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College Sports in the Carolinas
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Don't miss Al Myatt's
profile of ECU Chancellor Steven Ballard in the 2004
Bonesville Magazine. |
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View
from the East
Monday,
January 17, 2005
By Al Myatt |
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Carolinas football: 2004 a
season to forget
©2005 Bonesville.net
College football in the Carolinas in 2004 was consistent in one aspect — it
created disappointment throughout the region.
Maybe it wasn't as bad as 1929 for the stock market or as catastrophic as
1941 in terms of world peace but there were unhappy endings practically
across the board for the seven Division I-A programs.
Let's take a look back and — like yanking adhesive tape off a hairy leg —
we'll do it quickly. The pain won't last as long that way.
The only program to make a bowl trip, North Carolina, had a flat second half
in the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte before a huge throng of Tar Heel
fans and finished the season at a mediocre 6-6.
On the redeeming side of the ledger, UNC-CH stunned Miami and swept its
in-state ACC rivals, which was enough to get coach John Bunting a contract
extension.
After a 34-0 loss to Louisville, Bunting was only slightly more popular in
Chapel Hill than Mike Krzyzewski. Legal problems for Tar Heels players were
a negative issue.
N.C. State's season took a major hit when T.A. McLendon was ruled down just
short of the goal line at the close of a narrow loss in Chapel Hill. Later,
the Wolfpack lost four in a row to fall out of bowl contention.
The departures of coordinators Reggie Herring and Noel Mazzone have created
speculation as to what's up with the leadership of Pack coach Chuck Amato.
The silver lining is that Amato continues to attract top recruits such as
running back Toney Baker of Jamestown (NC) Ragsdale.
Duke didn't experience a dramatic turnaround under Ted Roof but in addition
to the salve of an unexpected win overt Clemson, the Blue Devils are putting
together a highly-regarded incoming recruiting class — evidence that repairs
are being made to a long suffering program.
Wake Forest finished 4-7, fumbling at the 1-yard line midway through the
fourth quarter of a season-ending 13-7 loss at Maryland, a play that was
typical of the Demon Deacons' inability to close out games. Six of Wake's
seven losses came by a touchdown or less.
The competitive struggles of the in-state ACC teams was intensified by the
addition of Miami and Virginia Tech.
East Carolina had its own struggles, which led to the ouster of coach John
Thompson before a 2-9 season capped by a 52-14 loss to N.C. State in
Charlotte was even in the books.
The arrival of Skip Holtz to direct the Pirates' recovery from a 3-20
performance over two seasons has fueled optimism for improvement, even with
starting quarterback James Pinkney becoming academically ineligible.
The programs south of the border had their problems, too, striking a sour
note to end their seasons.
Clemson and South Carolina both managed 6-5 records but after a brawl in
their annual battle for bragging rights, the two programs announced that
they would discipline themselves by foregoing bowl consideration.
In coaching moves in the Palmetto state, Tigers boss Tommy Bowden dismissed
his coordinators. Columbia became Steve Spurrier's latest address.
Everyone's program has elements of promise for the future and perhaps that's
where the focus should be.
Bonesville.net has recognized a coach of the year, a player of the year and
an All-Carolinas team the last three years. Rather than sift through a
generally sorry season to fill a slate of recipients for 2004, let's just
take a knee.
Maybe next year.
Final 2004 State Line Power Rankings™
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North Carolina (6-6) ... Quarterback Darian Durant will
be tough to replace.
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Clemson (6-5) ... Tigers fell short of expectations
created by 2003 performance.
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N.C. State (5-6) ... Great defense didn't get enough
offensive support.
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South Carolina (6-5) ... Lou Holtz era ended with a
whimper not a bang.
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Wake Forest (4-7) ... Deacons were left wondering "What
if?" all too often.
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Duke (2-9) ... Not enough smoke and mirrors for Blue
Devils in 2004.
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East Carolina (2-9) ... The only direction for the
Pirates under Skip Holtz is up.
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02/23/2007 12:32:55 AM
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