North Carolina
State loss still stings motivated Tar Heels
By Dane Huffman Dec 10, 2009
Chapel Hill, N.C. — North Carolina was back on the practice field Thursday for the first time since losing at N.C. State, and while there were positives to be had with a bowl game ahead, the Tar Heels were still smarting from their loss in Raleigh.
“Losing to N.C. State, and losing to all the worst teams when they were the worst teams, it’s tough. It’s definitely on my mind right now,” defensive tackle Marvin Austin said.
“I feel very motivated,” quarterback T.J. Yates said. After the State loss, Yates said, the whole team was upset.
“That one hurts more than anyone,” Yates said.
Carolina led most of that contest but, as it had done against Florida State, led a late lead slip away in falling 28-27. The Tar Heels settled for field goals – coach Butch Davis nearly spit those words out with disdain on Thursday – and that proved costly.
“When you drive the ball and move the ball and get inside the 10, the 15 in the red zone and you have to settle for field goals, It almost always comes back to haunt you,” Davis said.
UNC, now 8-4, gets a chance for redemption in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Pittsburgh on Dec. 26 at 4:30 p.m. The game is the second straight trip to Charlotte for the Tar Heels.
There is a chance Shaun Draughn could return to the lineup. Davis said the injured running back practiced Thursday morning. However, Davis said that as of now, he doesn’t expect Draughn to play.
The game could also mark the final one for some UNC juniors if they decide to turn pro. Davis said he had already had discussions with some of their about their NFL interest. Asked if he had a sense of which ones might leave, Davis said, “I do. Yep.”
One who could leave is Austin. Austin has 20 unassisted tackles this season, six for a loss, and four sacks. Austin said he has turned in paperwork to the NFL asking for an assessment of his draft status but hasn’t made a final decision. He said he had also looked at which defensive tackles might be in the draft to see how he might stack up.
“If I feel like I’m ready to play at the next level, then that’s what I will do,” Austin said.
Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Most Recent Comments
RE: State loss still stings motivated Tar Heels
Wow, I can't believe it. Someone got my point. Oh wait, it wasn't a clueless Carolina fan. Never mind. :)
- Posted by TruthBKnown Returns
You think parke's post had anything to do with getting your point? It had nothing to do with anything other than forgetting one play in a 12 game season.
You had the nerve to put the Citadel game up there, are you freak ing
serious....hahahahh.....only a Carolina fan lol.
Was the game on the schedule? Yes.
Did Carolina win? Yes.
Did the defense score? No.
Criteria met. Case closed.
Good gawd, man! Once again, use your head for something other than a hat rack!
Of course they beat the Citadel. I'm talking about the teams that weren't HIGH SCHOOL CALIBER!
RE: State loss still stings motivated Tar Heels
I didn't write the blogs State fans did. Go back and read them.. every other one is about how we beat you guys and at least we beat UNC. Where are the blog's about how we can improve on a losing season, How do we get to a post play? Where are those post? You made my point " Personally I like beating UNC..their fan base is annoying." Could really care less about what we do the rest of the season as long as we beat Carolina. Work on the rest of the season and you will be winners again.
- Posted by dfdsharkman
you're showing your ignorance. What part of "personally i like beating unc because their fan base is annoying" did you manage to derive "I like beating unc because that's the only game that matters." You could have at least tried to make your point better by using another quote but not that one.
Does this mean that carolina only cares about beating duke because you don't like them? Does this mean that carolina only cares about beating state because you don't like us? Does this mean that carolina only cares about beating kentucky because you don't like them?
I believe most pack fans already know what went wrong with the season or at least have some idea as to what needs to be fixed. Much like unc fans have an idea of what needs to be fixed as well.
Why? You took Yates comment to mean he only cares that Carolina lost to state. I don't see the difference.
RE: State loss still stings motivated Tar Heels
whats the real point your trying to make TBK, our defense was better than our offense?, we know this, if we didnt have a great defense we wouldnt be going to a bowl game?, we know this.... you really sound like someone bitter about the season you all had and now you are basically drowning in a pointless argument...save yourself !!!!!
- Posted by Rdi73162
I just corrected this. Carolina is not a well oiled machine. They have a well oiled DEFENSE, but that is all. When they play teams that don't turn the ball over (like NC State this year), they have a very good chance of losing the game.
UConn and VT were both gifts for Carolina that really should have gone to overtime where either team could win. UConn got called for holding in the end zone for a safety, and VT fumbled the ball to Carolina already in FG range. Both should have been able to run the clock out if they didn't score. Gifts from Carolina's defense, man. Gifts.
But Carolina's eight wins have the fans thinking they're great or something. Then they came to Raleigh and got EXPOSED for that fraud!
Does that criteria go for every team winning with defense being a fraud or just Carolina.. It works for everybody..Speaking of gifts how is a fumble at the goal line strike you as a gift (if its good enough for VT why not UNC) or how about 45 yards of penalties on one drive..gift ?? What about Pittsburg having a 31-17 lead in the 3rd quarter and State's defense holding them to only one more score to include keeping them out of the end zone on a 1st and Goal series that would have sent the game into OT..was that a gift or was it the State D stepping up. There are no gifts in this game. You get what you earn. These kids play their hearts out to create opportunities they get. Not only do they have to create opportunities they have to capitalize on them. Any true fan knows 8 wins doesn't make Carolina great but it does show improvement for what was supposed to be a regressing year after losing Brandon Tate, Hakeem Nicks, Brooks Foster to the NFL the core of their offense..Yes they were bad and the defense was very good for the most part.. There aren't too many successful teams that don't have a good defense. I wouldn't say they got exposed.. So in the words of Dennis Green they are who we thought they were.
Not surprised at all that we have no response from tuk to your excellent post!!
RE: State loss still stings motivated Tar Heels
I didn't write the blogs State fans did. Go back and read them.. every other one is about how we beat you guys and at least we beat UNC. Where are the blog's about how we can improve on a losing season, How do we get to a post play? Where are those post? You made my point " Personally I like beating UNC..their fan base is annoying." Could really care less about what we do the rest of the season as long as we beat Carolina. Work on the rest of the season and you will be winners again.
- Posted by dfdsharkman
you're showing your ignorance. What part of "personally i like beating unc because their fan base is annoying" did you manage to derive "I like beating unc because that's the only game that matters." You could have at least tried to make your point better by using another quote but not that one.
Does this mean that carolina only cares about beating duke because you don't like them? Does this mean that carolina only cares about beating state because you don't like us? Does this mean that carolina only cares about beating kentucky because you don't like them?
I believe most pack fans already know what went wrong with the season or at least have some idea as to what needs to be fixed. Much like unc fans have an idea of what needs to be fixed as well.
RE: State loss still stings motivated Tar Heels
Not to the fans unless of course they win, then it's a big rivalary, but they haven't been able to claim a win now for a few years so it means nothing to the fans, only the players, who it meant the MOST to. This is just priceless!
Hope they can beat Pitt since State already beat them too! If not the players may just be devastated!
- Posted by redistrumps
Your last loss always hurts the most. No where in that article did a single player say that it was because the loss was to the wolfpups.
"That one hurts more than anyone." Yates said.
Seems like that guy disagrees with you
No. It is his quote I was referring to. Obviously losing the last game of the season - that is the one that is on your mind. He did not say it was because it was state.
i'm afraid that you and i are simply going to have to agree to disagree on this statement.
Rank: Sports Legend 
