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By Stephen Cheek
SouthernPigskin.com State of North Carolina Columnist
SouthernPigskin.com State of North Carolina Columnist Stephen Cheek reflects on the fifth week of college football in North Carolina.
Old North State Pigskin is a blog focused on the North Carolina schools in the ACC and Southern Conference. Referencing the state’s Revolutionary War nickname to include all the schools with its borders (and not just the Tar Heels with the state’s civil war nickname) this blog 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 a graduate of the University of North Carolina, I am also the son of a lifelong Duke Football fan, and the son-in-law of an NC State alumnus. I just make observations as I see them…and try to leave the bias out. Comments, criticism, suggestions and corrections are all welcome at .
Last Saturday at high noon, North Carolina fans packed out a sun-soaked Kenan Stadium to watch their beloved Tar Heels. Football expectations have grown into the big time in Chapel Hill and fans were ready to bask in the glow of what most expected to be a blowout of a bad UVa team. Virginia was 0-3 coming into the game, and had previously lost to William and Mary, and Southern Miss. More importantly though, this was a bad Wahoo squad that had been the nemesis of the Tar Heels for the better part of 25 years, costing the Heels at least one BCS game and many spots in lesser bowls over the years. One would think that after getting demolished by a good GT squad the week before and losing their status as a Top 25 team, this opponent would have the Heels fired up and ready to prove they deserved all of the preseason hype they had generated. Three hours later though, UVA walked out of Kenan Stadium to cheers from their contingent of 5000 or so fans who came down from the Old Dominion. They had witnessed North Carolina achieve nothing from its rushing attack, commit three turnovers while producing a whopping 174 total yards and a field goal all day. Tar Heel QB TJ Yates was under constant pressure against a Cav defense that had surrendered 31 points a game to non-BCS competition. But as fans were heading for the exits in Chapel Hill after witnessing the 16-3 snoozer featuring 17 punts, a top notch offense was on display 40 minutes west of Chapel Hill.
Just north of Burlington, NC the Elon Phoenix have been putting on a show all season. On Saturday during a hard fought 19-12 victory over Furman which moved Elon to a 4-1 record, receiver Terrell Hudgins quietly set the NCAA Division I mark for career receptions. With his 209 yards on a career high 16 catches, Hudgins passed both Florida A&M’s Jacquay Nunnally, who held the Football Championship Subdivision record with 317 catches from 1997-2000, and Purdue's Taylor Stubblefield, who held the Football Bowl Subdivision mark with 316 catches from 2001-2004. Those stats, combined with junior QB Scott Riddle’s 35-for-48 for 374 yard performance shows that Elon has probably the highest powered offense this side of Lubbock, Texas. This performance is nothing new either. Riddle, a junior, has passed for 8300 yards and 66 touchdowns in 3 seasons while Hudgins has 4300 yards and 41 touchdowns. These stats beg the question of what is it that these guys know that the million dollar UNC coaching staff can’t figure out? Now I accept that the Phoenix aren’t going to beat any BCS teams this season (Elon lost 35-7 to Wake Forest earlier in September despite Hudgins having 100+ yards and a TD,) but there is no reason to think that the style Elon is playing can’t be translated to a school like North Carolina. If the players Elon has are able to win on the Southern Conference level, then the players UNC has should be able to win on the ACC level under a decent offensive scheme. Based on recruiting rankings, UNC has the players to pass and catch like the Riddle to Hudgins connection. For whatever reasons though, the connections aren’t being made.
Now there is no doubt the UNC offensive line has been decimated by injury. The loss of WRs Hakeem Nicks, Brooks Foster and Branden Tate from last season is also hurting the Tar Heels. Those reasons can’t be used as excuses though, for all schools lose players every year and Carolina has recruited well under Butch Davis. Carolina Offensive Coordinator John Shoop knows attrition is part of the game and the parts he has to work with were all put in place during his 3 years in charge. Cam Sexton transferred last year because QB Yates was the guy Butch Davis and Shoop were going to stick with. All the receivers are Shoop and Davis recruits. What is also obvious to the most casual observer though is that something is wrong in Chapel Hill. Things need to change if the Carolina is to hope for any kind of post-season play and it is times like these that people need to start thinking outside of the box when attempting to solve perplexing problems. Is it possible that the recipe being followed at Elon might be the remedy for the offensive woes in Chapel Hill? Could it be true that a Southern Conference coaching staff might have some answers for an ACC coaching staff filled with NFL veterans? Who knows right now, but if the Tar Heels lose to Georgia Southern on Saturday, we will know that the answer to both those questions was yes. Elon already beat the Eagles this season 28-14.
Old North State Preseason Power Poll
1. Wake Forest – Riley Skinner became the Wake Forest career leader in total offense and TD passes on Saturday in a big win over NC State. The two former Wake County rivals have played some classic games and Saturday was no exception. Beating State while Carolina imploded against the Wahoos means Wake takes over the top spot for the first time this season. Record 3-2 Next up: Maryland
2. NC State – The Wolfpack are kicking themselves for losing in Winston-Salem on Saturday. Russell Wilson’s picks hurt but Tom Obrien has got to be frustrated with the penalties and missed tackles that let this game get away. Those problems can be fixed though and I still see State as a contender for the Atlantic Division title. Record 3-2 Next up: Duke
3. North Carolina – Man oh man, where has the offense gone since the ECU game? UVA is not a good team no matter how you look at it, but they sure know how to beat UNC. If the Heels can’t find any playmakers this week in practice, Carolina fans might not want to make any bowl travel plans this year. After being a Top 25 team to just two weeks ago, the Heels looked completely inept on Saturday. It is guaranteed that better competition than the Cavs waits ahead on the schedule. Record 3-2 Next up: Georgia Southern
4. East Carolina – Good win up at Marshall last Saturday. SMU, Rice and Memphis are all winnable games to give the Pirates some momentum before the big Thursday night game with the Hokies. Just don’t get caught looking ahead. Record 3-2 Next up: at SMU
5. Duke – Duke kept it close with VT all game last week so the Devils proved they can play with the big boys. There is no doubt VT would have some emotional letdown after the Miami win though so Duke should not consider this too much of a moral victory. Duke-State games are always fun and high scoring events. Record 2-3 Next up: at NC State
6. Appalachian State – Overtime at The Citadel was probably not what ‘Neer fans expected on their trip to the Lowcountry. App found a way to win though, and in the SoCon just like the SEC, it is tough to win on the road. Take that to heart App Fans and don’t overlook NC Central coming up to Boone. Record 2-2 Next up: NCCU
7. Elon – See above for my thoughts on the Phoenix. They know how to play some offense in Alamance County for sure. With the Black Knights of the Ashley River coming up from the Lowcountry, fresh from taking App into OT, look for more of the same on Saturday. Record 4-1 Next up: The Citadel
8. Western Carolina – Well at least Samford didn’t blow you out Catamount fans, but hard to tell if there is much improvement out in the Smokies. Fall is sure to be beautiful over in Cullowhee even if the football isn’t. Make sure you enjoy the leaves. Record 0-5 Next up: Bye Week
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Old North State Pigskin is a blog focused on the North Carolina schools in the ACC and Southern Conference. Referencing the state’s Revolutionary War nickname to include all the schools with its borders (and not just the Tar Heels with the state’s civil war nickname) this blog 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 a graduate of the University of North Carolina, I am also the son of a lifelong Duke Football fan, and the son-in-law of an NC State alumnus. I just make observations as I see them…and try to leave the bias out. Comments, criticism, suggestions and corrections are all welcome at .
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