7-1, 4-0

[TarHeelNation11]

It hasn't always been pretty (understatement) but you can't argue with the results thus far. A lot of things to clean up in general, and tonight was not pretty (especially the second half) but I'll still take a Thursday night AWAY conference-unbeatens win every time.

Definitely things to improve on (namely offensive rhythm, eliminating pass interference when on defense, getting more of our playmakers involved, running Hood more) but there was a lot of positives as well (Des Lawrence absolutely balled out against two really good receivers, Marquise, when he was on, made some really good plays, Switz played well, Mack played well, the defense was excellent overall).

Let's keep marching toward Charlotte. Discuss.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

Yep, this is definitely a welcome change over where the Heels have been at this point the previous 2 seasons! Have to shore up the secondary and kill the PI calls. Still a proponent of feeding Hood until he can't walk. I liked the approach tonight of playing down and distance as opposed to repeatedly taking shots downfield on 1st and 2nd down.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

Also like to add that Marquise Williams has turned into one HECK of a QB. He was feeling the pressure, side stepping, and stepping up into the pocket to buy time. Wasn't too awful long ago that Quise would've just taken off in the same situation. His moxy in the pocket was a difference maker and will continue to be a difference maker needed for the Heels to keep winning. The Heels are most dangerous when the ball gets into the hands of the playmakers (Switzer, Hollins, Howard, Davis) and Quise is doing just that. Letting the offense (in spurts) run at 100% efficiency. I keep beating it like a dead horse, but the more carries Hood gets, the better the Heels will be. Let the running game squeeze the defense and give a few extra yards of cushion over the top. One area of concern though has to be the punting game. IMO, the punter can be the 2nd most valuable player on the team. If you have a punter that can flip the field and consistently pin the opponent deep, it's worth at least a touchdown.

 

[coryfly]

A conference win on the road against a ranked team is good regardless of how it looked. Regardless, it wasn't that ugly all the time either. Great win.

 

[strummingram]

The guy at the ESPN desk said "This is a team that should be unbeaten." Tell me about it.

It's been many years since the Tar Heels were 7-1... almost 20 years ago! Been a long time coming.

Chizik has made a huge impact. That veteran offense is a boost, too. That SC loss stings so bad, but, I'll just pretend we're 6-0

 

[Tigertown_a_Rick]

The guy at the ESPN desk said "This is a team that should be unbeaten." Tell me about it.

It's been many years since the Tar Heels were 7-1... almost 20 years ago! Been a long time coming.

Chizik has made a huge impact. That veteran offense is a boost, too. That SC loss stings so bad, but, I'll just pretend we're 6-0

Without question, our defense has improved dramatically, especially our secondary....Agree that Lawrence looked like an All-ACC type player at times tonight, and our tackling is light years ahead of where it was last season....

But the most impressive unit of the night was by far our Offenisve Line that is quickly becoming one of the better O-Lines in the Country, and not just the ACC....Those guys did a tremendous job of opening some holes for Hood tonight, and did a great job of protecting Marquise all night long...

You definitely got to like the way this team is trending on both sides of the ball if you're a Heels fan....

As for special teams, our FG kicker is right on the money, and also did a great job with the kickoffs, last night....Did think that Daly took too long to get the punt off in the first half, and thought we might make an adjustment at halftime to give him more protection, but we didn't adjust and neither did Daly, so the punt block was just a matter of time....Glad that our defense held them to a FG in that situation, but we've got to do a better job in that particular area, moving forward....

Great to see the team perform the way they did last night!

Go Tar Heels!

 

[berry30]

Proud of the team! Great win for the boys, the program and the fans. Bring on the Dookies!

If our first game is our only hiccup, then I am fine with that.

Go Heels!!!!!

 

[Tom79]

A conference win on the road against a ranked team is good regardless of how it looked. Regardless, it wasn't that ugly all the time either. Great win.

And on a very short week...good win Heels!

 

[Realfreedom]

I want to thank all the coaches, but most importantly the players for this season. After the horrible start in the SC game these guy's could have thrown in the towel and said here we go again, but they did not. We all say what if and they probably do to, but they keep plugging along.

Their character has been on great display on the field and the addition of the coaches on D has been a tremendous help. I hope ALL the D recruits in our footprint are paying attention to what this new staff is capable of. Our future will come down to the Jimmy's and the Joe's so come to Chapel Hill, Jimmy and Joe.

I hope the town of Chapel Hill shows up for these last two home games to show these kids #wegottheirback. Go Heels and Lords willing me and my son will be there.

 

[Super6Fan]

I, too, am one of the ones caught up in the "man, we should be undefeated" hoopla, but honestly, I am so thrilled our team is where it is. There is no doubt in my mind that if we replayed that SC game today, we'd beat them easily, but, that's neither here nor there. Looking forward there are quite honestly some big games coming up. Duke next week should be huge. Provided the Blue Devils don't get tripped up this week, this game should feature two ranked teams battling for sole possession of first place in the Coastal. I like our chances, especially at home, but it's going to be a battle. Unfortunately, the road doesn't get easier after that, wrapping up the season with two tough away games @ VT and @NCSU. Should be fun!

 

[ACokeForRoy]

Marquis was a "Boss" in the pocket last night..

 

[SeaHawk98]

UNC lost the opening game. Happens a lot and then the team goes on a roll and is top 25 easily. Not for UNC. Complete disrespect. Only P-5 team with one loss not in top 25. Resume is no worse than Duke. Screw the polls. UNC is a top 25 team and have proven with great road wins against Pitt and GT(ask FSU). Duke, they lost to Northwestern has sense got blasted twice. People who vote in polls are biased dumb. I hope UNC continue to use this as motiviation.

 

[Super6Fan]

Probably doesn't mean much, but Iowa barely beat Pitt but walloped Northwestern, who beat Duke by two scores in Durham.....hmm....

 

[Tom79]

So I'm going with the early call, Heels beat Dook by 20+...I know, I know...but our guys are GOOD! Confident and good. Go to hell Dook! Go Heels!

 

[6666Heel]

As far as losing that first game - IIRC, last yr's ultimate National Champ was totally embarrassed when it lost it's first game - AT HOME - to a middlin' ACC team from Blacksburg, VA. They proceeded from there to go on and run the table, soundly defeating a very good Wisconsin team in the B1G Championship Game, getting a bid to the Playoffs and the rest is history!

Now if a certain ACC team could do the same, including a solid win over a Clem's son team in the ACCCG??? HIGHLY IMPROBABLE - but so was tOSU's run last year, in which they ultimately went through the playoffs with a 3rd (4th?) string QB who had played very little up to that point. Just sayin' - IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER!!!! GO HEELS!!!

 

[gteeitup]

if clemson runs the table, wins the acccg over carolina, are the heels in mf orange bowl?

 

[TarHeelNation11]

if clemson runs the table, wins the acccg over carolina, are the heels in mf orange bowl?

No because the Orange Bowl is part of the playoffs this year.

 

[ACokeForRoy]

Live look at national college football pundits on the UNC bandwagon today...

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Live look at national college football pundits on the UNC bandwagon today...

LOL. Are a lot of people talking about us?

ETA: If you go to ESPN.com's NCAAF home page, we are nowhere to be found whatsoever. Even if you scroll down really far.

Oh well lol, keep winning.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

LOL. Are a lot of people talking about us?

ESPN was on a TV at the restaurant where I had lunch. Our game last night was between two 7-1 teams, both unbeaten in conference play. It was one of only 2 or three games last night, and it was on their own network. Yet in an hour+ of the SportsCenter rotation, there was no recap, highlights, or mention of it. In fact the only CFB they showed at all was a couple of plays in the Not Top 10.

I don't get it. But whatever. Just keep winning.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

P.S. The Syracuse receiver getting bonked in the head with a perfect pass downfield was hilarious.

 

[grillheel]

ESPN was on a TV at the restaurant where I had lunch. Our game last night was between two 7-1 teams, both unbeaten in conference play. It was one of only 2 or three games last night, and it was on their own network. Yet in an hour+ of the SportsCenter rotation, there was no recap, highlights, or mention of it. In fact the only CFB they showed at all was a couple of plays in the Not Top 10.

I don't get it. But whatever. Just keep winning.

Yeah, on CFB Daily, they spent about 1 minute on our game and showed 3 plays, the Switzer TD, the last Pitt TD, and the onside kick. But, like you said, just keep winning.

 

[Raising Heel]

Now if a certain ACC team could do the same, including a solid win over a Clem's son team in the ACCCG??? HIGHLY IMPROBABLE - but so was tOSU's run last year, in which they ultimately went through the playoffs with a 3rd (4th?) string QB who had played very little up to that point. Just sayin' - IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER!!!! GO HEELS!!!

It's nice thought, but we have nowhere near the depth or talent tOSU has. Hell, it's all we can do to cobble together a defensive line every game. But I like the optimism.

I've already said it on premium, but I enjoyed a large plate of crow this week. In the pre-season, I thought the Heels would have to get some breaks to win 8 games this year. I also told people predicting 10-win seasons they were nuts. Well I apologize to each and every one of you because that goal is still well within reach, especially now that we have at least 5 games left this season (and possibly 6).

To be honest, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Fedora has had at least one WTH game every season of his head coaching career. But I may have seriously underestimated Chizik's impact. Sure, we could (and probably will) lose again, but it seems like we're going to have a chance in every game we play in. It's a foreign feeling that I haven't been able to fully embrace yet. Can't wait to see what the next four weeks holds.

 

[TarHeelMark]

It's nice thought, but we have nowhere near the depth or talent tOSU has. Hell, it's all we can do to cobble together a defensive line every game. But I like the optimism.

I've already said it on premium, but I enjoyed a large plate of crow this week. In the pre-season, I thought the Heels would have to get some breaks to win 8 games this year. I also told people predicting 10-win seasons they were nuts. Well I apologize to each and every one of you because that goal is still well within reach, especially now that we have at least 5 games left this season (and possibly 6).

To be honest, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Fedora has had at least one WTH game every season of his head coaching career. But I may have seriously underestimated Chizik's impact. Sure, we could (and probably will) lose again, but it seems like we're going to have a chance in every game we play in. It's a foreign feeling that I haven't been able to fully embrace yet. Can't wait to see what the next four weeks holds.

Agreed.... I am so CAUTIOUSLY optimistic that it's sad, actually. According to that lame-o broadcasting team Thursday night, we are favored in all four of our remaining games, so 11-1 is possible EVEN though extremely unlikely. I think we take down dook, but slip up on at least one of the final 3. Hope I'm wrong and we get to Charlotte. Not saying we could take down Clemson, but it might be a damn entertaining game to be sure. And IIRC, we gave them a decent game in Death Valley last year despite the fact that they put up 50 on us.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

^^ love the sentiment RH, but we aren't at 8 wins yet! You know as well as I do that we could easily lose 3 of the last 4. At this stage, I don't necessarily expect that, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

If we beat Duke (a game I feel good about but you just never know with them), THEN I'll start to believe we could end up in Charlotte.

What if this thing comes down to us having to win the last week of the season and we have to do it at the cow pastures? Talk about stressful! But how sweet would it be to clinch on their field? That would be so, so epic.

 

[Raising Heel]

I'm not saying we're going to win 10 games. I'm just saying I shouldn't have called those people loons.

 

[Archer2]

Just want to stomp a mud hole in the d00kies and walk it dry! Not even thinking about Charlotte right now.

Great win for the Heels!

 

[uncboy10]

I'm feeling pretty good about my predictions this past off season. I'm gonna have to put together a nice little told ya so thread when we get to 10 wins and win the coastal