Staff photo by Roibert Willett
ATLANTA -- North Carolina finally made one mistake too many.
The 22nd-ranked Tar Heels muddled through the three mistake-filled quarters before Georgia Tech made them pay. A pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs by quarterback Josh Nesbitt, above, gave the Yellow Jackets a 24-7 win, their sixth straight over UNC in Atlanta.
The Heels (3-1, 0-1 ACC) turned the ball over twice, missed an easy field goal, allowed 323 yards of offense and went the first 20 minutes without a first down but trailed by 10 points after three quarters. In short, they did the opposite of everything they did in starting the season 3-0.
Georgia Tech (3-1, 2-1) kept UNC in the game with two missed field goals and several other opportunities to put the game out of a reach. It wasn't until Morgan Burnett's interception with 2:14 left in the third quarter, which set up GT's offense at UNC's 37-yard line, that the Jackets finally seized control.
Nesbitt ran six times on the nine-play drive to give the Jackets, who have run for 257 yards, a 17-0 lead.
UNC responded on the next series with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Yates to freshman receiver Erik Highsmith to make it 17-7. Highsmith has been the lone highlight for UNC's offense, catching six passes for 107 yards.
The Jackets answered back with a 76-yard drive, capped off by Nesbitt's 10-yard touchdown run. Nesbitt finished with 97 yards on 32 carries.
The Jackets scored on their first series, a nine-play, 88-yard clinic on how to run the football. Roddy Jones' 13-yard touchdown run gave them a 7-0 lead at 9:03 in the first quarter. Tech ran for more yards on the first drive (88) than UNC had allowed in the first three games.
The Tar Heels couldn't get their offense going until the second quarter. After going three-and-out on their first three possessions, they got their first first down at 9:58 in the second quarter after a pair of runs by Ryan Houston.
The drive ended when center Cam Holland, filling in for starter Lowell Dyer, air-mailed a shotgun snap past Yates' ear for a 16-yard loss and turnover.
Tech, which missed a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter, had to settle for another field goal attempt after Holland's errant snap. Scott Blair made the 34-yarder at the 6:26 mark for a 10-lead.
UNC looked like it was going to get its first points after Erik Highsmith's 30-yard catch-and-run moved the Heels into GT territory. But after three plays from the 14-yard line, UNC had to settle for a field goal. Casey Barth missed the 32-yarder, his third missed in seven attempts this season.
Blair missed a 27-yarder in the third quarter, after Jonathan Dwyer was forced out of bounds at the 3-yard line. Dwyer has 158 yards on 19 carries.
Comments
Heels to Size Up!!
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 14:56 — jeromfitzGa Tech look so dominate in the game that their offense made UNC look real small by throwing big bodies through their defense. I never seen an explosive offense like that on UNC Defense in years. They have learn to run-stop defense against that option that Ga Tech. I think every game a team my throw an option run at them. It's a cover problem somewhere. I think the QB is not visually seeking options 2,3 or 4 on the pass plays. Give away the pass by not pump faking the ball then delivered to the area of choice. Remain focus UNC...at least you show up to play but not to win....prepare..prepare...get in better shape..see the weight room again..!!!
As usual, an overrated UNC team.
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 15:18 — wsphutchI don't know why it took until Andy22 for someone to say it, but clearly in UNC's 1st real test, they proved to be a mediocre, AT BEST, football team. Their wins at the beginning of the season were unimpressive, and in the case of UCONN, pretty unfair and lucky. ECU is certainly not the team of last year - I was at the game and they looked pitiful on defense; and I had a hard time giving the UNC offense much credit in that game. But after this weekend, I am certain of the fact that UNC will finish middle of the road in their division, which is in a middle of the road conference (as much as it may pain all of us to admit it). The fact that they were granted a top 20 ranking this year is sad and laughable at the same time. This team is no different, in fact worse in some categories, than the team that lost 41-10 at home last year to State.
Best team in N.C. ... uh, no. I am not too sure that they are even the second best team in N.C. I wish Wake and UNC met this year to settle it. Butch scheduled LSU next year to give him some much needed national exposure so he can plan his imminent and impending departure to a real football school; but unless he can do better than getting blown out, that may prove to be a costly mistake - for him and the school. UNC is not good. But hey, at least you have Basketball .
Thanks for the props
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 09:54 — SurferIf you are calling UNC mediocre, based upon the GT game, then thank you. Unforced errors and unforced turnovers, proved this to be a game where UNC did not put forth its best effort. If they play like that from here on, they won't win another game. If they don't play like that, you will see a better team.
I am not expecting any kind of championship in FB, but I do expect that we'll see a better team than the one that appeared in Atlanta.
Keep in mind...
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 11:09 — Heels20The majority of the people making these posts are only able to reference the game against NC State last year. They base everything they say on what happened at noon on November 22, which just so happened to be our worst game of the year. Their standard for a good season is beating Carolina. They could go 1-11, and they'd still feel it was a successful year if they beat the Heels. Honestly, I don't even know why I'm taking the time to say this because the opinions of those people aren't even worth the 30 seconds I'm taking to make this post.
PS ...
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 14:07 — wsphutchI didn't go to State. And the standard for my school's success is the being the only team from N.C. to go to the Orange Bowl since before you were born. Oh, and with only 4,000 students enrolled at the school.
agreed
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 11:32 — gvillegatrthats why I havent bothered to retort to any of the hijackers on this blog with exception to Paul Johnsons tirades.
Ahhhhh, I see ...
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 14:05 — wsphutchCriticsim of your team is ALWAYS unwarranted; and therefore rebuttable by attacks on our intelligence? My bad, you're right. The Earth revolves around UNC, we all should've gone to school there or at least cheer for them, and your sports teams are beyond reproach. Nice.
As the rest of Tarhole nation has apparently agreed, you don't appear to be very good this year. And the uniform backslapping amongst your kind after 3 wins against sub-par teams was unwarranted. But you guys keep the stiff upper lip - it only serves to enforce the stereotype.
When do the moronic comments end?
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 15:30 — Heels20Let's see, how do I break this down? First of all, the rest of "Tarhole nation" agrees that we are not very good? Your sources are less credible than those of Barry Saunders. Also, you clearly know nothing about football when considering both UConn and ECU subpar teams. ECU returned...what was it, 16 starters from a team that won their conference? UConn has one of the best defenses in the nation and a very good running game, with a team that won the Big East two years ago and has gone bowling the past couple years. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, they won AT Baylor, a team that beat Wake in a game that was not nearly as close as the score indicated. So I'll say it again, keep your mouth shut until you know what you're talking about. One game doesn't indicate how good a team is for an entire season. The way I see it, we're still a 1-loss team and could still be a 9-win team. Will that happen? As other Heels fans have been saying, not if we play like we did against GT. However, if we continue to improve at the rate we did between weeks 1 and 3, then we're going to be a pretty good football team by the end of the year.
Finally, the thing I find most interesting is that you run your mouth about things like this when your QB is a wannabe pornstar whose team is no better than they were when he was a freshman. Since when did Wake have football fans?
Wake doesn't really have
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 17:44 — wsphutchWake doesn't really have football fans, secretly we all cheer for UNC.
Glad to see you're
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 20:47 — Heels20Glad to see you're knowledgable enough to defend your argument. Do yourself a favor and stick to men's soccer.
"I don't chew my cabbage twice"
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 09:50 — wsphutch- as a wise man once said. My argument was sustainable and good enough the first time it was posted. Your inane ramblings and childish jabs only strengthened its resolve. I have no need to "defend" already correct assertions. Now I can just chide you with these subsequent posts. And yes, we are good at men's soccer, thank you for noticing. By the way, what were the last two UNC-Wake football scores? And which team won their Meinike Bowl? And which has won an ACC Championship? Just some quick questions, sure to prompt some more agnst filled posts.
Once again, setting yourself up
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 10:44 — Heels20UNC has won 5 ACC championships to Wake's 2, so that was about as bad of an argument as you possibly could have made. The last two UNC-Wake football scores? I mean, if you want to talk about history, one program clearly has a better history than the other (and Wake ain't the better of the two). As far as the Meinke bowl goes, I'll use the analogy I've used many times before...arguing who is best at winning the Meinke bowl is like two midgets fighting over who is taller.
And your whole "my argument is too good for me to have to defend it" BS only further emphasizes how the stuff you pollute this blog with is embarrassing your program. I actually had a flashback to Obama trying to defend one of his irrational plans.
Finally, when Ryan Plackemeier is one of the best players your program has ever produced, that should say enough in and of itself.
Please keep your focus on the task at hand ...
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 12:11 — wsphutchthat way you won't get so confused. I asked who won the last ACC Championship; what were the recent scores (not full history), and I didn't mention anything about the worthiness of the CLT Bowl. The reason you 'Holes are so easy to inflame is that you will inevitably move the argument to grounds on which you can assert unrelated points (in this case UNC football history). In doing that, you subconciously are admitting defeat on the present issues. Here, I began by simply positing that UNC is not as good as many bloggers (you included) and journalists (esp. at the N&O) believed after 3 very mediocre wins. You responded by defending those teams (UCONN & ECU) - which is fine; and then began personal attacks on my alma mater. To which pointed out has had a better football program IN ANY ASPECT you chose to categorize them in recent years. Then you told us all your proclivity to male porn stars. And most recently, you, as all Powder Puffers do, revert to historical (or Basketball) references. Well then, the circle is complete. I stand by all my points and fail to see where you have successfully assailed them. However, you have provided very stereotypical responses which have been amusing and silly.
And in case you want to recall recent pro-football draft picks, please prove my point AGAIN for me by checking drafts in the past ... say 4 yrs. Gotcha again!
Actually...
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 13:02 — Heels20...you said "which has won an ACC championship?" So once again, you screwed up right from the start.
Moving on, you made your statements about our "3 very mediocre wins," and I made a point how that statement only goes against your case, as UConn has proven more than Wake this season. It seems that you accepted that because you recognized there was no way out of that one.
As far as Wake's program in recent years, I'm not an idiot, I am not denying the fact that Wake has had the better program in the past 5 years. However, the points you make in trying to support your argument really don't help because each and everyone has its flaws. I would also like to extend my congratulations to you for proving that your program can be more successful than one of John Bunting.
Finally, my historical references were referring to how you brought up 2 games, one under a crashing-and-burning Bunting program, and one under a re-building Butch Davis program. It would be nice to see what could happen if the two teams were to play this year. My guess: the game would not go in Wake's favor.
Past 4 years in the NFL draft...here we go again, pulling out years of no particular significance. How about current players in the NFL? Looks like 23 who used to rep the Carolina Blue and 14 of the old Black and Gold. And I will refrain from saying "Gotcha again!" because any one who read your previous post immediately put their head in their hands thinking (or saying) "What a douche."
And there is the childish personal attack!
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 13:30 — wsphutchNice work! Didn't think it would take this long, but you might actually be older than 20 yrs old after all. By the way, I never said you were an idiot, I am not sure I have to. It seems that each point I make on UNC football - no matter how 1) correct or 2) subjective - garners personal attacks on and by you. Weird.
How many years will UNC be a "rebuilding Butch Davis program"? When he leaves after next year for a real football school, will UNC still be a "rebuilding Butch Davis program"? My "guess", which is as useless as yours, is that Wake would win this year. Did you even go to UNC? ... college? And FYI, it's "Old Gold and Black" ... I am not sure the color Black can be qualified in any way. But hey, you can clearly never be wrong.
I'm done here, see ya next week where we can argue why UNC's loss to UVA means Wake is the worst program in the ACC, but has good Field Hockey.
Let me correct you again...
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 14:32 — Heels20Your points about UNC football are not correct, because you implied that we have never won an ACC championship. You beat us in Butch's first year which any rational football fan would consider a re-building year, so I'm not sure what you're trying to get at with your quotations. I currently go to UNC, and obviously know more about football than you because you make inaccurate statements in EVERY SINGLE POST that you make. Your comment about how UNC will lose to UVA only proves that God works in ways so mysterious, that we could all spend years on why you were blessed with the right to talk, and still never figure it out. I never said Wake is the worst program in the ACC, so there you go again with yet another inaccurate statement.
If any one agrees with the ridiculously irrational statements this guy is making, please speak up.
Restaurant?
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 11:49 — andy22And, by the way, if I had a nickel every time I read -- not only here but on the Ga. Tech site -- about knowing somebody who knows somebody who is in the know, or "sitting next to somebody" who "knows the coaches", or for that matter, eating at a restaurant and meeting somebody who says the coach always does this, but cannot provide even one example, well ...It is akin to trying to win an argument by reaching into thin air for, "Statistics say ..." Stop making stuff up. Life is enough fun without it.
Not too funny
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 09:43 — SurferTruly a comedy of errors. Swing passes in the dirt, a snap whizzing by T.J.'s ear and not recovered, and the defense looking like they were exactly where they were supposed to be... on P. J.'s whiteboard!
And to make matters worse, G.T. didn't even look that good. If we play this flat and uninspired, we won't win another game.
24-7
Sun, 09/27/2009 - 23:16 — Heels20That score doesn't come close to indicating how much we were dominated. The offense sucked, the defense sucked, Casey Barth sucked, Grant Shallock sucked...pretty much everything about this game sucked. The most positive thing I can think to say is that that was by far the worst we played all year. Yes, GT is the most talented team we have played, however that was the worst performance on our part. Our defense could not stop GT outside the red-zone to save their lives and the only good pass TJ threw the whole game was his TD to Highsmith (who unfortunately was our best player).
UVA and Georgia Southern will be nice cupcake games for us to get some experience and find a way to consistently be the team that we have the potential to be. Every game is a must-win from here on out. VT, FSU, UM and NC State will all embarrass us, leaving us with a 7-5 season if we don't step it up. That being said, I think we have enough guys back from last year that will fight and prevent us from being left with that sick feeling in our stomachs.
UVA
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 11:11 — willncsuYour record against Groh has not been too stellar. As bad as UVA is, they have your number. Glad we do not play GT this year, they have ours. I still think UNC is a 6-6 team with that O-line. The D is not as good as advertised either. I only picked us to win 7. I am bumping that up to 8 at this point since the ACC looks terrible.
O-line
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 12:44 — Heels20I don't understand why people keep exagerating how bad our situation is on the offensive line. They are playing about as well as I expected they'd play considering the injuries/depth issues. The biggest issue against GT was that Yates was TERRIBLE. His passes were inaccurate, poorly read, out of control, etc. The good thing is that it might have been the worst game of his career, so we know that he is normally better than that. I still think an 8-win season is likely for us and a 9-win season is possible. NC State will win at least 8 if Wilson keeps playing like that. If the past serves as any indication, State could be looking at 10 wins with a bowl included. Starting out 1-5 in '07 and 2-6 in '08, they've definitely demonstrated that they play their best at the end of the season. November 28 should be a very good game.
At UVA
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 11:46 — SurferYou are right, but the big record going so far, is losing in Charlottesville, This weekend UNC should be favored, but one never knows. I almost wish we were playing up there, with a chance to break the losing streak, but on the other hand.....
As weak as the Atlantic is, there is no way State doesn't come out with a winning record this year.
In the coastal, Miami and VT are pretty scary, but I think UNC can pull out at 7-5 or even 8-4. Unless of course they don't show up like this weekend, then we are looking at 3-9 or 4-8.
Gonna be a long season for UNC...
Sun, 09/27/2009 - 16:54 — willncsuWith that O-line. Plenty of "young" talent everywhere else.
uugghh
Sun, 09/27/2009 - 16:41 — gvillegatrgood game by Georgia Tech. they clearly had the better game plan. all I could do was drink my Don Q and coke and lay around the beach house. luckily, the weather was not good.
UNC simply could not get off the dam* field on defense.
this team CANNOT wait until the 4th quarter for offense. No excuses, but UNC has looked really flat in both away games that started at the dreadful 12pm slot.
It is times to cut ties with the younger Barth. he clearly got a free pass b/c of his name. now it is time to sit his tail. he has no leg and no accuracy.
Highsmith, you keep doing what you are doing and you'll be the best WR in the country ... forget about the state. you have no one (in-state) in your class, bud.
time to get Houston more carry's . the Draughn experiment is just too inconsistent.
how does UNC not get on that fumbled ball by Dryer kinda early in the game??
how does Yates not get on the fumble caused by the center??
Quinn looked really good the few times GT wanted to pass the football.
last but not least, what a poor class act on behalf of Paul Johnson. did anyone see him come off the sideline and go clap in the face of the nearest ref after replay over turned the deep ball Highsmith let hit the field?? it clearly looked like a catch in real time. only when you got that back look on replay could you see it hit the field. also, after the bad call by the ref on not stopping the clock. you just can't act like that as a head coach. Talking to Hogwood at HT was just low class. I can act like this and so can you on our couch. He cannot. despicable. move over Rat, you got company.
Poor class act?
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 00:00 — mad_maxC'mon, that's not even a fair statement. I commend PJ for letting everyone know how ticked he was about the ref's blunder(s). You can't fault a guy for standing up for his team and the rules of the game. Was Roy Williams classless after UNC's bball game against FSU last year? The one where the N&O had an entire article about him complaining about the refs in that game? UNC got outplayed and outcoached yesterday, and that's no reason to take an unwarranted shot at GT's coach. All is not lost, this was just one game...there's 8 more, at least.
not neccesarily that one
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 08:43 — gvillegatryou defended the one that could be defended ... completely ignoring the first one.
A coach going up to an official and clapping in his face AFTER a play has been rightfully turned around is disgraceful and childish.
the game was no where in doubt at that moment and had zero effect on how I think a coach should act. Paul Johnson acts like this on a regular basis according to a GT fan I talked to at restaurant/bar on sat night. care to still defend? ...
Johnson
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 11:46 — andy22Come on. I've seen video of Butch Davis following referees down the sideline, hassling and hounding them, trying to influence their officiating, most obviously in the game last year, a game in which while leading by three scores on the last possession he was still trying to throw the ball. Talk about your examples. And while you accuse a respondent of picking one to defend while ignoring the other, you did exactly the same thing: want to defend an obvious violation of the rule book -- not a judgment, not an opinion, but a rule -- that favored you guys? Didn't think so.
You played your first quality opponent after lining up against three patsies, and you got waxed. Get over it.
lol
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 19:44 — gvillegatrto say Butch has done this before without giving an example is typical of you, Andy, and alot of other haters. I don't ever recall a coach going onto the field, smiling sarcastically, and clapping in the face of the closest official. do you?
while I did say one was more defendable than the other it DOESN'T make the other one ok. you twisted my words around but, again, I expect that from the other side.
I was quite content on not talking about this outside of my initial post but I guess I was naive to think anyone would agree. I was just apalled by more than just UNC's terrible game.
Tough loss for you guys.
Sun, 09/27/2009 - 18:45 — tjfooseTough loss for you guys. The talent level of UNC was not reflected in the score nor the quality of play.
Houston should have been getting the ball early and often all along, ESPECIALLY when considering UNC's OL issues this year. With Houston running the ball, UNC would've been putting the UCONN game away in the 4th qtr vs using it to make a dramatic comeback.
If nothing else, use Houston to wear out the front 7 to make them vulnerable late in the game, similar to the way Wilson wore out PITT's front seven.
I'll say it again. BD is not a good game day coach.
The 'Pack had an exciting win, but it was admittingly ugly. PITT was giving us problems early. Midway through the 3rd qtr, it was obvious the State staff had made adjustments on both offense and defense. Those adjustments lead to the 'Pack statistically dominating the 2nd half, then finally, pulling out a win.
That's something we never saw out of Amato. When was the last time you saw something of the like out of BD? There may be several recent examples, I honestly don't know. I can't remember any, so I ask you.
Game day coaching
Sun, 09/27/2009 - 23:30 — JPDOhioWatching the Pack's penalty fest on Saturday, I could swear I had passed through a time warp. I kept looking for Amato on the sideline, but not a red shoe to be seen anywhere. At least TOB owned up to the issues with his team. Chuck would never, ever have done that.
The difference between the Pitt and State on Saturday was, simply, Russell Wilson. The offenses and defense on both teams made mistakes and made great plays, all of which evened out over the course of the game. But RW was better in the clutch than Pitt's QB.
State has work to do, but there was enough good to be very positive about the rest of this season. I like the fact that, not only did TOB get down to business right after the game, but so did the players. The Pack passed the test and now can get down to preparing for the next one.
BTW, I would have posted this elsewhere, but a report on the game was nowhere to be found. Major flub by KT and the N&O. I just don't get it.
slight disagreement
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 11:49 — izzykareemI know this is a UNCCH thread but, i don't think the difference between the teams was RW. RW was the elixir that overcame all that bad juju of 12 penalties and missed FG's. Like the announcers said, when we don't get the TD in the 2nd half and Pitt turns around with that 79yrd TD strike. that's a 14pt swing. The Pittsburgh papers had a writeup about how Pitt should/could have easily lost 50-31 or 60-31. In the 2nd half, our D dominated that team. That Lewis kid had something like 10 yards rushing in the 2nd half. I think the big difference though was our D played pretty well against a really good offense. Pitt's D might not be all that good, but they have a big, huge offense with great RB's, TE's and WR's and we shut it down. They are only gonna get better too. I think a side benefit out of all the lineup shuffling is that younger and older guys realize the position is not owned by anyone, they compete more I think.
Point taken.
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 13:05 — JPDOhioHowever, I saw this as a tale of two halves, where State was penalized more and Pitt moved the ball better in the 1st. They reversed roles in the second half, at least from the middle of the 3rd quarter on. I was very impressed with the running game in the 4th quarter as Baker and Eugene seemed to get 5 yards at a crack every time.
But when it came down to crunch time, RW made the plays that mattered, especially that run for the first down on 4th and long. The Pack handed Stull the opportunity to make a play and send the game into overtime and he didn't deliver. Although in fairness to Stull, that lob into the end zone (that Dickerson couldn't hang on to because Bishop made a great play) was an excellent throw.
Anyway, not really disagreeing, just expanding on the point.
Amato
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 00:04 — mad_maxI was in the band for the 2005-06 season. Before the games we had the march of champions (I'm sure everyone is familiar with it) and the band members lined up on either side acting as a baricade from the fans. Well, I remember at one of these, some crazy fan right behind me threw a flag at Amato's feet as he walked by and ignored it. One of the funniest things I've ever seen during a game day.
I agree. Just don't understand why there still isn't a post recapping the State/Pitt game. I'm literally shocked.
The invisible flag
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 12:55 — JPDOhioChuck probably didn't see it because he was basking in that aura of self-importance that allowed him to consistently ignore the reality of what was actually going on around him.
I remember that!
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 11:04 — willncsuIt was hillarious.
Congratulations GT's coaches, players and fans.
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 20:56 — UNC1998UNC laid an egg, and GT had something to do with it. Back to the drawing board, Heels. Don't let me down next week. I'd have to have to ask for a refund.
Yates had a terrible day
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 17:14 — uBniceThe defense was bad. But UNC had its chances. The QB play was terrible. The commentators noted that Yates couldn't hit the side of a barn with a cannon standing 10 ft away (ok, I said that!) -- this game. Last game he was quite accurate. Without better QB play, this team will not go far.
Hello?
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 16:05 — gjaluvka"North Carolina finally made one mistake too many."
Hello? What does that even mean? UNC was dominated today.
WE SUCK
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 15:39 — Clooney1On the field at Ga. Tech today Carolina showed no attitude to play. At one time, in the second half (about 5 minutes left) Ga. Tech had the ball and the announcers were saying that UNC had the ball for about 4 minutes in the second half and Tech had the ball over 21 minutes. Terrible. The offense sucked, Yates sucked. Overall WE SUCK. Hey Butch...next week introduce another QB that will LEAD the team. I don't care if we win or lose. We need a leader and Yates isn't.
UNC-Tech
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 15:32 — andy22Well. It appears Mr. Giglio might have to rethink his position that the defenses have gotten to quick and too fast for the option to be successful. What was it? 330-odd yards running the ball against what we all thought was a good defense. Can't wait for the excuses to be brought forth. And yep, NC made some mistakes. Kind of like Tech turning it over three times in CH last year, turnovers ignored in recapping the game. Objectively, you have to love that option offense. They can get it vertical in a hurry.
Shoup
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 15:22 — sdking1112Should we really be surprised that our offense is consistently inconsistant? Not at all when you consider Shoup's teams in the NFL when he was a coordinator were always ranked last!!
Besides having the ability to throw the long ball, is TJ Yates really our best QB?
not surprised
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 15:21 — izzykareemI thought ECU would expose this, but they clearly aren't the same team from last year.
I don't care how good UNCCH's D is, State had the best D in the country not that long ago and it will get you to a mediocre bowl if you don't have the offense to go with it. Yates is just a stronger armed Daniel Evans, good kid, humble, can't help but wish him well (he's so un-UNC'ish) but in a jam, he'll force a ball or make a bad decision. I knew this game was gonna be a long day for UNCCH when i saw Dwyer drag Sturdivant for 6 yards early in the game. I'm not gloating btw, but unless there's a bunch more offensive linemen who could walk on for UNCCH this year, its gonna continue to look like this for the rest of the season.
Ouch
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 17:41 — avg_joeI guess that #22 ranking was too much pressure for Butch and company to handle.
It's pretty clear UNC is not getting their money's worth this weekend. Perhaps UNC snuck a money-back clause into Butch's contract that none of us are aware of?
By the way, opening up the article with the line "North Carolina finally made one mistake too many" is laughable.
By definition, allowing 24 points while only scoring seven involves more than one mistake too many, J.P.
Why don't you simply acknowledge the obvious facts J.P.? UNC got out-played and out-coached by a Georgia Tech team that deserves credit for a tough win.
UNC is clearly what?
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 14:59 — gjaluvkaClearly the best in the state? That was obviously a reach and it doesn't look like such a good one...
Right now a close loss to South Carolina looks a heck of a lot better than this does. As would a respectable loss to Pitt if that were to come to pass.
Ref, you suck
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 13:30 — mad_maxGT is getting completely shafted by the referees but they are still winning. ACC officiating at it's best once again.
that blown clock
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 15:03 — gjaluvkathat blown clock non-stoppage might be the worst officiating I've ever seen - how do you miss it, and once you do, how to you not correct it?
However, GT panicked too, by running a play quickly I think they precluded the refs from fixing it at that point. They should have just let the clock run down and then let the refs review it.