AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 08
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Feeling Blue, and seeing Red
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No, the headline’s got nothing to do with this week’s elections, but the moods of the two underdogs in Saturday’s games involving the biggie state college football teams.
In her rather limited edition of The Best Campuses Rated Almanac, Enemy Watch has lovely Chapel Hill very, very high on the list. Just about at the top, in fact. UNC-Chapel Hill is about as bucolic as it gets, folks, and not just the leafy grounds and The Old Well landmark.
And not necessarily for the Deandome Hoops Emporium, which actually sticks out like something of a sore thumb.
Several years ago, when Enemy Watch trod the ACC beat, she was dazzled by the then-newly refurbished Kenan Stadium, complete with an unbelievable football locker room and training facility. State O’ the Art, i’twas.
This was during the Mack Brown Era, when Tar Heel football was respectable nationally, but the coach was itching to go to a place that wasn’t overshadowed by basketball. And so he did.
A coupla coaches later, Carolina’s got the Gridiron Blues again. Saturday’s game with Georgia Tech could be the ACC Coastal clincher for the Yellow Jackets, and it will be the last Homecoming tilt at Kenan for outgoing coach and alum John Bunting, who wasn’t able to recruit or win.
Now the name most likely mentioned as his successor is drawing some second thoughts from folks who think the Heels shouldn’t have to settle for second-rate footy.
Will ex-U. Miami and Browns coach Butch Davis really be a savior, or is he even the right fit? There are suspicions he may be a short-timer, using UNC as a springboard back to the college game.
For the most part, however, the Carolina media are pinin’ for a big name to take the reins. Here’s one major endorsement, while this one says the school should go the Full Monty and really make the gridders big time.
If UNC officials had taken action a couple years back regarding the perpetually embattled Bunting, they might be on their way. One of the names tossed around in some circles then was the Ol’ Ball Coach, who’s toiling at the Other Carolina.
Still, Helmetball’s getting some attention at the start of what should be another stellar Hardwood season. And that’s something of an upset.
As for the game, itself, The Hivesters are warning not to take this one for granted. That’s very wise advice.
Down on the Loveliest Village on the Plains, the setting isn’t quite Chapel Hillian, but there’s no doubt football’s the main course.
Georgia. Auburn. South’s Oldest Rivalry. Usually with SEC stakes on the line.
But not this year, at least for one team. The lowly Bulldogs are seeing Red, the prospects of a bad bowl or none at all, and the most jarring lack of confidence in the Richt Era that before the season was declared as possibly even surpassing Doolian Days.
We know now that was highly premature, but Tuberville’s Tigers aren’t exactly roaring like they have in the past.
Auburn’s got just one loss, but needs some help to reach the SEC championship game that for the moment is advantage, Arkansas.
Despite that one hiccup, there’s still plenty of worrying: How good are the Tigers?
Will the emotions of this rivalry stoke the Dogs, much like the Heels may be moved to win one for their departing coach? There always is that playing-your-in-laws feel to this game.
Is that UGA’s best shot at stopping the bleeding?
