Refreshing Atmosphere Surrounding UNC Football This Spring
By Matt Hamm
Sometimes, okay most of the time, this part of the year stinks. No basketball, no football, and as a UNC Tar Heels fan, typically this time of year also means saying goodbye to at least one, or in this years case many star players headed to the NBA. But every once in a while the “dead period” as I like to call it provides opportunities to come across something golden you might not have paid attention to during the hectic, news heavy times when the gridiron and court is being lit up. I want to talk about how great it feels right to be a Carolina football fan. Go ahead and read it again, I didn’t mean basketball either (although that’s pretty awesome also) I can’t remember a time when being a fan of Tar Heel football had this much optimism and positive energy in the air. And it’s down right refreshing.
A multitude of things are going on right now within the program that just seem right. And we’ll cover them all (not much else to do right?), today I want to talk about the commitment to the program that the young players have to the program and new coach Larry Fedora. Specifically some inspiring comments I came across recently in the Gaston Gazette.
Jheranie Boyd:
"“I just believe in the school and believed in who they were hiring,” Boyd said. “I knew they were going to a spread offense and that’s something I wanted to experience. The pro style was a nice offense to play in but I think the spread is going to enhance my ability to make big plays.”“When I found out coach Fedora was going to be our head coach, I called Lamar and asked him some questions about the offense and how it would be,” Boyd said. “He gave me some pointers.”"
A.J. Blue:
"“I’m at running back and my goals are still the same,” said Blue, who picked up 138 yards rushing and his first collegiate TD last season while also catching two passes for 11 yards, returning two kickoffs for 34 yards and throwing three incomplete passes. “I want to get on the field more and make big plays. There’s just a lot of confidence for me this year knowing I’m going to play a little bit more.”“I wanted to graduate from here,” said Blue, now a muscular 6-2, 230 pounds. “And why restart? I like the coaches we have here and I feel like I’ve done a lot to show I can play. So transferring, to me, wasn’t an option.”"
Norkeithus Otis:
"“It’s been exciting,” Otis said. “I like the vibe. I like the new coaches. I really thought I was going to be a linebacker just like last year. But I like the new position a lot.”"
This time of year is supposed to breed optimism at every program. And I don’t have to tell any of you in Tar Heel Nation that we’ve been through some unfulfilled hype with the football program in the past. But this year feels different, despite still having to carry out the sentence handed down by the NCAA for the past regimes bad choices. It almost seems like we’re past that, as if we’ve moved on already and forgotten all about it.
After the sanctions were handed down players were given the opportunity to transfer without penalty meaning they would be eligible to play right away (just like Connecticut transfer Alex Oriakhi in basketball whom the Heels are chasing won’t have to sit since UConn is going through a similar situation). You know how many took that offer? Zero, and that speaks volumes in my eyes. I’m excited again for some Tar Heels football! And right now, that feels pretty darn good.
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