CHAPELHILL — The 41-9 score surprised absolutely no one.
But the winner certainly did.
The concrete-reinforced goalposts at Kenan Stadium put up a considerably tougher fight Saturday afternoon than did sixth-ranked Florida State, as North Carolina claimed one of its biggest wins ever.
Frenzied Tar Heel fans were shrieking “They’re going down!” with 10 minutes still to play. They could have been talking about either the goalposts or the Seminoles (2-1).
One sturdy post was finally flattened by the merry mob’s over-the-top postgame party. The Seminoles were flattened in the second half by 34 unbelievable and unanswered Heel points.
The Heels entered 0-3. They exited with more respect than Aretha Franklin.
“I haven’t even got a speech for something like this,” sighed Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. “UNC got what they deserved — a win. And we sure got what we deserved — a loss.”
Playing at home for the first time, the Tar Heels handed new coach John Bunting an initial win that he’ll treasure for a lifetime. Bunting actually had to run for his life when security guards could no longer restrain frantic fans in the fading seconds of action.
“I had never anticipated people coming on the field,” he laughed. “I guess when you win, this is what happens. I found out I’ve got to get in better shape. I needed to be evacuated.”
But Bunting didn’t seem to mind the insanity one iota. He said the Tar Heels, taking on their third top-5 team, had been toughened by rude road losses to Oklahoma, Maryland and Texas. Bunting didn’t say it, but it was pretty obvious that Duke and UAB had not prepared the Seminoles for the size and fury of the fired-up Tar Heels.
“We came prepared today to shock the world,” said UNC defensive lineman Ryan Sims.
“We showed them we could play with them and they got frustrated,” added Sims’ linemate, Julius Peppers. “Those guys are good, but they aren’t used to playing in a close game.”
A victory by any score for the previously winless and 17-point underdog Tar Heels would have been shocking. But for them to completely dismantle a team that’s played in the last three national championship games was mind-boggling.
Hard to say who was more shocked: Tar Heel fans, who recovered their composure in time to sarcastically tomahawk-chop their way through the fourth quarter; or somber Seminole supporters, who stood — then sat — with mouths as wide open as the citizens of Whoville when they discovered the Grinch had stolen Christmas.
What went wrong for Florida State? In a word, everything.
Jimmy Spencer couldn’t have wrecked the Seminoles’ field position as well as their blocks in the back on every return did. The ’Noles’ pass defense blew coverages. Their pass protection went up in smoke. FSU hadn’t made a turnover all year, but coughed up five times Saturday.
FSU saw its 23-game ACC winning streak go down the tubes. It lost to the Tar Heels for the first time since the game was invented.
The teams traded TD passes in a defensive-minded first half. FSU led at the break 9-7 only because the Tar Heels served up a safety when a snap on a punt — it would have gone over Manute Bol’s head — landed in the Kenan bushes.
The game’s momentum swung on one zany play early in the third quarter. UNCQBDarian Durant was intercepted by Stanford Samuels. Samuels was, in turn, tackled by former Ledford star Madison Hedgecock. Samuels fumbled and André Williams recovered. Moments later, Durant found Chelsey Borders wide open for a 52-yard score and a 14-9 lead.
Then the Heels tacked on a pair of Jeff Reed field goals, one following an awful 12-yard punt, one set up by a Peppers interception of FSUQB Chris Rix.
With Durant out of action after being kicked in the leg, much-maligned Ronald Curry got in on the fun. With 1:58 left in the third, Curry spotted Kory Bailey standing 20 yards behind everyone and casually dropped a TD pass in his waiting arms. Now it was 27-9, and the way the Heels’ defense was playing, the outcome was certain.
Their desperation turning to frustration, the Seminoles unraveled comically in the final quarter and the Tar Heels cheerfully poured it on their frequent tormentors.
When it was over, the massive Peppers hoisted teammates in the air like toddlers and Curry bounced like he was on a pogo stick. Even Bunting felt like a kid again. Asked how he planned to celebrate, he responded: “I might revert back to my playing days. I might not come home tonight and I might not check in until Tuesday.”
n
NOTES: FSU was the highest-ranked opponent the Heels have topped since they beat No. 6 Duke in 1960. ... FSU is still an impressive 72-3 in ACC play.
n
Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
.
Today's News
