It’s hard not to compare this past weekend’s loss against Virginia to last season’s stunner against Georgia Tech. Playing at home against a physically overmatched underdog, the Tar Heels came out flat both times, gave up a multi-score lead and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Last year’s loss against the Yellow Jackets was the beginning of the end for the 2022 Tar Heels, who never mentally recovered and lost four straight to end the season. This year, Carolina still has five regular-season games to play and – despite it all – retains a good chance to make it back to Charlotte for the ACC Championship.
There’s a clear game plan for that to happen.
“We can’t let this carry on into next week,” said edge rusher Kaimon Rucker. “We’ve gotta have amnesia with this. Move on, move forward and continue to get better each and every week. Whether that’s bringing more energy, whether that’s being more positive on the sideline, whatever that case may be. Just gotta keep on grinding, keep chopping, and go on to the next week.”
Ironically enough, that next game will see Carolina travel down to Atlanta to visit those same Yellow Jackets, who have won two straight against the Tar Heels.
Quarterback Drake Maye will hope to have a better performance in Atlanta after completing only half of his 48 pass attempts against Virginia and throwing the game-ending interception. And after the game on Saturday, Maye repeated a talking point from earlier in the week, one which demonstrated the amnesia Rucker described.
“At the end of the day, I’ve gotta make better decisions and lead the guys,” Maye said. “I think we would’ve had a different outcome. But we’ve gotta just get back and not let this game beat us twice.”
That turn of phrase – not letting a game beat you twice – is a common one used by head coach Mack Brown, and it’s never been more timely than this week. Brown, who’s seen his share of tough losses in his long coaching career – particularly in Chapel Hill – seemed confident Maye, Rucker and the rest of the team would be able to put this one behind them.
“Next week’s the most important game on our schedule,” Brown said. “So we’ve gotta get back and correct all the mistakes we made today. They’re great young people that are disappointed, so they’ll come back ready to work in the morning.”
While visions of the College Football Playoff aren’t dancing through Tar Heel heads anymore, Carolina’s path back to Charlotte for the conference championship is very real and very much in play. UNC was lucky enough to clinch its spot in the game before last year’s losing streak, but this season multiple teams still have a shot. Carolina, Duke, Louisville and Virginia Tech are each tied with one conference loss. The Tar Heels don’t face the Cardinals or Hokies this year, but will host the Blue Devils on November 11, in a game which could decide who faces Florida State in December.
“We’ve still got a lot of things to look forward to,” said Maye. “We’ve got some big-time games coming up at the end of the season. We’ve still got a lot of things in reach. I’ve got to do my job to get these guys ready, get the offense ready and get back after Georgia Tech.”
It’s still all in front of Carolina. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. A team that loses to Virginia – Virginia! – can lose to anybody. Time for the amnesia to kick in.
Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward
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