The problems surrounding North Carolina have sucked most of the air out of preseason football throughout the region.
Even to the north, where Virginia has a new coach in Mike London and Virginia Tech might be mounting a top-five run, the Tar Heels’ academic and NCAA probes are prominent news items.
The same holds in South Carolina, although the situation there is more predictable since USC has been involved in the NCAA investigation into player/agent dealings.
Locally, the opening games for N.C. State (vs. Western Carolina), Duke (vs. Elon) and Wake Forest (vs. Presbyterian) are unexceptional at best. So some small degree of indifference probably was to be expected.
But ECU has an opening league game under new coach Ruffin McNeill and against Conference USA foe Tulsa, a televised Sunday afternoon meeting that ordinarily would generate a good deal of buzz.
Only a few weeks back, it seemed like a big deal that Russell Wilson would put down his baseball glove long enough to quarterback a State team that has bowl hopes.
And Duke and Wake Forest are breaking in new quarterbacks to replace longtime starters Thad Lewis and Riley Skinner.
The same applies at Appalachian State, where Armanti Edwards has moved on to the NFL Carolina Panthers.
Which brings up another team -- the Panthers.
Thanks to UNC’s mess, Panthers coach John Fox and his revamped quarterback position have been pushed to a side stage outside the Charlotte city limits.
When was the last time you heard a lot of talk about Julius Peppers’ impact on the Chicago Bears defense?
With an opening game against LSU of the Southeastern Conference, the Heels were going to have the spotlight under any circumstances. But even that game has become a secondary priority among Carolina fans.
Having covered college football in this area for four decades, it’s most unusual preseason period in memory. It’s as though regional football has been propelled into a parallel universe.
Columnist 
Comments
excellent post Toots
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 14:56 — izzykareemToots is right. A University of Non-Compliance-CHeaters fan should be able to see that all of the stories these guys SHOULD be writing, have been diverted to cover what is the biggest bombshell in the last 10 years, at least, in college sports and maybe the dirtiest incident ever in the triangle. Hyperbole? Naa.
You see, everyone expects the USC's, Alabama's, Texas's and OSU's of the world to get caught cheating, but not UNC-CH. Why? Because "its the carolina way". The reputation of the school, however deserved/undeserved it is, is that you guys consistently and without fail play above board, bend over backwards even to comply with all the rules and regulations. I'm sure those around the programs could write a book on the amount of anecdotal stories they've heard since the days of Michael Jordan.
And you can save all your sanctimonius gibberish. I lived thru, suffered thru, the crack reporting of the N&O who took it upon themselves to bring down Jimmy V. Were there things done wrong? sure, but not to this level, and least not that's been proven. Also, save your hot air about NCSU fans being jealous of your school. It's not jealousy, its just hatred for what's been displayed all the time, and is coming out in all its disgusting, hypocritical glory now that the shoe is on the other foot. And my guess is that at midnight, the clock is going to strike 12, and the facade is going to come down, and you're all gonna be left with no prince but instead raggedy clothes, rats for friends, and a big pumpkin to cry on.
Go State
Proof
Mon, 08/30/2010 - 11:51 — SurferWhen you refer to "this level", I suppose you are referring to UNC? If so, what exactly has been proven at this point in time?
the lameness of the retorts...
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 23:02 — izzykareemspeak volumes.
You guys don't know drama yet; you will though. Moo-U bitches
Which one is it?
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 21:00 — gvillegatrDo u wear a pant suit or s blouse to work!?
Lil Izzy
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 16:53 — Heels20Do you wear make-up?
That was rather inspired and
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 15:54 — unc098That was rather inspired and DRAMATIC Izzy
Relax fellas, it's just a
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 13:04 — mad_maxRelax fellas, it's just a review...
anyone in the area could have written this piece
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 09:38 — gvillegatrand I didn't even bother reading past the headline.
Really...
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 20:26 — heelsno1Another blinding glimpse of the obvious from CT...and you get paid for such jibberish?
Only because you and your colleagues clamor feverishly over bad news like a shark sensing blood in the water are the readers deprived of many more potential "good news" reports and developments...like the superb one recently about Russell Wilson, who is right under your blood-infested nostrils!
Hahaha... what a joke. The
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 05:20 — TDiddytHeelsno1 ( oh, I get it "Heels no one", as in no one left on 'D')
Your post is a joke.
The N&O tried to ignore the story... it was national media the exposed the corruption at UNC. It was national media that broke the various stories. The N&O certainly has not done any of the investigative journalism into that story. It just reached a point now that the N&O can no longer ignore it.
Corruption?
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 21:39 — SurferOh, I am laughing alright. What "corruption at UNC" are you talking about? Sure there are a few things on the table, no one is questioning that, but at this moment, nothing has been proven, decided or revealed. We don't know who did exactly what and why. What you hope may come to pass, but personally I would prefer to wait on the facts.
Honestly
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 08:12 — Heels20TDittyt ain't too bright. It doesn't make sense to make all these accusations that he/she makes without proof, while at the same time denying any possibility that there may not be much there. Those of us who are rational prefer facts. Do I think we're guilty of something? It's quite possible, but I'm not jumping to any conclusion one way or the other if nothing has been proven outside of the fact that Balmer paid for a trip for Marv and Thomas to come work out in Cali. He is a prime example of someone whose overall program is so low that he can only find happiness through the downfall of a team that he wants to call his rival.
Re: corruption
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 21:59 — gvillegatrIs it too simple to simply think the tutor went rogue and wanted to make some money on the side!?
No one is laughing
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 09:12 — heelsno1about this mess.
The joke...
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 09:09 — heelsno1is on you if you are naive or uninformed enough to think that the N&O has not dedicated a lot of time and space on investigating this story. As for Number 1...simply count the Heels' all-time wins against State in football, then check the count in men's hoops. As for defense this year, expect a load from UNC on Nov 20 at Kenan Stadium.
The joke...
Sat, 08/28/2010 - 09:09 — heelsno1is on you if you are naive or uninformed enough to think that the N&O has not dedicated a lot of time and space on investigating this story. As for Number 1...simply count the Heels' all-time wins against State in football, then check the count in men's hoops. As for defense this year, expect a load from UNC on Nov 20 at Kenan Stadium.
baby-blue-cheaters!
Sun, 08/29/2010 - 21:23 — bluecat69bluecat69u ol red -neck -boys seem to have a problem accepting that the holes have been accused of cheating!! suck it up and take your punishment, the b.b, team is next. ol roy is a cheater, like he was as kansas!!!! have a nice day--- go duke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought this was a "good
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 21:07 — noneyabusinessI thought this was a "good news" article.