Yet another transition year for North Carolina football

In the last four years, the North Carolina Tar Heels’ football team has been going through quite the rough transition.

No, not just new players adjusting to positions, not just a few injuries, new coaches, or uniforms. And not even a few problems with academics. The Tar Heels have had to deal with almost every problem that could knock down the program.

Since their 2010 season, the Heels have had three head coaches ­– Butch Davis, Everett Withers, and now Larry Fedora. The program hasn’t had a long-term coach since Mack Brown left in 1997. And for your own knowledge, Brown just stepped down as the head coach for Texas, where he’s been since he left Chapel Hill.

For a program that is constantly trying to prove itself among national powerhouse programs, the constant rotation of coaches and styles doesn’t lead to excellence.

Since Fedora’s take-over of the program for Spring 2012, there has been an underlying divide. You have players that were born of Coach Davis, some that came in during Withers and then finally those that bought into Fedora’s spread style of football.

Even going into Fedora’s third season, the Tar Heels are still dealing with the repercussions of players’ actions of summer 2010. Many of us know what all that entailed, but if you’re not quite sure. Go to Google and look up UNC Football and NCAA Investigation. I promise, it’ll be there.

So on to next season. And they’re still fighting to climb to the top of the ACC. But something keeps pulling them down.

Outside of the coaching divide, the Heels are dealing with losing a majority of its veteran offensive line and major playmakers to the calling for a consistent paycheck, aka the NFL, most of which have another season to play at Carolina.

Players such as Tre Boston, safety, Russell Bodine, center, James Hurst, left tackle, and Eric Ebron, tight end, all were large contributors and leaders on the team. Without them on the roster, the Heels have to somewhat start over with their ‘go-to’ players and leaders.

According to redshirt Junior and right guard, Landon Turner, who came in during the Withers era, the loss of those players can be a bit frustrating. And in a time where, despite a few stupid overlooks of opposing talent, the Heels had finally made some headway in the right direction, losing those players is a definite setback.

At this point, the Heels are having to find depth in talent and players that haven’t even seen playing time. They haven’t faced a real opponent other than their own teammates, and that isn’t something that is positively looked upon for a new season with such high expectations.

And the expectations, as laid out by Turner, are to be the best in the ACC. To go 10-2 for the season. To finally be a threat nationally.

But unfortunately, I see it as going differently. Look at any program that loses its’ key players – consider the Tar Heels’ 2010 basketball team. When you lose that many starters, ones that made key plays for the team, the outcome is just never as bright as the expectations.

North Carolina will have a good football program again. It’s just a matter of when. And that when is definitely not next year.

The academic allegations and change in coaching style have created a ripple affect. Until all of the players from the Coach Davis and Withers era are gone, the program will struggle.

The Tar Heels need to have a roster all born of Fedora. They need to believe in his coaching and his spread offensive style. There needs to be consistent leadership and trust within the team.

But until that happens, the North Carolina Tar Heels will still struggle at the bottom of the ACC, fighting to make a name for itself. They will go 7-5 for the 2014 season, losing to Clemson, Notre Dame, Miami, Pittsburgh and Duke. Many of their games will be too close for comfort.

And despite the anger that many of the players have towards their college football careers at Carolina, next year will just be another rebuilding year. One more year to finding the greatness that once existed at Kenan Stadium.

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This article was written in compliance with the instructions of my creative sportswriting class.