Fumbling Bookends
The Tar Heels started the game with a fumble and essentially finished the game with a fumble. It's a tough pill to swallow, and I'd be amazed if UNC doesn't begin to value the football more moving forward. Perhaps the ball security rules of Eastern State University should be practiced in Chapel Hill.
The first by Shanard Clower on UNC's first play from scrimmage went over like a fart in church. Like a fart at your grandmother's funeral. Like ruining your pants at your grandmother's funeral.
How are you going to come out of a bye week, your program in ruin, with the threat of the Saudi PSS sawing you into pieces, and fumble weakly on the first offensive play of the game? It's a sign of a deeply unserious team.
But the Tar Heels showed resiliency, hung close to Cal, and put themselves in a position to go ahead with less than four minutes left in the game. To fumble literally as you're about to score a touchdown feels almost like divine punishment.
Gio Lopez didn't throw an interception, which was quite a coup, considering how talented Cal's secondary is. But on a night where he avoided turning the ball over in the air, his receivers let him down on the ground. UNC needs everybody to join hands and pledge not to turn the ball over anymore.