Hurt

Heartbroken is probably the best way to describe it. As I wrote a few weeks back, last year ended in the ultimate feeling of satisfaction, pure and utter joy, exultation, a rush of goodness, "yeeeeeeaaaahhhh." But one team's joy is another's ultimate pain and heartbreak.

Today, we are reminded what that heartbreak feels like. Two words: it sucks. But for all we hurt as fans, our beloved team of Tar Heels - the coaches, the players, the support staff - hurt much worse. So our hurt is for them.

For Roy Williams, who is so graceful in defeat every season, yet so emotional about this defeat and this team. We hurt for him because he says this team was the most fun to coach; he will never coach them again. Coach felt like he messed up and let the team down in calling for the press/trap in a situation it was not needed. Truthfully the press might should have been used earlier and more often. Our hurt for Coach Williams will subdue as spring turns to summer, summer to fall, and we party at Late Night with Roy yet again; but, we know how dear this group was to him personally.

For the assistant coaches who labor so tirelessly to recruit, develop, teach. Their seasons last the entire year, as they now turn their efforts to recruiting for the 2007 class: Kevin Love, Kyle Singler, Derrick Rose, Julian Vaughn, Tyrell Reed, etc. But will they all return? Quietly, last off-season almost led to a staff change, as Assistant Coach Steve Robinson was nearly hired by the Richmond Spiders to coach its team. Who knows if Coach Rob, the former head man at Florida St, will be lured somewhere this off-season, taking another assistant with him. But for now, we know each of them is questioning himself, what could have been done differently, just like our head coach. Our hurt is for them too.

For the managers who will not pour another Gatorade, rebound another shot, chart points per possession, or experience the unity of being part of this team again.

For the freshmen, all five of them, who have never hurt in March before. Will Tyler Hansbrough return? It remains to be seen; he probably would benefit from developing in the college game as opposed to on an NBA bench, but his potential may be enough to make him a first round NBA Draft selection. Yet, these freshmen grew up before our eyes and played with so much heart. Their talent is evident to everyone, but the fans who follow the team closely have seen that this talent is complemented with such great character and desire. We hurt for them because, until now, they were naive to the finality of a season. Now they know what it means for your season to end.

For the walk-ons who saw such little action, but cheered and worked the entire way. Why? Because it means that much to just have a spot on the team, to put that jersey on. In five years, few of us will remember all their names. But they will know. They will know they were a part of the team, and they will recall the pain of a season ended.

For the returnees: Wes, Q, Reyshawn. They never played much before this season. But this year, each of them grew up and became men on the basketball court. Wes is too short, Q too eratic, Reyshawn too passive; each of these theories were dispelled by their play as the season wore on. The three of them will be back next season, but who knows exactly in what role. Reyshawn will most likely be a pre-season All-ACC first teamer, but Q and Wes could lose minutes to guys two and three years younger. But today, this year, they gave it their all. And they too feel the pain.

For Damien Grant, the forgotten senior lost to injury. His playing career never materialized because of his back and knees, but he provided leadership and support the whole way.

For Byron Sanders, By-ron, the Colonial, Scram-Cheese. The guy who plays with such heart against better players. He grew into a contributor, the guy who you couldn't help but smile at simply due to his effort. He helped lead this team of young'uns, providing advice and setting an example of hard work. His career playing basketball is over, but his life of impacting people and society is just beginning.

Finally, for David Noel. As an aside, I cried after the loss. But not a tear was selfish; they were all for David. I've met him only in passing, talked to him only as a bystander. Yet, to anyone who was one of his peers, we all feel like we know him. Of course we do not, other than on the court and around campus. But this was the guy who we always liked. For all the superstars, David was the one who seemed like the most fun, the most relaxed, the coolest dude, the "guy I'd most want to hang out with." No, it's not a man-crush, but a sense of respect, and the sense that he has been a man for a while now. Not The Man, as he never tried to be that. But a man nonetheless. Papa Noel took this team and made it his team. It did not have to be that way, but it sure was better for it. He led them on the court and no doubt taught them all how to be better men off the court. So to see his career end with anything other than a victory was incredibly tough. Without being in the locker room, you know this emotional man shed tears and will in the coming days and weeks as it sinks in that his college basketball career is over. But it must be said that he got everything possible out of himself and his career. He laid it all out on the court everytime he played and his legacy as a Tar Heel should reflect that. So, in effect, by hurting for David Noel, we hurt for them all, because he is so much a part of every guy associated with this team. Instead of a national title, we are left with only one more chant for our leader. One more DA-VID...NO-EL

The tears have subsided and the initial hurt and shock are more subdued. But the empathy we have for our team will remain for a long time. Sure, there is another season next year, a season that will be full of promise and potential. But our run with this team, the 2005-2006 Tar Heels, is over. I was fortunate enough to get a 2005-2006 team-signed ball before the season started. Initially, I thought about how I might look back in ten years and laugh about how bad the team associated with that ball turned out to be. Instead, I will always look at that ball and remember a team that overachieved, played hard, and seemed to love playing and being together. We will smile at these 2005-2006 Tar Heels in ten years. But for now, we just hurt for them.

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