NC State- An Instant Classic

The NC State game can be classified as an Instant Classic. It had more twists and turns than a mountain road and to win it on a punt return by Gio Bernard with 13 seconds left was simply amazing. The Tarheels had a 25-7 lead, faced a 35-25 deficit, tied it up at 35, had great plays, bad plays, and an emotional finish to end the Wolpack's five game winning streak over the 'Heels. Jones Angell's call on Tarheel Radio should be required listening for all sports fans. Jones Angell's "No, he's not. yes he is! Gio is going to take it to the house!" ranks right up there with Al Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles?", Michael Buffer's "Are you ready to rumble?", and Harry Caray's "Holy Cow!".

Motivation

Head Coach Larry Fedora has tried different motivational tactics with the Tarheels football team this week, decorating the locker room with red, the idea being to see the proverbial red and to bring out the best in them. If the fact that NC State head coach Tom O'Brien has never lost to the Tarheels while he has been the Wolfpack head coach does not bring out the best in them, I do not know what will. He is 5-0 against the 'Heels, and with his highly ranked defense coming into Kenan Stadium this weekend, looks primed to extend the winning streak to 6 games. At the beginning of the season, Coach Fedora talked about winning a mythical "state championship" as the 'Heels were scheduled to play 5 games against teams from North Carolina this season. If the 'Heels lose to State this weekend, they will not even go .500 against the in-state teams after losing to ACC perennial cellar dwellars Wake Forest and Duke. The NC State game should be a rivalry game but the Tarheels need to win to make this a rivalry again. The past two seasons the Wolpack defense has really slammed the hammer down on the Tarheel running game. The key will be Gio Bernard. The 'Heels need someone else to step up and help him out whether it be via the pass or the run. I think Tight End Eric Ebron needs to step up against the NC State linebackers and work the middle of the field with his size and speed. Bryn Renner also needs to start strong and the 'Heels cannot afford to go into halftime facing a 2 TD deficit like they did against Louisville and Duke.

The Red Zone Vs. The Twilight Zone

Whenever the UNC Tarheels offense enters the Red Zone it ends up looking like the football version of the Twilight Zone. I can almost hear Rod Serling's voice now. The Tarheels trailed Duke 20-6 at halftime and 23-9 after three quarters all due to their inefficiancy in the red zone. The wide receivers do not have as much room to roam and Gio Bernard cannot get to the outside as well. QB Bryn Renner only had 36 yards passing thru three quarters and ended up with 198 yards but their offense was still the Gio show with over 130 yards rushing. With the NC state game on the horizon, the 'Heels need to figure out how to keep the red zone from turning into the Dead Zone against NC State's defense.

Va Tech Fourth Quarter

A beautiful 24 yard completion to Tapley to open the fourth. Bernard is up over 230 yards now. I am officially begging the Tarheels to not play the prevent defense. The only thing it prevents you from doing is winning. Tommy Heffernan with the Tarheels first sack of the game albeit was only for a loss of one yard. Once again the 'Heels D gashed by the long pass. How do you let a Wide Receiver get behind you like that? Logan Thomas does have an arm on him. UNC 45, Va Tech 34. A 34 yard run by A.J. Blue. The 'Heels have to keep the pressure on. Give up the option with Bryn Renner at QB. I don't think that play has gained a yard the entire game. Virginia Tech does not respect Renner as a runner and it will not be effective. Another pass interference on the Hokies? That call saved this drive for the Tarheels. Another Barth field goal. UNC 48, Va Tech 34. The refs flat out refuse to call offensive holding on the Hokies. Period. End of statement. I cannot believe they did not review the Reddick fumble recovery. He had posession inbounds. The Sylvester Williams-Kevin Reddick sack of Logan Thomas on fourth down finished off the Virginia Tech Hokies. The refs were actually going to call holding on that play as Williams was tackled but literally crawled on his hands and knees to get to the QB. Gio Bernard did the rest. Final score UNC 48, Virginia Tech 34.

Va Tech Third Quarter

Three-and-Out is the way to start the second half. One first down by the 'Heels on their first drive, a penalty, and a poor punt by Thomas Hibbard. We would hate for the refs to call holding on the Hokie offense or roughing the passer on their defense. The flags must be Carolina Blue. #9 Linebacker Travis Hughes with the steal! Travis Hughes stood up the running back and ripped the ball out of his hands setting the 'Heels up with posession on the Hokies side of the field. Now UNC has to take advantage of that. Renner shows some escapability on a 3 yard scramble and a 12 yard completion to Davis. A great play fake by Renner and he hits Sean Tapley for a 19 yard TD pass. And the Tarheels Special Teams give 6 points right back as they give a a kick return for a TD. There is that Carolina Blue flag again. I am not even bothering counting how many penalty yards they have now. An important 3rd down pass completion to Davis. A defensive pass interference on Va Tech? I bet that makes the ESPN highlights. I like using Marquise Williams as a change of pace QB. Everyone one knows that he is probably going to run but there is always a chance he might unleash one. It is not your typical Wildcat package. That sack of Renner really hurt but taking a sack is better than throwing it up for grabs. Barely missed Ebron in the end zone and had to settle for a Barth field goal. UNC 38, Va Tech 26. UNC is getting gashed bad by the long pass but a critical 4th down stop gives the ball back to the 'Heels. Va Tech gets away with a facemask on Bernard's 51 yard run and the refs penalize the 'Heels for unsportsmanlike on Blue's 13 yard TD run. UNC 45, Va Tech 26. Tim Scott intercepts Logan Thomas on the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff and now the 'Heels have to play solid ,fundamental football and they can finish this one off. I do not think the 'Heels can run a play without holding being called. End of third quarter, UNC 45, Va Tech 26.

Va Tech Second Quarter

The 'Heels went for it on fourth and inches (very impressed with the play call by Head Coach Fedora) on their own 38 yard line and Gio Bernard broke over the left side untouched for a 62 yard TD run. A defensive pass interference penalty eventually leads to a Hokie field goal. UNC 21, Va Tech 17. A 76 yard TD drive by the 'Heels was capped off by a 1 yard A.J. Blue plunge. The highlight had to be a 26 yard completion to Tight End Eric Ebron down to the 1 yard line. He is turning into a serious stud at Tight End for the 'Heels and Bryn Renner's go to guy. A.J. Blue is also turning into the 'Heels short yardage guy that can pick up those tough yards. UNC 28, Va Tech 17. Now lets see some defensive intensity. I would hate for the Tarheels to enjoy any kind of momentum or prosperity. A muffed punt that would have set the Tarheels up in great field position led to a Hokie field goal. UNC 28, Va Tech 20 at Halftime. The 'Heels really picked up their offensive game in the second quarter as Renner finished 9 for 18 for 115 yards and Bernard topped 100 yards rushing in the first half. Virginia Tech seemed to come out with the intention of stopping North Carolina's screen game and in that they were effective. Defensively the 'Heels are not getting much of a pass rush on Hokie QB Logan Thomas. They need to make him feel uncomfortable back there.

In Game Observations Versus Virginia Tech First Quarter

Bryn Renner needs to calm down or it is going to be the Louisville game all over again. 0 for 5 so far and he has missed at least two wide open targets down the field. The 'Heels have 40 yards in penalties and -4 yards of total offense halfway through the first quarter. Very thankfull for a Sean Tapley kickoff return for a Touchdown and a Virginia Tech dropped pass. 7-7 with 8 minutes to go in the First Quarter. A 28 yard completion to Freshman Wide Receiver Quinshad Davis, a couple of Virginia Tech offsides penalties (very uncharacteristic for a Bud Foster defense), a run and a reception by Gio Bernard and the 'Heels finish it off with a Bryn Renner 4 yard TD run. Renner is still off on most of his passes. A double move burns Jabari Price to tie the game at 14. The 'Heels close out the First Quarter with a personal foul penalty after an A.J. Blue run, a completion to Eric Ebron, a Bernard run, and a failed third and short attempt by Brenner. The Offensive Line could not get enough push to get a half yard? 93 yards of offense in this quarter and 55 yards in penalties (statistics mine).

The Uniform Options

Billy Crystal used to do a skit on Saturday Night Live where he portrayed Fernando Lamas and the catch phrase was "it's not how you feel, it's how you look." I love the uniform options, especially the headgear, the Tarheels have been displaying the past couple of weeks. During Military Appreciation Day the helmets had the usual "NC" logo but it had the stars and stripes imbedded in it. The logo at midfield did as well. Today against Virginia Tech, North Carolina is going with an all white look, labeling it "white out" and I really like that look. It gives the appearance of speed and that is the pace North Carolina wants to play at.