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The Daily Tar Heel

Column: The Tar Heels’ sporadic success has left its fans wanting more

Daniel Wilco is a senior writer. He is a senior journalism major from Atlanta, Ga.

Daniel Wilco is a senior writer. He is a senior journalism major from Atlanta, Ga.

T here are plenty of perks of having a weekly column, but there’s one major flaw as well. When things go great, there’s nothing to complain about, and there’s nothing I like to write about more than my complaints.

What I’m about to say might sound like a complaint, but it’s a lament.

Watching UNC beat Duke was painful because Thursday night, we saw the UNC football team as it had been sold to us this off-season. The team we had whole-heartedly expected to show up from day one. The team that could have and should have been.

It was a fun game to watch for sure, and not just because the “Beat Duke” T-shirts I bought my dad and brother earlier that day are officially 1-0 in their careers. But give a mouse a cookie and, well... you get it.

For once, the offense and defense showed up on the same day. The Tar Heels scored at least 40 points and allowed fewer than 25 on the same night for the first time all year.

Then there’s T.J. Logan, who provided a much needed Robin to Marquise Williams’ Batman for the second straight week. Logan has picked up 208 yards rushing in the past two games after just 252 in the first nine.

But it’s not as if Williams has faded into the shadows. Despite seemingly playing hot potato with the pigskin, the junior continued his hot streak, throwing for two scores and running for another pair.

But it wasn’t until one play that it was clear that this was the UNC team the legends foretold — Thomas Moore hit a season-long 30-yard field goal. That’s a miracle if I’ve ever seen one.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been flashes of brilliance all year. UNC had proved a better closer than Mariano Rivera, holding on or coming back to win games late against San Diego State, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Pittsburgh.

Yet those were overshadowed by a defense that strove to collect last-place trophies in as many categories as possible.

But here’s another cliche for you — look at next year. Barring anything crazier than an intelligent conversation with the Pit Preacher, returning are the offensive standouts of Williams, Mack Hollins, Ryan Switzer, T.J. Logan and a defense that’s just now finding its true potential.

Next year could have a lot more of these games and a lot less for me to complain about.

But Thursday night, UNC gave me a cookie. And boy would I love some milk.

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