Your Boys Are Playin' Scared

And it wasn’t even halftime. In fact, we were only down 22-0 at this point. This observation came from a head shaking, sympathetic UL fan as I rode up an elevator in Papa John’s stadium amidst the Tar Heels’ first half from Hell versus Louisville.

 

My elevator partner wasn’t being a smartass; he seemed genuinely disappointed that his Cardinals weren’t getting tested. Once the first half ended, I tried to imagine what he might have said to me had I climbed aboard that same elevator with my team down 36-7? “Why did you bother to make this trip?” or “This is ACC football? Really? Are you Serious?” or “Your boys aren’t just scared, they are whupped!”

 

Stuff like that. And he was right. The level of domination was staggering. 19 first downs. Louisville had kicked off eight times in the first half. Eight!?! The Cardinal offensive line was opening up holes large enough to fit a Churchill Downs starting gate and Louisville’s quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, looked like the second coming of Johnny Unitas.

 

As I sheepishly strode to the concourse at halftime in my low-key Carolina hat and subtle blue/dark blue shirt, I glanced around at the joyous red faces around me. It was as if I had walked out of a wake and into the wildest, bestest afternoon party ever…“Hey buddy, sorry for your loss” (all the while shaking head trying to hide a grin) “…uuh how ‘bout them dadgum Cards? That was some kinda whuppin’ wasn’t it?”

 

“Yessir, yes it was.”

 

Fortunately, Papa John’s stadium sold beer. And lots of it. And by halftime, the Cardinal-red faithful had put a significant dent in the supply. No doubt, the Tar Heel loyalists, who decided to make this trek to Kentucky, could also drown their sorrows with multiple $6 brews…and certainly that was my plan.

 

(BRILLIANT IDEA OF THE DAY: I’d like to propose that the North Carolina state legislature make beer sales legal during UNC football games when the home team either falls behind or jumps ahead by 20 or more points; hereafter called, “The Papa John Rule.” Imagine the crowd involvement! “They kick this FG and it’s Papa John time fellas” Think of the potential revenue! And all for a good cause…to calm the nerves of the Carolina faithful and to benefit higher education; everybody is a winner!)

 

As I staggered back to my seat for the second half, still numbed by 36 points and multiple cold Bud Lights, the Cardinal “drive to 55” (points, that is) continued as the offense methodically marched into Tar Heel territory on its first possession. Somehow, someway, the Heels managed to stop UL on a 4th down with nary a point.

 

To the surprise of many, including this writer, the Heels proceeded to put together a very respectable touchdown drive to make it 36-14.

 

For me to claim that I could sense a Tar Heel comeback brewing would be an out-an-out lie. Honestly, I was just glad to see that Coach Fedora and boys had decided not to “mail it in” for the second half.

 

On the Cards’ second possession, the Heel defense assumed a “bend-but-don’t-break” strategy (as opposed to its first half “bend-and-keep-on-bending-‘til-they-score-a-TD-so-we-can-get-the-ball-back” strategy) and gave up only a morale boosting field goal.

 

Even when the Heels managed to put together another solid touchdown drive and “narrow” the gap to 39-21 early in the 4th quarter, I could not let myself jump on the “I had better quit downing these tasty cold Bud Lights or I am not going to fully appreciate the greatest comeback in Carolina football history” bandwagon.  Not yet.

 

And yet, the defense held (again) and, lo and behold, with 8:36 seconds left in the game, UL had to kick its first punt of the game, and wouldn’t you know it, the good guys in light blue blocked it. Next play we scored. And, uh-oh Cards’ fans, who were now thinking that they might be witnessing the greatest collapse in UL football history, it was 39-28.

 

Hmmm…well, now…you know, if we could just… (no, no…don’t do this to yourself. Just be thankful the Heels didn’t embarrass themselves and are making a respectable showing.) I know, I know, but if we could just stop ‘em one more time, kick an onside kick and…(no, don’t do it!)

 

BUT, it did happen. UL forgot how to run, Carolina remembered how to tackle and the offense scored…again. All of a sudden we were down by five measly points and going for two to pull within a field goal.

 

Conversion missed and down 39-34 with the time dwindling…”oh well, it was a nice comeback, wasn’t it?” Carolina deserves a lot of credit for making such a great comeback. They have nothing to be ashamed of with this effort and – what? They did what? UL fumbled the kickoff? Carolina’s ball? What the…?!?! We could win this thing? Are you kidding me? Any room on this bandwagon?

 

Well, all I can say about the rest of this game is that if God were truly a Tar Heel…

 

Instead, I was left with another “what could have been” game…albeit one that was one of the more remarkable near-wins I have watched.

 

Some losses are certainly better than others, and judging by the fans leaving Papa John’s stadium, some wins are worse than others. If our boys can build on a game like this and walk into enemy territory without playing “scared,” then perhaps it was a “good” loss.

 

We shall see. We shall see.