My mind is heavy, like March is mad.

I don't really have a 'theme' for my post, but I realized I haven't said much in a while. And anyone who knows me, or can gather from reading this, keeping quiet is not common with me. However, my mind's been tied down with schoolwork and bracketology. However, with Carolina clinching the ACC Regular Season crown, they earned a 'bye' and I have one less game to worry with. Basically, here's a compilation of some random thought that comes to mind.

Other things on my mind are humorous to me, so not everything I ponder is totally stressful. Like Lane Kiffin, for example. The guy seriously cracks me up. His lack of acknowledgment that he is the new guy in town in regards to the Southeastern Conference is totally hysterical. Already pissing off Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, his attack at The 'Ole Ball Coach and The University of South Carolina in general, was a bit overboard and I'm ready for someone to put him in his place. It's almost as bad as when Coach K looked down the sideline and yelled "F--k you, Dean!" early in his Duke career. As my friends talked about Lane Kiffin's ever-running mouth the other day, the Coach K story came up and in our very best attempt at an explanation for the situation a fellow Tar Heel and I put it this way... "It was as if Lane Kiffin told Bear Bryant to go (beep) himself." All was understood, and more Coach K haters were born. Mission accomplished.

What doesn't crack me up is the Florida State scandal and the fact that Dave Hart, current Alabama Assistant Athletics Director (who is assumed the successor of Mal Moore, whenever and IF ever he'll retire) was at FSU when all the violations took place. As if Alabama hasn't already been on the hot-seat with NCAA Officials enough (thanks, Fat Phil Fulmer!). I can only hope Dave Hart hasn't brought any of this mess to Tuscaloosa, because you know now that the NCAA (the National Coalition Against Alabama) will investigate harder at The Capstone than they will anywhere else, and ESPN will not cease to shine the spotlight on Alabama's faults. Never the good, always the bad. But, I am glad that FSU is finally having to face the consequences for some of the trouble we've always heard about... "Free Shoes University" for example. It's sad to have multitudes of friends that will have to endure the probation, but Alabama did it, then they got a new coach and made a comeback. Maybe old Bobby Bowden will finally step down (not without a great deal of jealousy that Joe Pa out-did him in longevity of their tenures, of course) and Florida State can hire someone that can bring them back to battling for college football's thrown. I'd like to see them take back over the state of Florida at least, and of course, prove the ACC can hang with the big dogs. In all actuality, I don't really give a darn what they do, I just want the Gators' to have one more team on their schedule that can shut up some of their obnoxious fans.

Well, with football talk aside (that was so last season), I can finally let out some of my excitement about Sunday's victory over the Dookies to win the ACC Regular Season and sweep the 2-game rivalry!! HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, you see my excitement?? If you watched the game, you probably couldn't have noticed how enthusiastic that game really was - and how much it all meant. By that I mean, the commentators absolutely sucked. I looked over to my fellow Tar Heel that I mentioned before, rolled my eyes, and surprisingly said "I actually WISH Dickie V was commentating this game." He would have given all credit and glory to Duke, but by all means he would have put in the excitement that the game of all games deserved. Ideally, I wish I could have heard Woody Durham calling that game, nothing is better than the voice of Woody Durham. Watching the seniors play their last game on the prettiest hardwood in the country, reading Coach K's lips when, not surprisingly, he yelled explicit profanities at the referees, and seeing Tyler Hansbrough exit the game because he had played them as rough as they played him, and knowing that the next time the #50 jersey will come back to the Dean Dome it will be honored and hung next to some of the greatest of all time, all of that - that right there, is what derives me to behave in such a madness for Carolina. Because I watched Antawn Jamison earn a retired jersey when I was 9 or 10 years old, and wondered who would be the next to hang front row of the rafters. I was a senior in high school when Carolina won their last National Championship, and I've longed for that feeling ever since. I felt the rush of rivalry and excellence when I witnessed the SEC Championship football game at the Georgia Dome, and beyond my dissappointment of the heart-breaking loss to Florida, I left the Georgia Dome and took one last look around and made a wish that Carolina be more successful when they play their first post-season games in that same place come ACC Tournament time. I watched Alabama absolutely get their you know what's beat in the Super Dome in New Orleans, but I still couldn't help but smile knowing that the Tar Heels had won 2 National Titles ('82 and '93) in that very place. I know what it feels like to lose. I had to lose to Florida. And I had to lose to Utah. (Utah!! I'm STILL in shock!!) So, I'm ready to feel the feeling of winning again. And I know the good Lord will not let me suffer any more heart-break when it comes to my sports passion, so need me remind you, Roy and Tyler and Danny and all the others WILL be cutting down some net in Detroit.

So, as I head to Orlando and Key West this coming week to celebrate seniority (for those of us - I mean them - that aren't so lucky to have A WHOLE EXTRA senior year next year), good memories, the rising of the Tide, and the dynasty of the Tar Heels, I will be in the same place I was during Spring Break '05. Do you know where I'm going with this?? Yes, the stars are aligned for me to return home just in time for the ultimate madness of the tournament, in which last time I returned home from Key West, Carolina ended all the madness with their 5th National Championship.

You can assume in what cheer my first (and last) banana daiquri will be....

"Here's to number 6!!"



As always, GO HEELS and ROLL TIDE!