Raleigh, NC __ This past week the Internet had been a-buzz with this and that on what went wrong last Saturday.  And a lot has been said and written about Carolina Fan support.  The fans didn't show up.  The fans didn't stand up the whole game.  The fans didn't yell their freakin' heads off.

Up until this year, I wrote some ranting and raving articles about Carolina fan support.  More specifically, I was writing about those fans who weren't as rabid as I.

The fact is that the fans that these kinds of articles target don't surf the Internet.  It's a waste of time and effort.  And I have concluded that that kind of article only makes the writer look somewhat bitter... self included.

So, is the Ram Man a kinder, gentler Carolina fan?  Not by any means, period.  Ask anyone who knows me.  But I have realized that this is a battle that will require cooperation from Athletic Director Dick Baddour and Head Coach John "the Beast" Bunting, and some innovative ideas.

You know that the Educational Foundation has a Women's Football Clinic.  You know, helps them understand game strategy, what to expect, when to cheer, etc.

I won't even go into the details about "standing vs. sitting".  And I've heard "down in front" so much that I could dookie.  That is something that COULD grow in time.  But not today... not next home game... not this season or next.  But I admire the Longhorn fans at their games in Austin.  They got it right.

I think part of the solution would be for UNC to attempt helping the NON-Internet, so-called fat cats, or otherwise general population Carolina fans to start doing things that could actually help pump up the players on the field.  Let's call it a "General Media Release" by the Football Program for suggested fan support.

One thing for starters is that anyone, regardless of physical abilities, can wear light blue to the games. We don't need any yellows, reds, purples or greens.  If I were on the field at Kenan and looked up at a 50,000 (~10,000 tickets go to the opponent) Carolina fan sea of light blue, I would tingle.  I imagine our players would too!  But the hodgepodge of colors remain.  Go figure.

So, remember the horse theory?  As rabid Carolina fans, we can't expect the little old lady next to us to whistle at 120 decibels.  But she could be gently coached by the "General Media Release", which outlines good things to try to do, to recognize increased fan noise... and then just say "Go Heels" several times.  Don't you think that 20,000 of the usually quiet fans adding that would help?  I do.

Yes, we crazy, die-hard Carolina fans must set an example, but not at the expense of crushing the meek... the sedate... the genuine Carolina fans who express their support differently from us.

To get where we want to be as a Football Program, I believe we must lead by example.  And we need Baddour and the Beast to give some of these ideas adequate thought.  Enthusiasm is contagious.  More and more Carolina fans will want to catch the wave.  After all, some of the no-shows last Saturday were down at the coast surfing.