North Carolina’s 17-13 escape at Rutgers on Saturday may long be remembered as one of the ugliest victories in Tar Heel football history.

It may also rate among the most timely wins of the Butch Davis experience.

On a day when linebacker Bruce Carter could have won both the offensive and defensive player-of-the-game awards, the Heels weren’t precise by any stretch of the word.

But if ever there had been a gut-check situation for Davis, his players and the program, this was it.