Aftermath.
- Butch Davis has stated Cam Sexton will start against NC State(and the message boards groaned) This decision indicates two things in my opinion: (1) Davis thinks the Maryland game was as much about the Terps’ defense than it was Sexton’s overall play and (2) Yates, while playing a few snaps versus Georgia Tech, may not be as ready to go as they would like. Personally, I would have yanked Sexton in the MD game simply because you have the luxury of a proven QB on the bench who may have been able to make a dent at a crucial point. Such a move would not have been an indictment of Sexton but rather using the tools available, especially when the starter is struggling.
- A commenter raised a question of a missing 25 seconds in the last two minutes of the game versus Maryland. It would seem that the refs did indeed screw up though Butch Davis never made an issue of it. As you recall, Maryland had the ball, 3rd down on the nine when it was ruled Chris Turner completed a pass to the one yard line with over two minutes left. Maryland, with a 1st down on the one, decided to milk some clock and they did until the officials stopped the clock for a review. On further review the pass was ruled incomplete bringing up fourth down at the nine but the officials never adjusted the clock. Since the pass was incomplete the clock would have stopped at that point. The officials never bothered to adjust the time for this and UNC got the ball back with 1:33 left in the game not close to two minutes as it should have been. Did it matter? Not really. UNC did not run out of time since the Sexton INT came with 49 seconds left. There is a slight impact since starting a drive with almost two minutes left is better than doing it with 1:33 left. UNC had all their timeouts, started the drive from their own 35 and who knows, the extra time may have allowed for one running play against a Maryland defense looking for the pass. Besides that it is just more bad officiating from the ACC to which we have grown accustomed.
- JP Gilgio has Coastal Division scenarios that could still give UNC a path to Tampa. Unfortunately it involves Miami, VT and UVa all losing a game over the next two weeks while UNC has to beat NCSU and Duke. I think UNC can handle their end. As for the rest of it, it’s possible. GT could beat Miami, Clemson could beat Virginia and Virginia could in turn beat Virginia Tech. I do not see Duke beating VT or NCSU beating Miami which are the other possibilities. The possibility is there it just does not seem probable.
- NC State comes to town Saturday having won two straight games and carrying some momentum. There is a belief beginning to circulate that the Pack comes in without any pressure and could upend the Heels in Kenan. I counter with the fact UNC has played extremely well following the previous losses this season and has plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball to handle NCSU despite the late season improvement. Personally I would very much like to see UNC ream the Pack in a manner that would frighten young children but a win in any form would be acceptable as well.
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A thorough demolition of the Pack would be just what the doctor ordered.
I’ve read in several places comments regarding UNC’s need to create turnovers to win games, especially INT’s. This was followed by the fact that Russell Wilson has thrown very few INT’s, so the logic is that State has the advantage. I think it will be interesting to see if we can get some pressure on Wilson and let our secondary work their magic. I think our guys will be up to the challenge, and hungry to avenge last season loss.
I would also argue that some of the pressure is actually off the Heels. We probably have no chance at the division title, so hopefully we’ll play loose on Saturday.
This is part of the long standing practice among ABCers, especially some Wolfpack fans, to try and de-legitimize any success UNC has. This is why you have stupid conversations about Fred Brown’s pass or the fact Roy did not recruit most of the players that won the title in 2005. The time and effort spent creating asinine arguments is laughable in the face of the Heels’ actual record.
I don’t think UNC took Maryland for granted. Maryland was able to play the game on their terms; rough, physical, and the plan to give Turner as few opportunities as possible to give UNC an opportunity to get that big game changing turnover played to their advantage. While I’ll always complain and ask what the defensive coordinator is doing scheme-wise, those kids are fast, athletic, and can swarm to the ball like nothing else. I just wish they would apply more pressure so they don’t give up huge chunks of yards which lead to TD’s.
On another note, I find it frustrating that Miami may just squeak into the ACC title game and we beat them on their home turf. I also find it equally frsutrating that the talking heads and pundits decided to hit us hard in the polls while rewarding BC and Miami (two teams we beat). Granted Miami is getting hot at the right time, but you can’t discount the fact that we beat them at their house.
Finally, a seven-win season is probably what a lot of the “experts” planned on. I would love to cap this off with a nine win season and a much better bowl game than expected. I would love the Peach Bowl (I refuse to call it the Chick-Fil-A Bowl) and an opportunity to play an SEC or Big 12 team. I don’t know where we would end up at this point, but I guess I’ll take any bowl game we can get, considering we haven’t been in bowl action for the past four years.
The Peach bowl definitely sounds better, but the Chik-Fil-A bowl tastes better. Mmmmm.. Chik-Fil-A and waffle fries…..
Ooops.. I meant Chick, not Chik. It must have been the drool clouding my judgment.
Look at New England’s wins over St. Louis and Carolina in the Super Bowl. I would just like to see us have somebody who is automatic from 40 yards and who can make it from 50 yards if necessary. Those guys have to be out there. Why not recruit one?