Rock, Chalk, um ... kick Carolina's ass

I think that's how it goes.

So goes, too, the life of a bitter State fan. I've grown softer in my old(er) age, what with a wife and two kids and all, but I just can't ever seem to bring myself to pull for Carolina.

Carolina fans will say, "Oh, you're just being silly. When State's in the tournament, I pull for them! Don't you want to see the ACC win another National Championship?"

That's a load of crap. All that's code for, "You're a State fan. You pull for a team that hasn't been a threat to us in 20 years. You could win five straight against us and still not put a dent in our series lead. Root for us to win it all so you can receive some measure of residual glory bestowed upon us."

Anytime a Carolina fan asks me (or asks you -- you should try this) if they're pulling for them in the tournament, ask them if they pulled for Duke against West Virginia. Watch their tune change then.

Some may insist that, yes, they pulled for Duke to win. I like to call those people liars. But on the off chance that there was a Carolina fan pulling for Duke against the 'Neers, my guess is that it was for the self-serving reason of potenitally meeting Duke in the title game (however far-fetched that may have been).

Asking a State fan to pull for Carolina is exactly like asking a Duke fan to pull for Carolina, or for a Carolina fan to pull for Duke.

In other words, it ain't happening.

Why would I want to see another title banner hanging from the Dean Dome? Because in some vague way that helps us? Our conference? Yeah, we may get an extra $50-$100K in NCAA tournament payout money over the long haul, but so what. It's worth $100K NOT to see another banner--a REAL fifth national title--in the Dean Dome. That's just one more title we have to win to catch up and even the score.

So go Jayhawks. Rock, Chalk, whatever. Carolina, from hell's heart I stab at thee, via Bill Self.

Signed,
Bitter State Fans
Bittertown, USA