Passing the Test
Posted September 5, 2010, 2:34 PM ET

No, that's not the new motto of the UNC 2010 football season, but the Heels showed some guts and character by hanging around against LSU.

I guess anytime Les Miles is on the other sideline, then you gotta figure you still have a chance. I have a funny sense that both teams had very different vibes and feelings following the ACC-SEC showdown in Atlanta.

The Tigers just about figured out a way to blow a 30-10 lead in the final quarter. Many LSU fans were left shaking their heads and mumbling about how their beloved Bayou Bengals have a tough time closing the deal. If they can ever acquire a cut-throat attitude, they could cause some problems for folks in the SEC.

On the flip side, UNC has become the nation's college football punchline with their agent-nanny-academic scandal. It has been an embarrassing time recently in Chapel Hill, and the entire country watched a depleted team play their tails off down the stretch and almost pull off a shocker.

As I watched the final stanza after returning from our Southern Fried Football™ debut, I couldn't help but think of the 13 morons that potentially jeopardized their UNC career and their current football team.

It was a wasted moment for Butch Davis and his program. It also highlighted how much talent is currently on the Heels roster....and that alone should have UNC fans excited about the remainder of the season. This has nothing to do with "moral victories"; it has everything to do with trying to win an ACC title.

The next game for Davis and his team is against the defending ACC champs, Georgia Tech, and it's being played at Kenan Stadium. It's a big game....plus, there's no telling what might happen to the UNC football program in the two weeks leading into the game.

UNC football fans should be encouraged with the 2nd half effort against LSU, but the concern over what else could be hiding or potentially found in the Tar Heel Football closet is front and center.

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The opening weekend of the college football season gave us tons to discuss:

Ole Miss.....seriously, what are you doing? SEC teams don't lose to teams like Jacksonville State......ever. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the Southern Fried Football™ Board of Governors would have to be talking about a potential probationary penalty for the good folks at the Grove. That's an embarrassing loss.

I wasn't overly impressed with fellow SEC stud, Florida.....the Gators were ragged and completely unimpressive. I said before the season that Florida has to be the team to beat in the SEC East, until proven otherwise. I know it's only one week, but the Gators have some serious work ahead of them.

The most impressive-looking team in week one in the division was South Carolina. The Gamecocks and the Old Ball Coach entered the season with huge expectations....but what else is new in Columbia? This time it might be legit.....at least we'll find out this upcoming week, when Georgia comes to Columbia in a H-U-G-E game.

I watched the Clemson Tigers, and came away with a few thoughts.....there is a bunch of young talent on Dabo Swinney's team. The running backs and wide receivers are going to be good in due time. But the Tigers defense had a lousy day tackling anybody, and the linebackers appear to be average at best. The Tigers have some serious work ahead of them before they play Auburn, later in September.

Duke's game at Wallace Wade Outdoor Stadium was sold-out. Nuf said.....the Blue Devils picked up a win and moved closer to eliminating their SFF Probationary status.

Presbyterian College is out of their league playing the likes of Wake Forest, much less Clemson this week, but in addition to a nice check, they also pulled off the best trick play of the week against the Deacons.

Armanti Edwards might be gone from Jerry Moore's roster in Boone, but the Mountaineers still have the magic after a wild, 4th-quarter comeback against UT-Chattanooga. It was an amazing win, and one that can only add to the mystique of the Mountaineers in the Southern Conference. I look forward to going back to Boone in two weeks, for the NC Central game.

I loved the atmosphere of Catawba College....quaint, relaxed, entertaining. I'm glad we made a return visit to Salisbury, and I look forward to our next game at Shuford Stadium.

I'm watching East Carolina open up against Tulsa in an important CUSA game....the expanded stadium looks great, even though the new end zone addition eliminated our view from our traditional Southern Fried Football™ Tourstop location.

The Virginia Tech Hokies will have a huge homefield advantage against Boise State on Monday night. Beamer's boys are 2-point underdogs, and play a team with a huge experience factor...the ACC needs this game.

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NFL teams had to cut their rosters down to 53 players by Saturday.

The Carolina Panthers, fresh off a pre-season that generated not a single offensive touchdown nor any answers in the WR department, decided to continue the Dwayne Jarrett experiment.

The four-year Southern Cal All-Pro practice player finished off his stellar pre-season by catching a single pass of 8 yards against the Pittsburgh Steeler scrubs. The reception was very similar to the one pass he caught for 5 yards the week before against the Titans.

I wonder how the NY Giants plan to contain him this weekend, in the season opener at the Meadowlands Stadium.

The fact that this guy still wears a Panthers jersey is embarrassing to the organization.

I'm looking forward to making the trip to the Big Apple...and eventually the Jersey swamp, to see the Panthers opener.....hopefully the defense will continue their outstanding play, and who knows....the offense might find the end zone, too.