Trial By Fire

Hello All,

No, I am not dodging the FSU loss. Yes, I am busy at work and quite frankly the amount of money I make off this blog is small (read: non-existent). So it had to wait.

I don’t know how many times I can type “at a loss” in one season but I am certainly there yet again.

We’ve all rehashed it. Penalties. Benjamin muffing a punt. Hurns dropping a two point conversion. Jacory throwing a pick.

It was yet another agonizing loss. However, here is the play I will always remember:

Kacy Rogers II in the end zone angling in on a floater from E.J. Manuel to Rodney Smith, and then pulling up before either picking it off and going the other way OR blowing up the receiver and disrupting the play.

It was this team in a nutshell.

They knew what had to be done: you had to punch in this game. The more physical team was going to win. Rogers saw what every defensive back dreams about unfolding in front of him…and for whatever reason, he came up short. He had never been there before, and it showed. He didn't have it in him to get it done.

Like 4th and Goal against K State….and coming up an inch short.

Like 4th and 1 against UVa…and blowing a block.

Like 4th and 1 against the VTech offense…and allowing a touchdown.

This team constantly lives every kid’s dream scenario, but they always seem to come up short.

I spent most of my free time between the ages of 8 and 12 playing driveway basketball or backyard football or playground baseball.

How did it always end?

“3…2…1…he made the shot!”

“Bottom of the 9th, full count, bases loaded, Stein at the plate…and it’s gone!”

“It all comes down to this folks, one play to win the game…Stein drops back in the pocket, he’s got his receiver downfield…touchdown!”

The good guys always won. I always handled the pressure. If I didn’t, I stayed outside until I did. Eventually I got a lot better at it. It was through repetition that I improved.

In real life college football, it is the same thing. Repetition is what turns a player to iron and turns their blood cold under pressure.

The difference is that my mistakes were not aired on national television. I was not under the constant fire of 1,000 message boarders and reporters and columnists.

This current ‘Canes team is going through the same sort of learning process, but without the same benefit that I had.

I guess that is what this season has become: one long, very public, trial by fire.

It has been frustrating and hard to deal with at times. Several times I have literally had ZERO idea what the hell I was watching.

5-5 blows. There is an old saying in football: you are what your record is.

But let’s not forget the circumstances around this team.

There is a new coaching staff. There is a new training program. The 2 Deep is filled with guys who never played much before this season (Feliciano…Dye…Clements….Hurns…Perryman…Chickillo….Williams….Chambers…etc.). 8 players were removed from the roster by Coach Golden between spring ball and the start of the season. 8 more were suspended at the outset of the season. NCAA Investigations have surrounded the program, as has uncertainty. The Penn State allegations have lead to even more uncertainty, as players can’t help but see Golden’s name connected to the job opening in the press.

None of this is an excuse for muffing the punt or pulling up lame on the interception opportunity.

There are no moral victories. Al Golden is certainly not happy with 5-5, and neither should be the fans.

But despite all this uncertainty and turmoil, this team has not once quit. Not once. Can you say that about last season?

This team very realistically could be undefeated. Think about it:

Brandon Linder penalty gets a long run called back against Maryland and we settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown that very well could have sealed the win. Instead we lose.

Jacory Harris is stopped a foot short against Kansas State.

The defense buckles on 4th and 1 for the win against VTech.

Chase Ford misses a block against Virginia.

The aforementioned mistakes against FSU…and we only lose by 4.

This team might finish with the same record (or worse) than last year’s.

However, you measure growth by comparing a season against the previous.

And even though the result might be the same, anyone who tells you this season’s squad is the same as last year’s clearly hasn’t been watching.

I hate 5-5. I hate losing winnable games. As encouraged as I am by the close results, I am equally as frustrated.

But I am not drinking the Kool-Aid yet. Not by a damn sight. This team stands tall and fights to the end. We owe it to them to do the same as fans…because eventually they will get it turned around.

Before Ed Reed was a monster he got torched for the game winning touchdown as a freshman against Penn State.

Before Ken Dorsey was unflappable, he threw a game away on the road against Washington.

Before Willis McGahee was robbed of a Heisman, he was so far down the depth chart that he almost quit.

Before Cortez Kennedy was a Hall of Famer, he was “Two Play Tez”.

Players get better. Teams learn to win. It all comes from repetition.

Always guard the inbound passer.

Quick Picks (3-2 last week; 50-22 season):

VTech (-11) over UNC
Nebraska over Michigan (-3.5)
Ohio State (-7) over Penn State
LSU over Ole Miss (-29.5)
Oklahoma over Baylor (+15)
Oregon (-15) over USC