Bob Holliday: Tar Heels Getting Worse

Posted 11:08 a.m. Oct 20, 2006 — Updated 11:08 a.m. Oct 20, 2006

Before the game in Charlottesville, UNC football coach John Bunting confronted linebacker Garrett White, who apparently had made an obscene gesture toward the Virginia crowd. White was told to watch the game in street clothes. Bunting's keeping a tight rein on player mis-conduct has probably helped his university's image. You get the feeling North Carolina's bench would never go running across the field swinging helmets at its opposition.

But following a 23-0 loss to lowly Virginia, you'd have to say there is much more wrong about UNC's performance on the field than there is right. I would challenge anyone who watched Thursday night's game to find a bright spot in the Tar Heels' play.

It was clear by mid-September that neither Virginia nor UNC would be going places this fall. But over the past two weeks, Virginia has gotten better and Carolina has gotten worse.

Earlier in the season, Duke did not allow Virginia to mount a single scoring drive of merit. Virginia's 36 points came primarily as a result of turnovers and kicking game mistakes by Duke. East Carolina defeated Virginia easily (and yes ECU fans, it was NOT an upset). Maryland beat Virginia at Scott Stadium, despite a 20-0 deficit. Carolina on the other hand, was dominated by Virginia from start to finish.

With Election Day drawing near in this country, we hear politicians putting a spin on their voting record at each opportunity. But in Chapel Hill, how can UNC's abysmal 2006 football season be spun as anything but a disaster?

Early on, Carolina showed some offensive punch against Rutgers and again against Furman. But in the past three games neither Cam Sexton nor Joe Dailey has been able to mount more than one scoring drive.

On the other side of the ball, let the record show that Carolina forced UVA to kick field goals three times in the first half. But in ths meeting of resistible force against movable object (both Virginia's offense and UNC's defense rank among the nation's worst), the Cavaliers were the clear winner with two second-half touchdowns.

To John Bunting's credit, he has always put the long-term welfare of the school and the program first. He has dismissed some talented players who violated team rules, regardless of the outcome of those decisions in terms of wins and losses. (One of those dismissed players, Adarius Bowman, amassed a record 300 yards in receptions last Saturday at Oklahoma State). Bunting has recruited well. By all accounts, his best class is the one committed for the 2007 season. A number of talented players are being red-shirted for future seasons.

Wake Forest is reaping the benefits of its large numbers of experienced red shirts now. Bunting seems to enjoy the respect of the faculty and the administration. But if this program has a strong foundation -- and maybe it does -- will the current coaching staff be around to see the results down the road? The discord from alumni and fans has grown louder since the 52-7 loss to Clemson. Many in the media see a coaching change as inevitable.

The only thing more discouraging for Carolina football fans than the current record is the future schedule: Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, and Duke. This team could be headed for 1-11. And if it beats Duke to go 2-10, what does that do to change the long-held perception that this is a basketball school?

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