North Carolina

 So this is what it feels like. Cuz I have never been here before, and I would guess my dear friends that you haven't either. In my half century, our Garnet & Gold boys have never won a game where we have been two touchdown underdogs. Which on one hand is a good thing, because we have not had that many at bats in that situation. But, in the last three seasons, it has become a Saturday tradition to be looking up at a Vegas mess. Maybe killing that Rasputin this weekend means that we can avoid this prelude for another 50 seasons. But back to the feeling. Umm, how about a hoofless goat on a six inch cliff face trail. Or pulling Sally's pigtail and seeing the nun striding towards you with a yardstick and a smile. Trouble was coming, and it was inevitable, and then in a wash of powder blue drops, you were hugging your son, masked strangers and hoping you packed enough beer for your midnight non-tailgate parking lot celebration. 

It is impossible not to like Mack Brown. A proud Nole wideout from the 0-11 vintage, he handles himself with class reminiscent of our favorite hero currently collecting our prayers from Killearn. He has been able - and is the only coach to ever - to bring the football variety of this powder blue hoop crazy group into the top five of the polls twice in their history. Both times, his next opponent after cracking the seal was his alma mater who bitchslapped him back to their rightful place in mediocrity. Mack is oh fer ten against FSU in his coaching tenure, so again, what's not to like.

I just want to thank the beautiful collegiates that had been holding our defensive line hostage in their lovenests for the last month finally allowing the boys back on the field. I have reviewed every other possible explanation for how these dudes that were so good coming into this special year were not able to function. Now it is obvious. FSU may play second fiddler in a bunch of collegiate roof competitions, but one area we never lose is gorgeous, enthralling female temptations. I am assuming that a monied cabal of Clemson, Florida and Miami boosters have been funding their girlfriends to wear out our D-line all week long. They have nothing left to give on game day, so even their best effort has no chance. Finally guilt, fear of Mr. & Mrs Mullen coming to see them at the next bag drop and contracting COVID, and good old fashioned Nole pride released these women from their obligations. Boom, we have a defense again!

Our three presumptive draft picks were back, and playing like they missed real football. Big Marv may get drafted just as a kick block specialist. How many DT's have three blocks in one season? His effort was contagious, as Durden and Josh also had their best games of the season. Josh's film work paid off in the second as he diagnosed the pass to the back and caught erstwhile Nole Howell's first TD toss ever in Doak. It is not a coincidence that Dix and Lundy were permanent fixtures on the defense and we tackled better. They still got fooled on just about every play action look to the TE, but their speed and physicality made a huge difference. Travis Jay also brings an attitude to the back half that we really need. Asante continues to hold down half the field, but holy smokes what a tough day for the Dotson / Dent combo. Micky Andrews used to train his corners to run with em as freshman, turn your hips and head as sophomores, then pick em off as upperclassmen. Well, we got the first two steps down (which is progress), but it is tough waiting on the interception phase. Carolina only sustained success was that sideline go route, so look for that to continue until we find a way to stop it.

I give Coach Fuller a bunch of credit for simply giving the kids the aggressive mentality to compete this week. We lined up like we wanted to win, and he went after UNC with a terrific variety of blitzes. But his best play may have been a late change. He had Asante set to corner blitz, it was diagnosed pre-snap and he changed it on the fly to a safety weak side go. Howell was confused and sacked. Kids, this staff can flat out coach.

If that last statement was in doubt, then the RPO jump pass to a walk-on TE from your own 7 yard on third down with momentum waning should allay every fear. What a fearless call, and a game changer. Seconds later, Jordan is rolling right and throwing left in the face of three rushers to a streaking Pokey and the first half rout was on. By the way, how unlucky are we that the only camera in existence that could possibly have overturned that Wilson triple jump of perfection from a score was in the damn pylon; only available at the prime time ABC game. As if the All Carolina Conference zebras need another reason to punish us. They somehow missed the three out of bounds late hits, but if our OL knuckle cracks too loud, it is a false start. It just drives every team not residing in the triangle nuts, but it ain't changing, so eat your vegetables Biff.

With Terry out, we all were wondering who would pick up the slack and that bewilderment continued as Pokey hot potatoed the first toss in his mitts. From that moment on, it was a collective effort in slack picking. Helton wearing a knee brace that weighs more than he does made two Ringling catches. Much maligned Warren Thompson made a veteran move of not moving his arms on a go route and the dime landed in his mitts without the tightly covered corner even knowing it was in the area code. Cam and the aforementioned TE legend Preston Daniel both made huge grabs. Our resident bowling ball Webb bounced and bobbed to over 100, and our QB finished the game with one arm. We really need a blowout (hopefully of the us leading variety) so we can get young Purdy some real snaps.

Watching Coach earnestly attend to every hurt player (not just the stars), rip and punish the idiocy of every personal foul, and fist pump like Tiger when someone makes a great play unlocks his passion for the fans to see. He is the master of coachspeak at his pressers, but watch HIS kids as he broke the post game rock and you will get a sense that the culture has shifted and he is more real than idioms in their presence. Coach Papuchis told the ABC crew this week that he felt really good about blocking a Carolina punt. Well, they may have mocked him for assuming there would be a punt, but the reality that we absolutely opened the woodshed because of this coaching prep is incredibly exciting.

If Travis can survive, then we have a chance to win every game but one heading home. Will we? Probably not, but did you think after 0-2 and down 14 to Jax State, that we would feel this way two weeks later?  The big uglies may be the strength of the team in 2021 and if this entire group starts to truly feed off each other, then recruits will feel that as well. That is the answer to moving from mediocrity to where we belong. So, kids, enjoy this bizarre feeling of being a terrible team pulling an upset, cuz it is leaving very soon and we hope never to return.