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A win and some smiles

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Staff

By Eddy Landreth
Staff Writer

CHAPEL HILL – A season that was supposed to be about championships and making a leap forward as a program has become another 12-game struggle for survival.

In Butch Davis’ first three seasons, the coaching staff and players turned a program beaten and battered into a winner again. Throughout this time, they’ve won a lot of close games and lost some others. It has been a trying, uphill climb.
As this season has shown, in an unfortunate manner, Davis and his coaches have recruited well through it all. But far too many young players are on the field before their time because some teammates are under investigation for either breaking NCAA rules in regards to agents or possible academic infractions.
Nonetheless, Carolina (1-2) went to New Jersey last weekend and won its first game of the year, beating Rutgers 17-13. Now the Tar Heels will focus on playing East Carolina (2-1) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Kenan Stadium.
“It took an awful lot just to maintain that positive attitude,” Davis said, “that if we keep working, good things are going to happen. That’s kind of the mantra for the rest of the season … certainly you’ve got to take care of your own personal self and practice as hard as you can, prepare as hard as you can and good things will happen.”
Davis said last weekend was the first time he’s seen his players smile in weeks.
“It was a huge relief to finally get that first win. [Coach Davis] is right – that was the first time I saw a lot of [smiles], me included,” safety Matt Merletti said. “Just, honestly, to feel genuinely happy and to finally get some good light on our program.”
Because of the suspensions and negative publicity in the national media, this team is playing beneath a dark cloud foreign to Carolina teams. Rutgers fans taunted the Carolina players by waving dollar bills, referring to the illegal gifts certain UNC players allegedly accepted from agents.
“I wouldn’t say it’s difficult, but it’s just one of those things that we’re going to have to deal with,” Merletti said. “With all this stuff going on, I kind of expected that going into a hostile environment like that and to get some reaction from the fans. We’re just really trying to focus on taking one game at a time and not focus on the fans, but the team.”
And for at least one week, they have been able to practice with a little less pressure bearing down on their collective backs.
“Just to get a ‘W’ – no matter how we get it or how ugly it is, we were just happy to get a win,” quarterback T.J. Yates said. “After a couple of close games, just to flip it around for us feels good.”

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