University of North Carolina Athletics
Curry Remains Confident Heading Into Clemson
September 30, 1999 | Football
Sept. 30, 1999
After suffering a 42-10 loss to Florida State last weekend, Ronald Curry is eager to take the field for Saturday's ACC showdown with Clemson. Curry, who has accounted for 61.3 percent of the UNC offense this season, recently shared the following thoughts on the team's confidence, his own play through three games and making his first trip to Death Valley.
Q: Does this team lack confidence?
A: "I think the confidence is there, it's just a matter of putting it together and everyone being on the same page. I think we're far from that now. I thought we were closer to that after the Indiana game, but playing against Florida State made me realize that we weren't. It's a long season though, and it's still early. I hope we can take steps to getting better against Clemson."
Q: After experiencing so much success in high school, are you frustrated with getting off to another slow start to the season?
A: "I'm not getting frustrated. I know the personnel we have here. High school is far behind me and this is a new challenge to tackle. For me to be the leader I need to be for this team, I can't get frustrated. I can't allow myself to get frustrated. I'm still going to play with a lot of confidence. I'm just going to try to pump up the guys around me and make them believe."
Q: What was going through your mind when Florida State jumped out to such a quick start?
A: "I just couldn't believe it. It all just happened so soon. During the game I just didn't want to give up because I just didn't want them to really blow us out. I wanted to at least put up a contest. I know they put up 28, but I didn't want 28 to turn to 70. We just wanted to make the game respectable."
Q: What have you heard about playing Clemson at Death Valley?
A: "I've heard it was a very hostile environment, but I love playing in hostile environments. I loved the Virginia game last year. I loved the Florida State game last year. I think I just get motivated to go into other people's places in their home town and try to put on a show. I think a lot of the guys on the team are just looking forward to making our first trip to Clemson."
Q: You seem to have so much going on in your life with trying to balance being a college student while also playing both basketball and football. Are you having fun?
A: "I'm having fun. This is what I love to do ? playing football, basketball and being a student. No one more than another. I've always felt that pressure is only what you make of it, and I'm going to keep living by that. I'm enjoying myself and I'm going to keep enjoying myself no matter what anyone says. If I wasn't enjoying myself with football or basketball, I'd give one up."
Q: What do you see as being a key to this offense improving?
A: "I'm going to have to play a whole lot better, and I'm going to have to make better decisions. I have three touchdowns but also six picks and a fumble. So I've turned the ball over seven times. That's a bad ratio. We have to have a lot better quarterback play. I think if that comes, then the team will pick it up."
Q: Are the skill position players around you making enough plays?
A: "They're making some plays, but I think we can all make a lot more. We've got a big-play offense. We just have to stick to what we're doing and start executing. The coaches put together a good game-plan against Florida State, and I was very confident. But we just didn't execute. We talk about what we can do, but once we get on the field we're not performing to the best of our ability."
Q: Coach Marshall has taken a lot of heat over the past few weeks for what has happened with the offense. Is he taking too much criticism?
A: "Too much. I don't think he deserves any of the heat he's taken. I think you should point your finger at the players. The coaches can only do so much. They can't play for you. I've been very confident in all the game plans Coach Marshall has put in. You see it on the field. The players are making the mistakes. You have a dropped ball here, a missed pass there, the running back not hitting where he's supposed to ? it's not his fault, it's only ours."
