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.