Ted Enarson checks in with an interesting take on how the performance on the field directly affects the support in the stands.

Carolina’s 14-5 loss on Saturday may have done more harm than just adding another loss to the team’s record. As many people know, fan support fluctuates with a team’s success or failure. Tar Heel fans are not unfamiliar with this concept, witnessing the same pattern in Kenan Stadium over the past 4 seasons.

After last year’s success, Carolina fans anxiously anticipated the start of the 2005 season. This was evident in Kenan Stadium Saturday night as it was packed with 60,000 fans. So full was the stadium that many students were left without seats or were barred from entry. However, as soon as the Tar Heel offense stagnated and it became apparent that a win was unlikely, the stands emptied like a classroom when the bell rings. Although many loyal fans stayed until the end, the vast majority left after Wisconsin’s second touchdown.

The poor play of Carolina’s offense on Saturday will surely have ramifications on attendance for the rest of the season. As evidenced in the past, many fans will not bother making the trip to Chapel Hill to watch another “loss”. However, the Tar Heels do have a chance to redeem themselves. Saturday, Carolina will travel to Raleigh and take on the hated Wolfpack. The rivalry has intensified significantly since last year’s controversial goal-line series gave the Heels an upset victory. If John Bunting can take his team into Carter-Finley Stadium and come home with a win, it could be the moral boost necessary to ensure a packed house at the Utah game.