University of North Carolina Athletics
Torbush To Remain At North Carolina
November 22, 1999 | Football
Nov. 22, 1999
* Press Conference Audio
By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina football coach Carl Torbush will keep his job, school officials said Monday.
Torbush finished a 3-8 season with wins over archrivals North Carolina State and Duke, prompting an outpouring of support from players and many fans.
"Everything went into this formula, but it was important for me to see the energy from the team the last two games," athletic director Dick Baddour said Monday.
About a dozen UNC players in attendance clapped and cheered when Baddour announced that Torbush would stay.
"The last three or four days have been an emotional roller coaster for me, but I have been able to weather this storm," Torbush said.
This season, the Tar Heels suffered through their worst season in a decade after being hit with numerous injuries at quarterback.
Before Saturday's 38-0 shutout of Duke - after which Torbush was lifted on the shoulders of players - the Tar Heels had scored only 35 points since starting quarterback Ronald Curry ruptured his Achilles' tendon in a 31-24 overtime loss at Georgia Tech.
After Curry's injury, backup quarterback Luke Huard, defensive back Antwon lack and running back Domonique Williams all took turns at quarterback.
Despite this past season's troubles, Torbush hasn't been without coaching success. He was the architect of one of the nation's top defenses when the Tar Heels were 21-3 in the 1996-97 seasons. He also coached the Tar Heels to a 42-3 victory over Virginia Tech in the 1998 Gator Bowl after Brown departed, and he won last year's Las Vegas Bowl over San Diego State.
