Chris Lang

I'm thinking it's going to be a long year for the Carolina "basketball only" fans.  Do I love Carolina basketball?  Damn skippy!  I've been to a couple of Final Fours and have spent a ton of money traveling all over the country in March.

This year the Heels seem to have a challenge to not let too many Tar Heel basketball records go down the tubes.  And the worst case scenario would be that Dook beat us 120 - 60.  It's only the first game, but the hand-writing is on the wall.

I must confess that I didn't go tonight or even listen to the radio broadcast.  Why?  Cause I was preparing to get up early and head over to Chapel Hill for the Carolina vs. Dook tailgate party.  Food to buy.  And the computer to prepare for CarolinaFan Web Cam and uploading pictures during our party.

I have a friend who said it best.  Mike said, "There's a new sheriff in town, and his name is John Bunting!"  You had to see him say it.  But Mike is dead on.  Bunting has brought a new excitement to Carolina.  And I say that's not too shabby for a Women's Soccer school (17 national championships).

We use to hear people say Carolina football was only a pastime until basketball season started.  And last fall, I even had a weird confrontation with a basketball only fan between a football and basketball game.  I asked him if he went to the football game today and did he like Carl.  He jumped in my face and said, "It's alright... basketball season's started now.  Everything will be OK."  We were tailgating in the Dean Dome lot.  He knew I was pissed cause he immediately turned and ran towards the Dome.  Go figure!

But the fact is that there's still a lot of exciting football to be played.  And I bet if you asked the Beast, he'd say 'you ain't seen nothin' yet'!  So I may not get into basketball too much this early season.  I'll start tailgating for the Dook game at 9:00 AM tomorrow, go to the 1:30 game, then party some more in the Dean Dome lot until around 9:00 PM.  Did anybody see basketball fans tailgating tonight?  Just wondering.

OK, I'm off my soap box.  And I truly believe Matt's the man.  But as I told him last fall, I think he'll need a couple of years of recruiting to get the program back online.  And the Heels will be 'Showing no mercy... taking no prisoners... drawing blood...  kicking ass!  Hang in there guys.  You can only go up from here.