The worst thing that could happen to the North Carolina football program at this point is to have the NCAA levy sanctions against the school, given the price the program has already paid.
Perhaps second on the list of unwanted misery to the horror show of 2010 would be losing to Duke in the regular-season finale.
The Tar Heels lost to N.C. State last Saturday in a gut-wrenching experience for the team as a whole and particularly for the seniors who must now leave UNC without a win against the Wolfpack.
If the Tar Heels can win Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. game at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham it would solidify a winning record (7-5) in a season in which that appeared to be improbable when all the suspensions began back in August.
“It’s imperative that we finish with a win,†UNC offensive lineman Mike Ingersoll said. “Duke always plays us tough. We’re going to their place. It’s huge that we get a win and right this ship, going into the bowl game.
“For all the positive things we have done this season, the only true justice of the season is to end this season with a win,†Ingersoll. “We will get prepared and come out ready to play.â€
Coach Butch Davis said that it’s a blessing to be playing Duke, not because he underestimates the Blue Devils but because having another rival of this nature will help redirect the Tar Heels from focusing on the loss to N.C. State.
“I think it probably helps your football team bounce back,†Davis said.
Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates threw for more than 400 yards against the Wolfpack and kept giving the Tar Heels opportunities to win the game. But he had to do it in between getting sacked seven times by the Wolfpack.
“Duke is very similar schematically to the team we just played,†Davis said. “We have to do a significantly improved job this week on pass protection and identifying where the pressure is coming from, and make sure we keep T.J. Yates a lot cleaner than we did last week.
“We were credited with four running backs missing blocks, missing protections,†Davis said. “It’s a little bit of everybody.â€
A start to protecting Yates would be to run the ball well. UNC ran for minus-7 yards against the Wolfpack. Granted, losses from sacks count against rushing, but not even factoring in the sacks, the Tar Heels gained a mere 54 yards rushing.
If Carolina could somehow gain 180 or more yards rushing against the Blue Devils, who are last in the league in rush defense, then Yates will almost certainly be even more effective.
There is no use in even bothering to fake a running play if the Tar Heels are no more efficient against Duke than they were against the Wolfpack. It’s a waste of what little time Yates has to throw.
Carolina has run out of time for inefficiency or waste.
A win would be great, but is it really “imperative?” After all, isn’t it this “win at any cost” attitude that got UNC into the situation they are in? And, maybe sanctions should still be imposed. What unfair “punishment” for flouting the rules has UNC suffered? Players broke the rules and they could not play. Players might have broken the rules and they were investigated and were later able to play. The investigation took longer than necessary because players lied when first questioned. Tutors helped more than permitted. Assistant coaches and professors did not report to the coach, who himself had no clue, about possible problems. No one saw anything and the investigation dragged on because everything had to be discovered.
We will never know how much true assistance UNC provided to the NCAA because records and infractions are all redacted due to “privacy” rules. UNC needs to serve as an example of what will happen to schools that don’t police themselves.
If sanctions are imposed, it is because UNC deserves them. At that point, the coach, his staff, the players, the recruits, and the fans can start with a truly clean slate. At that point all teams in the ACC will be on equal ground.
Rules are for every team. Instead of pointing fingers at the NCAA, point fingers at other teams, IF they are breaking the rules.