For the eternal optimist Tar Heel fan, there was a lot to be proud of in UNC’s 28-27 loss to Oregon in the Holiday Bowl. Drake Maye played an inspired game for most of regulation, the defense kept Oregon in check compared to how well the Ducks did during the regular season, and there were a number of young players that stepped up when their number was called.
However, there are people like me that can’t help but be exhausted by seeing the same ending to the movie that is Carolina football over and over again. While I am certainly proud of what the Heels were able to do against the Ducks, it’s hard not to be frustrated over the poor defensive play-calling in Oregon’s final drive, which ultimately led to the Heels’ demise.