UNC Football: Just when we all started believing…
Just when we all started buying stock into the UNC football program’s success, they crushed it by losing to 1-5 Virginia at home.
Coming into Saturday, the UNC football program was riding high.
Starting the season with a 6-0 record, Mack Brown’s team had everyone believing, especially after a top-25 victory over Miami.
With 1-5 Virginia rolling into town, Brown advised his players not to “eat the poisonous cheese.” Well, the Tar Heels definitely didn’t listen to that message.
31. 888. 27. 838. Final
Any hope of the College Football Playoffs has now vanished, as the UNC football program suffered a loss to Virginia at home on Saturday night. Based on the circumstances, you aren’t out of line saying that this ranks among the worst losses in program history.
Not only did the Tar Heels get out-coached, but they got out-played, as Tony Elliot’s crew came in with nothing to lose and played that way. In fact, Virginia did what North Carolina should have: control the game on the ground.
The Cavaliers ran for 228 yards and three scores on the ground, as their ability to control the time of possession wore the Tar Heels defense out. North Carolina’s defense couldn’t get off the field, as Virginia held the ball for just over 37 minutes of the game clock.
Instead of relying on Omarion Hampton, who averaged 5.9 yards per carry, Chip Lindsey elected to become pass-heavy, having Drake Maye, who was not his best, throw the ball 48 times.
Not that Maye got much help other than Tez Walker, who had 11 receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown. Nate McCollum had a rough outing with multiple drops, as the combination of Maye’s inefficiency and some untimely drops did not help the Tar Heels get it going offensively.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to hear North Carolina’s coaching staff say, “Run The Damn Ball” anytime soon: against the worst run defense in the ACC (and in the country), the Tar Heels elected not to do that, and it cost them.
Overall, this was a disappointing night, to say the least, as everything seemed to be trending toward the UNC football program re-writing the narrative.
What Saturday night showed was that nothing has changed: this program still can’t be trusted to continue early season success, as the loss to 1-5 Virginia is one that will most certainly be mentioned for many years to come as one of the worst losses in program history.
Next. Rucker named to Bednarik Award Watch List. dark
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