University of North Carolina Athletics
Car-O-Lines: Give the Other Guys Some Credit
October 19, 2000 | Football
Oct. 19, 2000
By Rick Brewer, SID Emeritus
Read More Car-O-Lines from Rick Brewer
When a football team loses a game, many people assume the reason is lousy coaching, not enough good players, a lack of execution, poor officiating or sometimes just bad luck.
Rarely do fans give credit to the opposition.
In fact, outstanding play by an opponent more often than not is the reason for a team getting beat.
Certainly, the losing team has something to do with a defeat. But, it is amazing that credit is not given as much as it should be to the opponent.
Maybe that's one aspect of being a fan--a refusal to believe that another team is better than your own. When someone follows a team closely, it's probably easier to see its shortcomings than notice the strength of an opponent.
Last Saturday Minnesota defeated Ohio State in Columbus for the first time since 1949. However, as much was said and written following the game about why the Buckeyes lost as why the Gophers won.
A week earlier Miami staged a great late comeback to topple top-ranked Florida State. A great deal of credit was given to the play of quarterback Ken Dorsey in a final touchdown drive. But, just as much was said about poor clock management by the Seminoles in the closing moments and a missed 49-yard field goal by a walk-on placekicker.
I don't know if NC State is a better football team than North Carolina. I do know the Wolfpack was better last Saturday. And in football, unlike other sports, one Saturday is all that matters.
There is no question the Tar Heels helped State with inconsistent play. But, Carolina Coach Carl Torbush also gave State credit for an outstanding performance. As a lifelong football man, he realized that was the case and he did not want to take anything away from a great Wolfpack effort.
If the same two teams played this weekend, the outcome might be quite different. But, again, that's not the nature of the sport. You only get one shot at an opponent each season. So now Carolina fans will have to live with a loss to one of its major rivals for a whole year.
Wolfpack fans, of course, had suffered through seven straight years of defeats to Carolina. In a couple of those seasons it could be argued that State had a better team. But, on the day the game was played, that didn't matter. The best team was on the Carolina sideline.
Now, a 3-3 Tar Heel team has to face undefeated Clemson which is on a roll with a 7-0 record.
The Tigers have the most balanced offense the Tar Heels will see this season. Quarterback Woody Dantzler is sixth nationally in total offense, ninth in passing and 11th in rushing. As a team, Clemson is second nationally in total offense and fifth in rushing.
Clemson's attack has been so potent that it has over-shadowed a defense, which has been outstanding all season, ranking second in the country in total defense.
If Carolina is to have any chance in this game, the Tar Heels must forget what happened last week. Film of that game has been studied and mistakes corrected. Now it's a matter of doing what NC State did last Saturday--playing a superlative game.
It will not be easy. Clemson is rated the nation's third-best team in this week's coaches' poll. The Tigers are heavily favored and should win if they continue to play as they have all year.
One bright spot for Carolina against State was the running of freshman tailback Brandon Russell who had 96 yards on 28 carries. A similar performance will be difficult, however, against Clemson's rugged defense.
Still, last week had to help the confidence of the freshman tailback from Decatur, Ga. After splitting time with Willie Parker and Andre' Williams earlier in the year, Russell has become the starter at tailback and is now getting most of the playing time there.
"I've tried to just play and let the coaches worry about substitutions," says Russell. "I know it's good to have a fresh back in the game, especially against defenses like we face.
"Last week the disappointing thing was to have moved the ball at times on offense, but not gotten it in the end zone.
"It's strange. We've lost two tough games in a row, but I'm personally feeling more comfortable when I'm on the field."
That's really not unusual for a true freshman.
"The adjustment from high school to college football is tremendous," says quarterback Ronald Curry, who was forced to play as a freshman because of an injury to Oscar Davenport. "The game is faster and so much more physical.
"I've been impressed with the improvement all the freshman tailbacks have made. They're not afraid to run inside. We just need to get them in the open field. Brandon has been so close to breaking a long run. That would really help our offense."
Carolina will need such a boost against Clemson. Even that may not be enough against one of the best teams in America. But, Torbush and his players would like to find out.
Clemson may simply be too powerful, but the Tar Heels know anything can happen on a Saturday afternoon. Regardless of the outcome, a great effort today would help this team as it prepares for the final four games of the year. The important thing is to play well. That may not be enough if Clemson is at its best, but it could set the stage for a strong finish to the season.
