UNC Football: Was Win over GT or NC State Better?
By John Bauman
Keeping It Heel breaks down each win and decides which win, either the win over NC State in 2012 or the win against GT in 2015, was better.
Carolina pulled off a wonderful win yesterday in Atlanta over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The question now is, is this the biggest win of Larry Fedora’s tenure in Chapel Hill? The only competition would be the Gio game in 2012, when the Tar Heels defeated NC State on Gio Bernard’s thrilling punt return.
That win was awesome, but is it better than the win yesterday over Georgia Tech? Let’s steal a page from Bill Simmons’ playbook and do a Dr. Jack Breakdown of the two games to decide which was a better win…
Build Up
The build-up for the State game was big, considering it was Larry Fedora’s first shot at the Wolfpack and considering that the Heels were on a five game losing streak to State. Neither team was great coming into the ballgame; UNC was just 5-3, including a 2-2 conference record, while State was 5-2 and 2-1 in conference. Also, not much was at stake for the Heels besides bragging rights because of the postseason ban placed on the team from the NCAA.
The build-up for the Tech game didn’t have the same buzz about it that a rivalry game does, but fans and players alike understood the significance on the ACC standings. But rivalry games always matter more, especially rivalry games against N.C. State.
State game 1, Tech game 0
Talent Participating
On Saturday, Carolina had first round talent Landon Turner playing left guard and a smattering of mid-round talents all accross the field, but nowhere near the talent that was on that 2012 team. The offense line alone was perhaps UNC’s most talented group ever, with James Hurst, Jonathon Cooper and Russell Bodine. Gio Bernard, Eric Ebron, Quinshad Davis and Bryn Renner were the NFL-caliber talents playing on offense, and the defense had Sly Williams in the middle and Kevin Reddick at linebacker. That was a legendary team in terms of talent for the Tar Heels. Big advantage to the State game here…
State game 2, Tech game 0
Crazy trick plays
The Heels ran a tricky fake reverse pass to Marquise Williams on Saturday…
The only trick play I can remember from the State game is this reverse that the Heels ran to free up Erik Highsmith for a touchdown…
A trick play with a passing TD beats a trick play with a running TD.
State game 2, Tech game 1
Atmosphere
The atmosphere for the State game at home was incredible. It was a beautiful fall afternoon, and the stadium was full with crazed fans.
The atmosphere on Saturday didn’t compare. It was raining and the crowd, while loud, didn’t have the buzz of a rivalry game.
State game 3, Tech game 1
Comeback
In the State game, UNC trailed 35-25 entering the final quarter and scored 18 in the 4th to win the game. Against Tech, UNC was down 21-0 and came all the way back to win 38 to 31. Both comebacks were pretty good, but this one goes to the Tech game since it was the biggest comeback in school history.
State game 3, Tech game 2
Drama
Both games also did not lack drama. In the State game, each touchdown for either team seemed like life or death, as the game was so close and back and forth and the stakes were so high. The Tech game was similar. At the beginning of the game, hopes were low but the team crawled back, eventually taking the lead and holding on for the win. This one is too close to call.
State game 3.5, Tech game 2.5
Ending
No contest. The Georgia Tech game ended with a failed hail mary that was never really that close, while the State game ended with perhaps one of the most iconic plays in North Carolina football history. Gio’s punt return was legendary and gives the State game a huge edge in this category.
State game 4.5, Tech game 2.5
Implications on ACC Standings
As I mentioned above, the State game had little implications on the ACC standings for the Tar Heels since the team had a postseason ban. UNC did technically finish first in the Coastal division, thanks in part to this win, but it didn’t really count.
The win over Georgia Tech counts and matters for the ACC standings. UNC is one of three unbeaten teams at the top of the ACC standings, and with easier games against Wake Forest, UVA and Pitt coming up, Carolina could establish itself as the team to beat in the Coastal thanks in large part to this win.
State game 4.5, Tech game 3.5
Implications on program, Fedora
This one is close. The NC State game reestablished the program as a contender in the state of North Carolina, breaking a stronghold that the Wolfpack had built up in the rivalry. The win also did wonders for establishing Fedora as a coach who could beat the Wolfpack, giving him major brownie points within the fanbase.
However, I think the GT game will have bigger implications on the program, as Carolina finally proved it could close out a close game and win on the road against a marquee opponent. Fedora also proved that he could win the big game and took the first step towards taking his program to win an ACC Coastal title.
State game 4.5, Tech game 4.5
Tiebreaker
Watch that play again. Listen to Jones Angell on the call. As big as Saturday’s win was, how is that not the best win of the Fedora era?
FINAL VERDICT: Win over NC State in 2012 >> Win over GT in 2015
Let us know what your verdict is in the comments section below.