CHAPEL HILL — I have a theory about this North Carolina-N.C. State game on Saturday. My theory is this: I don’t think there’s ever been a football game against N.C. State that the UNC community – coaches, players, administrators, boosters, alumni, fans, etc. – have wanted to win more than this one.
This will be the 102nd meeting between the teams. Has the UNC community ever wanted to win a game more than this? Again, I say no.
Here’s why:
• Start with the five-game losing streak. UNC is 63-32-6 against N.C. State, but 0-5 during the past five years. The Tar Heels also lost five consecutive games against the Wolfpack from 1988 through 1992, but UNC has never lost six consecutive games against N.C. State. The losing streak would be bad enough by itself, but it has come during a time of unprecedented trouble at UNC.
• About that: N.C. State’s five-game winning streak against UNC has coincided with dark times in Chapel Hill. There has been a multi-faceted NCAA investigation and sanctions. There have been embarrassing revelations about the African- and Afro-American Studies Department, and troubling questions about the grades athletes received. And N.C. State fans, while reveling in their team’s on-the-field success, have enjoyed reminding UNC fans of their school’s problems. Not only that, but …
• N.C. State fans have actively contributed to some of those problems. I’m talking, specifically, about the message board sleuths at PackPride.com, a website that covers N.C. State sports and one that also features an active forum full of Wolfpack fans. Some of those fans uncovered the plagiarism that led to the dismissal of former football player Michael McAdoo. The first public link to Julius Peppers’ transcript, which reflected poor grades and a reliance on AFAM courses to stay eligible, also first originated on the PackPride message boards.
• All that would be reason enough for UNC fans to want this game against N.C. State more than any other in history but then there’s this: The Tar Heels can’t go to a bowl game this season. The ACC says they can’t even recognize themselves as Coastal Division champions if they finish first. Yes, a winning season would be nice. An 8- or 9-win season would be an accomplishment. But beating N.C. State? Ending the losing streak? That’d be the highlight of the Tar Heels’ season.
So you have the five-game losing streak, the NCAA investigation and sanctions, the glee N.C. State fans have displayed over all those troubles, the fact that some N.C. State fans have actively contributed to UNC’s problems and the fact that this is, basically, UNC’s bowl game. What does it all add up to? A game on Saturday that, I think, UNC fans want to win more than any other football game against N.C. State in history.
Am I wrong? Am I right?
Let’s hear it …
Feel free to leave comments below or, if you'd like, email them to me at acarter@newsobserver.com. If they're good, I might just use them in a story I'm working on about this very topic.
- Andrew Carter
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
UNC fans: Have you ever wanted a win against N.C. State more than this one?
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16 comments:
Ask any fan of Cheater Hill......State is not their rival, thus they don't care.
Our WR on the unc sideline knows to watch out for "panicked LBs" jogging quickly onto the field.
Nice to know our "you are not our rival" University is now unc's bowl game!
Who knows, maybe all of unc's CHeating will pay off this year.
"UNC Fans" - hahahahahahaha.
What? All 2 of them. Then they win and there are 2 million.
Bandwagon boys...or should I say.... Bandwagon "persons"
Excellent unbiased article. I'm surprised he didn't use the terms "We" and "Us". I understand it's an editorial but this isn't news worthy nor relevant. Regardless of how badly a fan base has wanted a win, the fan doesn't strap on a chin strap and lace up cleats. It comes down to discipline, game plans, and making plays. I'm sure it will be a good game when it's all said and done with. But people honestly don't care about you or your loyality to your team. Next time try to write about something more important than trying to revive a closeted fan base. Thanks.
I mean, I always want to beat NC State, and the losing streak stinks, but revenge for uncovering the wrongdoings? Not me. UNC should send the State fans who found this stuff a thank-you note. (I don't know about publishing student transcripts, but that's just from a privacy standpoint, not because it uncovered problems.)
UNC used to pride itself on a clean program. I'm a fan that took that to heart. If we're not clean, give us a good scrubbing until we are. Even if it's plowboys doing the scrubbing.
I have one issue wit hyour summary: "some N.C. State fans have actively contributed to UNC’s problems" - some NC State fans exposed some of UNC's problems. They did not "contribute" to those problems. UNC created the problems all by themselves.
Well said M. Beacon. Finally a grounded UNC fan.
Bring out the haters... Yet another reason for all you idiots to post your diatribes and think somebody is caring about it.
Hilarious.
If UNC had a shred of credibility, they would have cleaned up their program instead of continuing to cheat and stonewall. And you want to blame PackPride for doing the job of UNC administrators and alumns???
As a State fan I am loving this...6-0 baby! Would also love to see upstart Duke string together a nice streak against the Cheaters.
Nice fishing expedition.
As a UNC alumnus, I'd obviously like a win on Saturday. But it's not like this date has been circled on the calendar since last season. I would have preferred a W last week against our friends from New Jersey!
Based on ticket sales, UNC fans may want a win but they don't want to watch the game.
NC State deserves a severe beating just for their fans' casual racism if nothing else.
I agree with comments above by (my fellow) UNC alum Michael Bacon.
IMHO, to do otherwise is suggestive that the educational deficiencies were not limited to athletes.
unc will never come clean. they cheated and are still cheating. chancellor Thorpe said there were 53 academic exceptions made for the football team in the past 5 years, many of which are still in the program. given that 1/5th of these moved on that means there are roughly 44 scholarship players still competing which did not make a qualifying SAT score, or over 1/2 of the 85 allowable schol. players. where's the fairness in this? if you're a unc fan i'm sure you don't have a problem with this, after all, the mess has been cleaned up and "let's move on."
I'm sure everyone saw this...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2012/10/23/report-unc-receiver-erik-highsmith-plagiarized-11-year-olds/
UNCheat players plagiarizing little kids! Too funny! The hits keep on comin'.
What a dirty thug program!
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