Are the UNC Tar Heels Underachievers?

Yesterday, we described both UNC and WVU’s football teams as “underachievers” in our bowl recap, and that generated some ire from a few Heels fans. 

Here’s the comment on TAH left by our old friend “Anonymous.”

UNC "underachieved" by winning 8 games???? Their first 8 win season since 2001?? After 8 losses last year??? Gimme a break.

OK, UNC suffered injuries to their first string quarterback and their big playmaker and still had a great year. But here’s where the underachieving kicks in: After another ugly loss to the Hoos in C’ville (we know, we were there), they rallied to beat good teams in Georgia Tech and Boston College and were in contention to win their division for a trip to the Dr. Pepper Bowl.

The Heels then promptly lost to a very mediocre Maryland team and were routed by instate rival N.C. State. That Wolfpack loss was not as close as the 41-10 final would indicate.

Never mind what they did last year—last year was last year last time we looked. UNC started the season 7-2 with wins over 2007-'08 bowl teams Rutgers and UConn, as well as Miami, Georgia Tech, Boston College, and Notre Dame. Then they finished up 1-3, beating only in-state rival and perennial doormat Duke.  OK, Duke has improved, but you get the point.

UNC finished the year eighth in total offense in the conference and next-to-last (11th) in total defense. All things considered, after winning seven of the first nine, the Heels could have finished better...

We'll wager they’d tell you the same story.

(Photos by Zeke Smith/CarolinaBlue.com)