Tar Heels Emphasizing Discipline Ahead of Wolfpack Matchup

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Even with little left to play for this late in the season, North Carolina’s roster is readying for its fiery matchup with N.C. State and the chance to end the Wolfpack’s four-game win streak.

Although a majority of the Tar Heels, including coach Bill Belichick, will be experiencing the intensity of the rivalry for the first time, lingering hatred from previous seasons — especially N.C. State planting its flag on North Carolina’s midfield logo last season — will be fuel for players when they enter Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday.

“Just knowing that we’ve got those rivalries that date back … you know it’s going to get chippy going into that game,” Gavin Gibson said during Tuesday’s press conference. 

The finale of three straight in-state rivalry games, UNC’s meeting with the Wolfpack will likely be the most tumultuous. Belichick and several other Tar Heel players articulated their emotions surrounding the matchup during the midweek presser and stressed the necessary discipline North Carolina will need to avoid another laundry day, as it had against Duke, where the Tar Heels amassed a season-high 12 penalties for 103 yards in last week’s loss.

“We need to do a much better job of that, too many personal foul penalties, and that really cost us in the (Duke) game,” Belichick said. “We just have to do a better job of keeping our boys playing football and not doing things after the play.”

Center Austin Blaske, one of the returning players who witnessed last season’s postgame scuffle with N.C. State, said it will be important to leave last season’s incident in the rearview mirror and focus on the game itself.

As a fifth-year senior, Blaske has played in several high-profile rivalries. Before transferring to UNC last season, Blaske’s time at Georgia enabled him to experience SEC rivalries against Alabama, Tennessee and Auburn, while also playing in games such as against in-state rival Georgia Tech. Because of those environments, Blaske has learned to manage his emotions by removing himself entirely from situations that begin to escalate. 

“Your team needs you. You can’t get thrown out of the game because you do something you know that you’re not supposed to do,” Blaske said. “So just being able to take a breath and step away, I think, is how I handle it.”

Gibson is another player who’s familiar with the Wolfpack, but not in Carolina blue. The defensive back transferred in from East Carolina last season, where the Pirates’ season ended in a 26-21 victory over the Wolfpack in the Military Bowl, before a brawl ensued after the game.

Growing up as a North Carolina native, Gibson understands the personal aspect in-state competition often creates, especially when it involves former high-school opponents, old teammates or even family allegiances.

“It goes back, and it’s the biggest in-state rivalry in North Carolina, so just knowing that, a lot is at stake for that game,” Gibson said. “I’ve got family members that have graduated from North Carolina. I’ve got family members that have graduated from N.C. State. So even that’s going to be a conversation at Thanksgiving this year or Christmas, like, ‘Oh yeah, we beat y’all. I beat y’all. We just know that that’s going to be a big part of the game.”

With some Tar Heels letting their emotions get the best of them against Duke, discipline to keep the penalties from piling up two weeks in a row will be paramount. Though North Carolina wants to play physical, and expects N.C. State to do the same, minimizing self-inflicted mistakes after the whistle will be key for UNC not to beat itself. 

“We really just got to keep it in between the whistles,” Gibson said. “We’ve got to let the game speak for itself, and whenever the whistle blows, just leave it at that. Let whatever you’ve got to do — your fighting or you’re talking or whatever you’re going to do — be in between the whistles.”