The Backbreaker

The North Carolina Tarheels 27-17 loss to Virginia Tech yesterday really didn't come as a surprise to me yesterday but it is how they are losing. It seems like it is the same reasons every week. Big plays, penalties, and their run defense. Yesterday's backbreaker came when the Tarheels had Virginia Tech backed up to their own two yard line when Tarheel Punter Tommy Hibbard pinned them deep with a perfect punt. On the first play Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas hit Wide Receiver Willie Byrn for an 83 yard completion down to the UNC 15 yard line. He also hit Wide Receiver D.J. Knowles for a 45 yard TD for the Hokies first score. Tarheel Punt returner had a rough game as well. He muffed a punt inside the Tarheels 15 yard line giving the Hokies easy access to the end zone a few plays after that but more importantly, he had an 80 + yard TD called back because of a penalty. That is the second time this season that has happened to Switzer. This time it was an 81 yard punt return. It would have made the score 21-14 and would have made the game very interesting. Tarheel Tight End/Linebacker Jack Tabb got ejected for throwing a punch at a Hokies player and I would have to question why he was the only one ejected. You cannot really see what happened on the replay the TV cameras showed. Tabb knocked the Hokies players helmet off in the process of making the block (that was not what he was penalized for) but somehow Jack Tabb ended up on the ground with his helmet off before he ever got up and threw the punch. One of the Hokies players also tried going right thru the Ref to get to Tabb and he kept bumping and pushing the Ref. In the NFL that would have gotten him booted and fined.