting beat deep? Maryland exploited the injury to Jacoby Watkins, and simply went over the top. Those touchdowns came out of nowhere.

Good thing - pass protection. I don't remember the Heels giving up a sack.

Bad thing - run protection. Hardly any yards on the ground (maybe in the high 60s by the running backs).

Good thing - the pass rush

Bad thing - the secondary

Last year, the Tar Heels needed to win 3 out of 4 to get to a bowl. They won at home against Miami, lost a close one to Virginia Tech, and beat Wake and Duke on the road.
This year, the Heels needed to do the same thing. They won at home against BC, lost a close one at home to Maryland, and now have Duke and Virginia Tech.
Last year, they got to 6-5 improbably.
This year, the same feat would be even more improbable.

Big Big Weekend

jtw3 — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 23:54:00 -0500

If you're going to be in Chapel Hill this weekend, you're in for a treat. A virtual Tar Heel sports smorgasbord will take place Friday through Sunday.

Friday at 5 p.m., the ACC Champion Women's Soccer team will take on Western Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Fetzer Field.

If you're in Cary, the men's soccer team takes on Clemson at 8 p.m. Friday in an ACC semifinal.

As you know, the gridiron Tar Heels take on Maryland at noon Saturday. The Heels, at 4-4, have three games remaining. As noted, they need two of three. Unless the Tar Heels plan on beating Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on November 26, they need to take care of business Saturday.

As I said before last weekend's games, John Bunting's teams find a way to win in tough spots. Jesse Holley is truly asserting himself, in spite of other holes in the offense. The Tar Heel defense is carrying the team (aside from Holley).

John Bunting has never beaten Ralph Friedgen. He will this weekend.

At 5 p.m. Saturday, the men's basketball Tar Heels take on Catawba at the Dean E. Smith Center. Catawba fans, don't forget to pick up your t-shirts to commemorate the game.

If the women's soccer team wins Friday, they would take on either Virginia Commonwealth or Clemson at 1 p.m. Sunday at Fetzer in the NCAA second round. At the same time is the men's soccer ACC final at SAS soccer park in Cary.

Also - Craig Shemon and James Washington (Shemon and J-Dub on Fox Sports Radio) will be broadcasting live from Spanky's on Franklin Street on Friday and Saturday.

Have a great weekend, and go Heels!

At 7 p.m., the Women's Basketball Tar Heels take on Davidson in their first game of the season at Carmichael Auditorium.

Here's what I don't understand: how is it that Duke is the preseason #1 team in the country (here's a hint- Monique Currie is seriously overrated), and the Tar Heels, who return four starters and have brought in a great freshman class, oh, and swept Duke, beating them by 3 million points in the ACC final, are ranked #7?
Listen, the Heels have one thing no other team in the country has: her name is Ivory Latta. Watch out. Don't sleep on Camille Little, either.

Tracy Schultz of SI.com has the right idea.