Let me start by saying that I love Carolina. When I die…I will either have a headstone that reads “here lies a Tar Heel” or I will be cremated with my ashes spread among the old oaks of Polk Place.  Yes, I LOVE Carolina. 

But….What in TARnation is going on?

After countless losses, the Heels are about to get another beating. From me.  This is unbelievable…unbearable…and most of all unacceptable.  Sure…the national champs lost their starting five players, but good gracious what the “heel” is going on!  One of the worst losing streaks in six years!  It’s not like we don’t have plenty of talent.  And it’s not like the boys are all brand new and didn’t play last year.  Bottom line…we should be better than this!

I’m no “wine and cheese” fan, but I will not stand to watch one of the top teams in the country fall off a cliff with no desire to pull itself back up.  Being a Tar Heel…not to mention a Tar Heel basketball player…comes with great pride and responsibility.  My 7pm bedtime has severely limited me from watching any games (why watch a game on tivo when you know the outcome??) so I don’t know if these youngins just don’t want it enough or what, but we ain’t winnin’.  I’ve had my fair share of heart attacks from teams in years past. The 2005 Champs sent me to the floor banging on my tv screen when we nearly lost to Vilanova in one of the final rounds.  But this year is like being in a coma.  Watching our football games this past fall were more exciting…and that’s not saying much.

I could sit here and try to make sense of this…try to analyze our weaknesses and offer my own opinions, but I didn’t give too hoots about basketball until I came to Carolina so I know nothing about coaching.  So as our t-shirts say “In Roy we trust,“ and I’ll say “boys, STEP IT UP!“

So even though I’m at a loss this season, I still proudly wave my stuffed Rames high in the air when Rob Fowlers points to me in the newsroom to visitors and says, “That’s Tara. She’s a Tar Heel.“  And I will tap somebody on the shoulder in a second if they are sporting UNC gear and hold my hand high for a proud high-five.  I love Carolina, win or lose…always.