UNC Football: Surviving the Bye Week Blues

Despite the preseason expectations, UNC Football let its fans down on Saturday. And honestly, imagine having no expectations for a team heading into the season and somehow still being disappointed by that same team. Welcome to football fandom: where “fan” is really just short for “fanatic.”

Now comes the bye week, which makes the fan cycle a little longer than usual. Normally, you get a few days to be angry, frustrated and maybe even question everything. Then the next game gets closer, and suddenly excitement starts creeping back in. Optimism returns. Hope shows up again. As they say, “the hope is what gets you”.

The disappointment over not being selected for a gameday broadcast is understandable, but if we're being realistic, this program isn't anywhere near needing to worry about national attention right now. I can hold off on the cameras for a little while. Give me a team that is ready for that spotlight first.

So what do you do during the bye? You watch football. There are three games this weekend worth keeping an eye on.

Clemson at California on Friday night gives UNC fans a chance to watch another ACC team on the road and get a better feel for where Clemson is heading. Notre Dame at Purdue on Saturday afternoon is the obvious one. The Fighting Irish are next, so watch the quarterback, the offensive line and how Notre Dame handles Purdue. Sometimes the best scouting report is simply sitting on the couch and watching the team you're about to play.

Then there is Texas at Tennessee on Saturday afternoon. That's the game to watch because, well, it's college football at its biggest. Huge programs, huge expectations and a huge atmosphere. It is also a reminder of what UNC fans hope this program can eventually become.

So enjoy the bye week. Watch your games. Pay attention to what is happening around the country. And maybe take a little time to reset.

Because the Tar Heels may have lost the lead in the race for our optimism, but we saw worse ways to lose last weekend.

That's the life of a college football fan. The game ends. The frustration fades. The next kickoff gets closer.

And somehow, against all logic, we start believing again.