AJC > Blog > Archives > 2005 > September > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s hard to hate the Heels
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Unless you’re a dyed-in-deep-blue Dookie, it’s hard to hate the Tar Heels. Even when they were basking in an NCAA hoops title in April, there was the sympatico feeling of seeing Uncle Roy crying a river when his team turned pro. Actually, the coach held up rather well publicly at their joint press conference. Perhaps Bonnie Bernstein wasn’t there to ask him if he still gave a ** about North Carolina.
If you’ve ever tooled around the Chapel Hill campus, you’d be hard-pressed to find a college ground more lovely. In my experience, only Stanford compares, at least among BCS campuses.
The bonhomie of eating spots along the main drag on Franklin Street is exceptional, even at the expense account end of the scale, such as UNC women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance’s place. Simply wonderful. For more casual fare, it’s the Spotted Dog in next-door Carrboro, a funky cultural enclave on Tobacco Road. If I ever move away from Atlanta, this town would top the list of destinations, yedy, yedy, yedy.
When it comes to football, the Tar Heels don’t generate a lot of venom, the exceptions being the hapless Dookies and the N.C. State hounds down the road in Raleigh. John Bunting saved his job for another year (and quelled some Spurrier to UNC scuttlebutt) with a big win over FSU last year. But when he brings his team to town for Saturday’s tilt at Bobby Dodd against your nationally ranked Yellow Jackets, will you be able to generate some fire for the ACC opener?
Heck, even the scribes in the Tar Heel State are on an even keel. In a piece bemoaning the lack of quality in the conference — “if Florida State and Miami are the ACC’s best teams, it might be time to expand again” — a Raleigh News and Observer columnist gives Tech some kudos:
“The ACC’s most impressive game was Georgia Tech’s 23-14 win at Auburn, and it came about generally the way Yellow Jackets coach Chan Gailey had predicted.
“None of this sets up well for North Carolina, which opens Saturday in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets’ six new offensive starters will go into that game with more confidence than they took to Auburn.”
If this prognosis holds out, could there be nuthin’ finaaaah for Jackets fans?
Here’s a similar take on the less-than-impressive showing by the ‘Noles and ‘Canes, with some more props for the Jackets, who are ranked No. 11 in the CNN/SI poll this week.
Can Tech live up to such lofty billing?
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: Tech
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By Alabama Jack
September 9, 2005 07:45 AM | Link to this
Duke is Puke and Wake is fake, But NC State is the one to hate.
By david
September 9, 2005 08:25 AM | Link to this
I hate the heels!!!
By NCJacket
September 9, 2005 08:47 AM | Link to this
Come on now, credit where credit is due. UNC beat Miami last season, not Florida State. And Tech is out for some sky blue blood this year, so watch out.
By Rick Traylor
September 9, 2005 08:57 AM | Link to this
Not a bad writeup about my Heels, but the facts in the article are a little skewed!
The Heels beat Miami last year, and not FSU!
As for tomorrow’s game in Atlanta, I’ll be there rooting for the Heels against the Yellowjackets in Hotlanta!
Go Heels!
By Rob
September 9, 2005 09:00 AM | Link to this
It isn’t hard to hate them if you live in NC. Their fans are as numerous as ants. Mostly very nice people one on one but really obnoxious as a group.
By wes
September 9, 2005 09:37 AM | Link to this
Who was the last team to beat UNC in basketball?
By GT
September 9, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this
Carolina is a class act. It is hard to dislike them. They are a poster child of the ACC. I have no problem hating Clemson or those yankees from Dook, but those Carolina boys are too much like us. I’ll muster it up Saturday because we need the win.
By Barbara Beard
September 9, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this
Wendy, thanks for acknowledging the beauty of the campus of UNC. It fits right in with the town of Chapel Hill. I know I’m prejudiced, but it’s nice hear good things from people who’ve been there.
Heel in Atlanta
By BRAD
September 9, 2005 11:35 AM | Link to this
THE HEELS NATION IS A CLASS ACT, WE SOMETIMES DON’T GET THE SAME OPINION FROM THOSE THAT DON’T UNDERSTAND CLASS AND HOW THOSE FROM THE TARHEEL STATE WERE RAISED. FOREVER CAROLINA BLUE!!!
By Paul
September 9, 2005 01:58 PM | Link to this
As a life long jacket fan, I hope that the Auburn victory hasn’t blinded us. Carolina has: ACC atheletes / who embarrassed us last yr / who we haven’t seen play!! Like we took it to Auburn, they could take it to us on our home field - just like we did it to Auburn. I trust the coach and the SAT scores of our kids keep a warry & serious eye on NC- so we can beat them soundly.
By Mike
September 9, 2005 03:40 PM | Link to this
Yep! I guess them Heels are just like them Dawgs, its hard to hate them boys.
By Blue Devil
September 9, 2005 06:50 PM | Link to this
Okay, let’s be real guys. We can’t hate UNC…because their team is gone. People should be scared of DUKE. Our team is loaded this year. And why all the animosity ya’ll? not everybody from Duke is a yankee…
By Golden Hand
September 15, 2005 04:44 AM | Link to this
Carolina has a gorgeous campus and a lovely stadium, polite fans and probably the prettiest local accent in the country. But they are AWFULLY stuck up about it. Too many smug, boring rich kids there for my taste. I far prefer Dookies and NC State folks; at least they have a sense of humor.