What does beating Elon 62-0 do to North Carolina football? Get them an extra sixteen votes from the Associated Press voters, moving the Heels from 32 in the pre season rankings to 48 after one game is in the books for the 2012 campaign. While they did get a bit more consideration the votes keep UNC fourth in the “Others Receiving Votes” category. Somehow, that just does not feel right, even if the win was against a FCS opponent, but as the old saying goes “it is what it is“. I could say that this sort of dissing by the voters could be something to stimulate the Tar Heels, but after having watched this squad play on Saturday it did not look like it needed any of that as they played well in all parts of the game.
As far as the other schools from the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Top 25 all was good, as the trio of programs moved up one or more spots. Florida State, who took care of Murray State by the final of 69 to 3, went from seventh place (1093 votes) to sixth (1135 votes). Clemson, who was in 14th places (615 votes), moved up to the 12th spot (788) after they beat Auburn 26 to 19 in a back and forth fight. And finally, in the last game of the first weekend, Virginia Tech went from 16th (548 votes) to 15th (604 votes) after they beat Georgia Tech 20 to 17 in overtime.
On the other hand, besides North Carolina, the team in the “Others Receiving Votes” category both dipped. With Georgia Tech, who as I said above lost to VT in OT, went from 25 to 14 votes, while N.C. State, who I thought was way under rated in the pre season poll by only getting three votes is now out of the category altogether after they lost to Tennessee 35 to 21 on Friday night.
The one thing that I like to understand when it comes to this week’s voting in the AP is pretty simple. Florida State, who did play well and won in a land slide, did move up a spot while beating a Football Championship Subdivision squad, just like Carolina. So I just hope that the difference between what FSU and UNC got by the Associated Press voters is that they all thought that Murray State was just so much better than Elon and not that they overlooked what the Tar Heels did because they are so low in the rankings.
After all is said and done, no matter what the voting will say, the Fedora era began the way the program wanted and that is all that should matter. If this team keeps repeating its performance each and every week the votes will have to come as well as the accolades. Or so I hope. It is a new regime for North Carolina football and it looks like all the players have bought into what the head coach and the coaching staff have brought to the table. With the next game being the first on the road and the first in conference one it will be interesting to see how the Heels will do. For more information about North Carolina football and/or basketball make sure to check back to isportsweb often.