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By BJ Bennett
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SouthernPigskin.com State of North Carolina Columnist Stephen Cheek talks about what was a crazy week in Old North State football.

By Stephen Cheek
SouthernPigskin.com State of North Carolina Columnist


SouthernPigskin.com State of North Carolina Columnist Stephen Cheek talks about what was a crazy week in Old North State football.

 


http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=3085Old North State Pigskin is a blog focused on the North Carolina schools in the ACC and Southern Conference.  It is written from a fan perspective, nothing more, nothing less. I am not a current or former coach, administrator or player of any university. I am not a professional journalist. While I am an alumnus of the University of North Carolina, I am also the son of a lifelong Duke football fan (believe it or not,) the son-in-law of an NC State alum, a great admirer of the Wake Forest program and I grew up following the Southern Conference. I just make observations as I see them…and have fun doing so. Comments, criticism, suggestions and corrections are all welcome at sacheek@gmail.com. I hope you enjoy.

 

 

What the Hell Happenened?

It was a crazy weekend of football for schools in the Tar Heel State, one that will have lasting implications on the rest of the season.  For starters, I didn’t realize the Wolfpack football team spent a lot of time on SouthernPigskin.com, but NC State obviously took my column last week to heart based on their win over ECU on Saturday.  A team that could not score an offensive touchdown to save its life came alive against the #15 ranked Pirates and gutted out a come-from-behind 30-24 overtime win over a quality opponent.  Despite the loss to the Wolfpack, ECU still seems to be the favorite to win Conference USA.  Meanwhile the Pack have a shot at coming out of nowhere to be a surprise team in the ACC if they can keep momentum going and survive their injury attrition rate.  For you detractors out there, this game was not an example of ECU playing down to an injury riddled State team either, it was a rivalry game that the Wolfpack were ready for.  In fact, the game Saturday was a testament to rivalries all across this nation, what they mean to fans and to the players who face off in them.  It was what football was meant to be and I am glad I got to watch it.  In-state games, no matter what the conference affiliation, are special for fans and players alike and I salute both schools administrations for keeping this series going.  Unfortunately for Pirate fans though, they were left leaving Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday with their first loss of the season and asking themselves “What the Hell Happened?”http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/unc/sports/m-footbl/auto_action/1288107.jpeg
Meanwhile over in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels were making all the preseason prognosticators smile for the better part of three quarters.  The Tar Heel defense held VT in check for the majority of the game and had two interceptions of Hokie quarterbacl Tyrod Taylor on the way to a 17-3 lead in the third.  There is a reason football games are four quarters long, however, and when UNC quarterback T.J. Yates went out of the game with an ankle injury the momentum changed drastically.  The Tar Heels fumbled twice which led to both of VT’s touchdowns while also committing two penalties on 3rd down which twice extended Hokie scoring drives.  Yates’ replacement, heralded recruit Mike Paulus, also threw two picks, killing any chance the Tar Heels had of winning in the end.  This was a consummate example of a team unraveling and is one of the hallmarks of a young team that is trying to assert themselves.  With Yates likely sidelined for six weeks, the Heels will have to regroup against resurgent Miami next week without him.  Young teams tend to lose games like the one against VT, but they also recover fast and don’t play with hangovers after losses.  I still expect the Tar Heels to contend but there is no doubt that as the blue clad masses sauntered to the park-and-ride buses outside Kenan on Saturday, many were asking themselves “What the Hell Happened?”
The juggernaut that has been Appalachian State over the past three seasons also woke up on Sunday to the lingering question of “What the Hell Happened?”  The JMU Dukes happened unfortunately for the Mountaineers and were able to recover from a 21-0 halftime deficit to upset App in Harrisonburg, VA on Saturday.  This game was sweet revenge for the Dukes who faced a similar collapse last year against App in the playoffs, but the saving grace for fans of FCS schools is that their destiny is still in their control.  App has every opportunity to win the Southern Conference and potentially meet JMU again in the playoffs…a novel concept that the big boys don’t seem to understand.  A 1-2 start is not what Mountaineer fans were predicting leading up to the season though, but there is no doubt the talent is still there.  Good teams recover win games after losses like this, great teams recover to win championships.  Which one is Appalachian State?
Wake, Western and Elon all won on Saturday, with Western and Elon winning in somewhat dramatic fashion, but nothing to elicit the “WTHH?” response.  State’s huge upset of ECU, along with App and UNC’s collapses created enough shell shocked fans for one state in one week however.  While we all hate to lose, it is these type games that make college football a wild ride. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Old North State Power Poll


http://logoserver.com/college/WakeForestDemonDecons3.GIF1. Wake Forest - Took care of business in Tally, although reliable kicker Sam Swank’s misses are cause for concern.
Record: 4-0

http://www.logoserver.com/college/NCStateWolfpack5.GIF2. NC State - The Pack deserve their ranking this week for finding a way to win, something the Heels need to learn.
Record: 2-2

http://www.logoserver.com/college/EastCarolinaPirates4.GIF3. East Carolina - They didn’t play poorly, but you have to drop after a loss.  ECU can still win the conference if they can regroup.
Record: 3-1

http://www.logoserver.com/college/NorthCarolinaTarHeels9.GIF4. North Carolina - The Heels are building, but not there yet.  Can they recover from the loss of Yates?
Record: 2-1

http://www.logoserver.com/college/DukeBlueDevils2.GIF5. Duke - Beating JMU by four touchdowns gets you ahead of Appalachian State even off a bye week.
Record: 2-1

http://www.logoserver.com/college/AppalachianState.GIF6. Appalachian State - A collapse more surprising than Carolina’s hurts, but all the season’s goals are still attainable.
Record: 1-2

http://www.logoserver.com/college/ElonPhoenix.GIF7. Elon - Last second field goal over always tough Ga Southern has to feel good in Burlington
Record: 3-1

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/unc/graphics/western-carolina-logo-150.gif8. Western Carolina - Took care of business against Presbyterian. Dennis Wagner seems to know what he is doing
Record: 2-2

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Stories written by SouthernPigskin.com columnists are done independently.  Views do not always coincide with those of the remainder of the staff or the ownership of SouthernPigskin.com.

BJ Bennett - Bennett developed the Southern Pigskin concept as a teenager. He has worked for over a decade in sports journalism, writing for major newspapers and hosting a radio show for The Fan Sports Radio 103.7, ESPN Radio Coastal Georgia. Bennett has been published in newspapers, magazines, journals and websites all across the southeast. Down Here, Bennett's original book on southern college football, is currently in the process of being published.