Carolina’s best may not be good enough on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. before a packed house in Florida’s capital city of Tallahassee. And that is if the Tar Heels can locate their best game.
FSU can reasonably be expected to bring its best to the game. The Seminoles lost their last time out against N.C. State in Raleigh, blowing an early lead to lose 28-26, so they have some business to take care of themselves.
“They may be a little [ticked] off, but that’s just going to make for better competition in the game,†UNC quarterback T.J. Yates said. “A lot of guys on this team took the game we just played as a loss, as well, because we didn’t play as well as we wanted to and didn’t come out like we should have. So we’re itching to get back out there and start a game off like we want to and just get back on track like we know how to play.â€
Yeah, well, the problem is the competition is a superior team this time around. There was a time when that might not have been true. But after all the suspensions and the injuries that are accumulating in Chapel Hill, Carolina is finding it harder to put a team with any experience on the field.
“Obviously, this will be a legitimate challenge this week,†Coach Butch Davis said. “When you turn on the film, it doesn’t take long to get a pretty good respect for Florida State. At 6-2, they’re playing well. I think I’ve watched Florida State since 1984, going to Miami as an assistant coach, and some things historically refuse to change. They’ve always got very fast, athletic kids.
“This year, in particular, I think they’re playing with two dynamite linebackers. One of the biggest differences I see in their defense this year from a year ago is their ability to put pressure on the quarterback.
“The two defensive tackles really collapse the pocket well and the defensive ends come off the edge. They’ve always had good corners, guys that have been able to jump up in people’s faces and press guys, play press bump-and-run, so that when they do blitz they’ve got a real presence at the corner position.â€
Then there is the QB position. Christian Ponder is an excellent collegiate quarterback. On any given Saturday, he can post numbers that can rival anyone in the nation.
He put together a game like that a year ago in leading the Seminoles from behind to defeat Carolina on its home field.
But don’t think this is going to be about UNC owing FSU from that loss a year ago. Sure, the Tar Heels want to win; but that has more to do with Carolina just trying to survive this nightmare of a season, not trying to rectify any negatives from the past.
“I don’t think a lot of guys take it very personally,†H-back Ryan Taylor said. “Once you start getting personal with wins and losses, you lose sight of just playing football. So I don’t think a lot of guys are looking at it as a revenge game.
“Obviously, we were up last year and would have liked to have pulled that one out, but I think a lot of guys are just focusing on the goals that we’ve made and trying to come back and win this game.â€