Carolina State Game

Last night i went to basketball game at the Dean Dome. The Heels met up with one of top rivals, NC State. Before the game I met up with several of my friends from high school that go to NCSU. They all came up to the game which wasn't good for them but I'm sure they were expecting the worst anyway. Before the game we went out got some food and hung out till it was gametime. By 7:30 we were off. The game started out suprising mainly because State pulled out to an early lead. I mean we are the 3rd ranked team in the counrty and State is barely floating above .500. But in the ACC and more importantly a rivarly as old and intense as the one between UNC and NC State, there never is an easy game. The emotions of a rivarly game for UNC between Duke or State is as heated as it gets. Many have the feeling no matter what their team does during the season that if they don't beat Duke and State then the season is a loss. Thats college sports. It's not about the money or fame or jersey sales, it's about pride, school spirit, and love for your college. In these rivarly games all this is taken to an even higher level. No matter the the rankings, records, personel, or any other factor that would seem to matter, these rivalry games never seem to go along with whats on paper. For example back in 1994 UNC was the best team in the country and had their sights in a National Title. Yet before the year was over the Heels still had to play Duke. Duke hadn't one an ACC game all year and their Coach had to take the year off. Anyone would have predicted a blowout for the Heels, but a true fan would have though otherwise. Duke ended up fighting UNC into several overtimes including a halfcourt shot to tie the game as time exspired. The Heels did win that game but Duke gave it everything and thats what its all about.

Besides the past though at the game last night, State pulled a similar show. They led most of the first half and only trailed by 3 at halftime. Eventually Tyler and company proved to be too much for the Wolfpack but it was a great game and they only lost by 9 to agruably the best team in the country. The audience last night seemed speechless and shocked at the way the game went early. "We should kill these guys," I was thinking as long with everyone else. The Heels could never have fully dominated that game although everything says they should have. NC State outmatched took on their rivals with no fear and gave us a scare all the way till the end. Once UNC took it's first lead the crowd light up, u could't hear the person sitting next to you because of the noise. State and UNC just love being a hard on each other and although no many will admit people at State are great freinds, but they are like brothers. At the game I never missed a chance to gloat in the friends face. It was like old times last night getting a group of us all back together like our high school days. The mood though last night see seemed bad though and a somwhat depressive though. Everyone wanted to be up by 20 points but u can never expect that in a riavlry game. No one went out last night so despite the win it was like expected I suppose. When you go to Chapel Hill your taught to expect to always win which really sucks when you don't. But last night was a win. Once the Heels took the lead and the fans, including myself, I never sat back down. Insults flew all night between my friends and I and from State fans to UNC ones. If you ever go to a college basketball game always try to attend a rivalry game. Get swept up in shouting, yelling, jumping, chanting, and being their for your school. At a stituation like that you feed off the crowd just as everyone else does. It's like a chain reaction of enthusiam and excitement. All I know is that there was nothing better than seeing the sea of baby blue in the stands a win for Heels last night.