Two million-dollar quarterbacks tangle on Senior Day.
Neither Gio Lopez nor Darian Mensah are seniors, but they are likely to determine the outcome of Saturday’s 112th Carolina-Duke renewal in Kenan Stadium at 3:30.
Both players are very important to their respective teams and their own performances for relative reasons. And both are benefiting from the new rev share in college athletics and/or NIL deals.
The Tar Heels, 4-6, must win out to keep their bowl hopes alive. After losing at Wake Forest, they can only reach the qualifying 6-6 record by beating Duke and winning on Senior Night at N.C. State next Saturday at surely what will be a raucous Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack is 5-5 and needs to defeat Florida State Friday night at home or make it five straight over UNC to go bowling.
The Blue Devils are 5-5, as well, and losing here would leave them with having to win their Senior Day game against Wake Forest, which likely will blow out C-USA Delaware (another 5-5 team) Saturday to make the Deacons 8-3 and in range of a better bowl game than any of their Big Four rivals.
Duke can claim the mythical state championship with victories over Carolina and Wake, having already taken care of State in September. So it’s complicated with winning records and bowls at stake after what has turned out to be mediocre seasons for the three Triangle teams and inconsistent play of late.
Back to the quarterbacks.
Lopez signed a reported $4 million contract over two years. He has had a so-so season during which his arm strength has been questioned and his speed is not as good as advertised.
Mensah is one of the highest paid players in college football, earning $8 million from a reported two-year NIL deal that doesn’t seem to meet new NIL regulations that stipulate payments must equal the established value of the athlete. There is very little Mensah or any college jock can do with their name, image and likeness to earn $4 million in a season. NIL can supplement rev share to boost total pay to play of 8 million.
Statistically, there is no comparison between Mensah and Lopez, who are more than 120 yards apart in ACC total offense per game.
Lopez and the Tar Heels got off to a 2-5 start while Duke was 4-2 after six games. The Blue Devils and Mensah have sputtered by losing three of the last four, putting them in the position of having to beat one rival on the road and another at home to get to six wins.
But for most of the rivalry, UNC-Duke football has featured close, unpredictable encounters with the underdog often pulling the upset. Carolina leads the series 66-41 with 4 ties.
In his weekly presser, Bill Belichick said Mensah has the poise of some NFL quarterbacks he has coached or faced over his three-plus decade career in pro football.
Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.
