Connor Barth kicks game winner against Miami (2004)

Carolina fans everywhere will remember the unlikely 31 to 28 victory we enjoyed over #3 ranked Miami on October 30, 2004.  Freshman Connor Barth kicked a 42-yard field goal on the final play of the game.  If you don't remember or care to re-live the excitement, start the movie clip below.  Thanks Smitty, for sending out the link.

Miami can be beat come Saturday in Kenan Stadium.  All things being equal, I believe it will come down Carolina's run offense against Miami's run defense.  They have allowed 485 rushing yards from all opponents so far this season.  And we have only gained a total of 442.  Our offensive line will have their hands full every down.  Miami has tallied 20 sacks and forced 12 fumbles recovering 6.  I'm hoping one of our running backs will get in the zone and have a banner day.  Hello Anthony Elzy!  Yates will need all the time he can get to unleash our receivers.

True freshman DT Marvin Austin said it best about the team attitude coming off two road losses.  "We are not down at all because the games that we lost.  We beat ourselves basically.  So now it is just correcting the mental mistakes, a lot of the things we see are correctable.  It is not like a team just outright dominated us."

Well, I thought USF dominated us.  But otherwise, Austin is on target.  The mental mistakes are about the only thing that has kept this team from being 4-1 on the year instead on 1-4. I know we're young, but we've gotten good experience this season and have been in the games until the end for 3 of our losses.  It's obvious we've been well prepared and are being well coached on game day.  Our Heels fight for 60 minutes and I'm loving that!

Have the mental mistakes been corrected?  Can we stay close until the end of yet another game?  If so, maybe we'll see a repeat of Connor Barth kicking a game winning field goal.  Go Heels!