North Carolina interim head coach Everett Withers was nudged into the cockpit of the football program with hardly more than a week before the beginning of fall practice, with both sides of the agreement understanding a comfortable amount of space would be given. The interim title remained on Withers the entire season – implying that UNC has not made a decision regarding its long-term future, and could hire another coach with little more than a nod to Withers – and Withers was given a five-month audition to win the part.

Has he done enough?

For: The players respected him and responded positively to his leadership. After Butch Davis was fired, Chancellor Holden Thorp said that one of the qualities he wanted in Davis' replacement was the presence to be respected by the players. Withers had – and has – the players' respect. He's an emotional coach who bodes well in the bravado-exuding world of college football, and his straight forward mentality does well with recruits and their parents.

Against: The Tar Heels didn't have a single signature victory in Withers' lone season at the helm. North Carolina fattened itself on a fairly weak out-of-conference schedule, and beat only Virginia, Wake Forest and Duke in the conference. 3-5 in the ACC isn't impressing the UNC brass.

For: The circumstances were extraordinarily difficult. Your boss gets canned. You have to fill in nine days before the biggest sales quarter of the year. You haven't had anywhere near enough time or preparation for the job, but the company expects numbers to be as good or better than before. Numbers finish in the ballpark from last year. Is it fair to dismiss you?

Against: It's unlikely Withers will have another defense as good as the one he has. Remember, Withers is a defensive coach. With Davis' recruits, Withers' defense wasn't particularly impressive. The unit finished fifth in the conference in yards per game and points allowed, and never took over a conference game like it absolutely should have. For a defense that has two sure first-rounders in the 2012 NFL Draft (Quinton Coples, Zach Brown), a sure pick (Tydreke Powell), two fringe draftees (Charles Brown, Matt Merletti) and two players that would likely get drafted if they left early (Donte Paige-Moss and Sylvester Williams), the production in relation to talent was very poor.

For: Framework is in place. The Tar Heels can seriously challenge for the Coastal Division title next season, particularly on offense. With the exception of Virginia Tech's David Wilson, Giovanni Bernard would be the best running back in the ACC as a sophomore. Bryn Renner – with one year of starting behind him – figures to be one of the better passers country. He's already tenth in the country in passing efficiency. Three offensive lineman return, and seven starters should be back from an offense that scored 28 or more points seven times. A new system could hurt short-term success.

Against: Flaaaaaaaagship! Flaaaaaaaagship! Withers lost to his biggest football rival and caused himself – and a good many Tar Heels, past and present – embarrassment with his pre-game comments. He called UNC the state's “flagship” university, drawing the ire of supporters of nearly every other North Carolina school, including and especially N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien. When the Wolfpack beat the Tar Heels, 13-0, N.C. State fans mocked Withers and UNC with booming chants of “Flagship” at Carter-Finley Stadium. If you're going to run your mouth, you had better win. He didn't.

For: The Tar Heels met expectations. To borrow a quote from my man Dennis Green, they were who we thought they were. They didn't have a win against an opponent better than them, but they also didn't lose to any bad teams, either. They still finished bowl eligible, and they were competitive in every game besides a blowout loss at Clemson.

Against: Is the administration content with OK? That's what North Carolina was this season. Not good or bad, but OK. Every other school in the Coastal Division has a coach whose roots are deeply set. The circumstances were difficult, sure, but the sad reality is that the score receives no footnotes. In almost every case, crowds and booster donations are smaller when a team is losing. Should fifth in the Coastal Division warrant another chance?