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Not quite a leap, but the pollen says it’s spring.
The Spring Game, much like Gil Scott-Heron’s revolution, will not be televised.
The Tar Heels and Coach Brown traded ACC Network access to an open practice earlier this week for the opportunity to keep this season’s spring game under wraps, keenly identifying a valuable opportunity to gain an edge going into a big-time season opener against the mighty Golden Gophers of Minnesota, hot as they are off of a rousing 6-7 campaign last year.
The reasoning given for this swap was a desire to keep defensive scheme changes shrouded in mystery, as well as carry out a “true” quarterback battle in a more private arena. The emphasis on this being a true quarterback battle might be saying the quiet part out loud, but this cloak-and-dagger stuff is what I live for in college sports. The level of gamesmanship needed to consider not giving your season-opening non-conference opponent film from your spring game is truly remarkable, and I’m here for it.
It also, if I may add, makes me want to be there in person all the more. I’m anxious to see Max Johnson and Connor Harrell slug it out, and if this is my only chance before the battle is won or lost, I’ve half a mind to go soak it all in.
There’s a certain kind of uncertainty floating on the springtime breeze in equal measure with the pollen in Chapel Hill. For the first time in a good while, there is no clear-cut starter under center, and that makes a lot of folks antsy. Currently on the roster, we have an unproven-but-effective-in-limited-time underclassman (Harrell) and a journeyman grad transfer with two previous Power 5 stops under his belt (Johnson). Experience in the system versus experience in a number of systems. Old versus young.
I can understand the program wanting to keep the specifics of quarterback play out of the public eye, but I’m hoping against hope that it is the hilarious gamesmanship in wanting to prevent the wily PJ Fleck from getting his hands on film prior to the first game of the year instead of an anticipation of a precipitous drop in quarterback play, regardless of the eventual winner.
At this time of year, the only thing we really have is faith. That faith might just carry me to Chapel Hill on Saturday.
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