It’s another tell-all opener for Carolina.

So here we are again, on the precipice of a full-blown Tar Heel sports season, particularly football. All signs are positive, if you ignore a sexual assault charge here and a controversial coaching hire/fire there. The team has looked good for most of its first two games, both away from Kenan Stadium.

Now comes another moment of truth. First game in the old lady in the pines, favorable forecast, beatable if not notable opponent. What will the long-standing casual Carolina football fan do? Show up in droves to help get the team above .500 and prepare for the murderer’s row of games to follow? Or return to the apathy of old, stay home, watch on whatever platform or listen on the radio while shopping or mowing the grass?

These games are usually played on Labor Day weekend and are a notorious buzz kill. Larry Fedora says he doesn’t invite recruits to them because the turn-out has been, in a word, embarrassing. The empty silver seats gleaming from the sun-soaked visiting side; the Blue Zone, baking in the direct heat as those who do come watch and drink from inside the concourse areas. Home side representatively filled and the Tar Pit of course rocking.

No reason for the former. Good, possibly great, team, rifleman at quarterback, twin tormentors at tailback, defense that goes after it.

Will it be the same old, same old, or fill the house with discount ticket prices galore? Win a game where both sides score in the 40’s or take James Madison’s 800 yards rushing in two victories and shove them down the Dukes’ college football subdivision throats? Send them home to Harrisonburg and await Pitt, the trip to Tallahassee, the visit from Virginia Tech and the sashay to South Beach – all winnable games and all losable, as well.

What will it be, long casual Carolina football fans? Wait and see or come see for yourself? The choice, as they say, is yours.

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