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Tarheel Top Ten

I introduced my Tarheel Top Ten rankings of North Carolina football teams in the comment string of this blog post last week.

I'm taking it to the surface this week. Here goes:

1. Carolina Panthers, 1-0 (No. 2 last week)
2. Appalachian State, 2-0 (No. 1 last week)
3. Wake Forest, 0-2 (No. 4 last week)
4. East Carolina, 1-1 (No. 6 last week)
5. UNC, 1-1 (No. 3 last week)
6. Catawba, 3-0 (No. 8 last week)
7. Guilford, 2-0 (No. 7 last week)
8. N.C. Central, 2-1 (not ranked last week)
9. Elon, 1-1 (not ranked last week)
10. Wingate, 3-0 (not ranked last week)

As you can see, the biggest shift comes at the top where the Panthers displace ASU as No. 1. Last week, the Panthers had just concluded a lackluster preseason, while the Apps stunned Michigan in Ann Arbor. The Mountainers held form against overmatched Lenoir-Rhyne yesterday, while Carolina was impressive in beating the Rams in St. Louis, 27-13, today. Furthermore, Michigan's horrid performance against Oregon yesterday deflates the App win just a little. However, there's no doubt that, right now, Appalachian State is by far the best collegiate football team suiting up in the state of North Carolina.

I moved Wake Forest up to third despite the Deacons' second straight loss to begin their post-ACC title season. This tells you something about the strength of collegiate football in the Old North State. However, Wake gave visiting Nebraska a very tough game, falling 20-17. One fewer mistake and the outcome could have been different.

Teams playing into the Tarheel Top Ten this weekend were N.C. Central, Elon and Wingate. Falling out were Winston-Salem State, N.C. State and Davidson. But it's still early in the season, and we'll see lots of churning in the Tarheel Top Ten for a while.

In the meantime, I'll be happy to consider pleas for teams I've overlooked or under-ranked. But no votes for Duke, please.

Comments (16)

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In the meantime, I'll be happy to consider pleas for teams I've overlooked or under-ranked. But no votes for Duke, please.* Doug

Doug! I hate tell you, but the Carolina Panthers is not a college team. So much for your creditable and your smart remarks about Duke.......When you were at Carolina taking those liberal journalist courses, did they ever say anything about lying about Duke was a normal professional method in order to win?

Doug said:

It's not necessary to be a college team to qualify for my Top Ten. I was thinking about putting Grimsley in there.

Kenny said:

Why Grimsley and not Independence?

Kenny said:

Nevermind. Missed their loss labor day weekend.

Doug said:

And High Point Central is 1-3.

John Burns said:

"One fewer mistake and the outcome could have been different."

One fewer mistake and a starting QB instead of the backup, and Wake wins that one by several points.

Doug said:

Agreed.

Sorry to drop Davidson out, but Wingate is a force.

brian444 [TypeKey Profile Page] said:

Although Duke's actual record is not terribly impressive in the past few years, they have done pretty well in moral victories. In the moral victory/loss category, I believe they are 18-22 under Roof (1-1 this year).

Doug said:

A moral victory against Virginia, I suppose?

Can UNC claim a moral victory over big bad ECU, which was coming off a moral victory against Virginia Tech?

Although Duke's actual record is not terribly impressive in the past few years,*brian444

Impressive! I was at Duke medical today getting ready for a operation this coming week and the Medical Staff were shocked to find out that they still had a football team. Most thought that Duke was ban from college football after Steve Spurrier left.

It's not necessary to be a college team to qualify for my Top Ten. I was thinking about putting Grimsley in there.* Doug


Sounds good to me! Have you consider the Carolina Rimshocks lastest record from the Southern States semi-pro leaque?

They defeated the Fayetteville Warmongers this weekend by the score of 89 to 0 and the week before they ripped though the Lumberton Headhunters 102-0. This coming week they play the Davidson JV's which should close Davidson football program for good and most likely John Burns career as their head cheerleader.

John Burns said:

Football matters not. Davidson will be ranked in Basketball this year in the real polls, and we play UNC, NCSU, Duke, Charlotte and UCLA.

So, we'll see.

Doug said:

John, if we confine our conversations to sports rather than politics, we can find real harmony.

Football matters not. Davidson will be ranked in Basketball this year in the real polls, and we play UNC, NCSU, Duke, Charlotte and UCLA.

So, we'll see.* John Burns Head cheerleader for at least 5 losing games with the big boys.

"See"!!! You must have been blind when the AD at Davidson put those teams on your sports agenda for this year.


Kenny said:

Charlotte isn't exactly a powerhouse these days. Davidson will be favored in that game...

John Burns said:

Kenny is right. After the 26 point shellacking we gave them last year, I'm surprised they still want to play us.

And I hereby predict we will win at least 2 of the 5. Maybe 3.

Kenny said:

John, I'll be pulling for your boys in all 5.

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