Somehow the North Carolina Tar Heels mangaged - as is UNC's historical tendency - to snatch defeat from the hands of victory in last night's game against Florida State. As a lifetime Carolina fan, I can't recall a more unsettling defeat. This was a game UNC needed; a game the fans were pumped for; a game against a struggling - but talented - opponent; a game that UNC led 24-6 into the third quarter. This was a game that, for 2.5 quarters, UNC seemed to play with the kind of fire that, frankly, seems to have been lacking all season - right up until last night's kickoff.

What went wrong in the final quarter-and-a-half is almost too mind boggling to slog through here. I'm not sure even the cyberpage I'm writing on could hold the long list of failings the 'Heels displayed - after looking like a true contender for 3 quarters. Where was the gashing offense in the third quarter? Where was the aggressive, attacking defense? What was Yates thinking/seeing when he launched the interception that sunk UNC's hopes in the 3rd quarter, even as the 'Heels held a commanding 3-score lead? Why, why, why does UNC see it as its natural calling to let every opponent on the ropes up off the canvas, only to to once again have that ungrateful opponent level the benevolent 'Heels with a cold, cruel right cross - a definitive KO - just as the final gun sounds?

Three years in, it's time to take stock of the Butch Davis hire. Great recruiting classes and great spin-doctoring just aren't cutting it for me. UNC's had injuries. Wa, wa, wa. So has everyone else. "This is a work in progress." Nope - this is a work in digress. Butch's reputation precedes him wherever he goes these days and, for the life of me, I can't figure where that rep comes from. What has he ever won? A few bowl games at Miami? Whoop-ti-do. Torbush & Bunting each won bowls at Carolina. So what? W-H-A-T H-A-S B-U-T-C-H D-O-N-E?

As far as I can tell, the on-the-field product is not far at all from what either Torbush or Bunting gave us. Are the players bigger, stronger, faster? Yes. Are they finely pedigreed? Yes. Do they have beautiful uniforms and facilities to play in? Yes, yes, yes. Are they winning?

Well, no. They're not. What's more, they're not even playing well when they lose. And when they do win - against glorified high school opponents like The Citadel and Georgia Southern - you'd think they just won the Super Bowl.

Last night, FSU gift-wrapped a victory for UNC - and hand-delivered it. FSU played just like the team-in-disarray that we have been reading and hearing about for weeks. It could not have been a better set-up for the 'Heels. Thursday night. The FIRST televised Thursday night home game ever. ESPN. A packed house, ready - desperately ready - for a win over a big-name opponent. And the opponent: A slipping FSU and its fading icon. The perfect set-up.

And Butch's Boys blow it, big-time.

Can anyone tell me just exactly when basketball season tips off?