University of North Carolina Athletics
Curry Just Keeps Getting Better
October 14, 2000 | Football
Oct. 14, 2000
By Steve Kirschner,
Assistant AD for Media Relations
Lost in the disappointment of Georgia Tech's 42-28 win over the Tar Heels was an outstanding performance by quarterback Ronald Curry. He put on a long-range aerial display the likes of which have never been seen before in Kenan Stadium.
Unfortunately, in the heat of defeat, one tends to pin blame on the quarterback, sometimes unfairly. Curry did commit two turnovers in the all-important red zone, although the second interception came with a defender arguably draped across the arms of fullback Anthony Saunders. Even with the two interceptions, Curry was brilliant. His 46-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter resembled a Steve Young NFL Films special. He completed 17 of 31 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns.
Alge Crumpler made a nifty sideline move, especially nimble for one who weighs 260 pounds, and dashed 59 yards for a score on one of Curry's throws. The Hampton, Va., native connected with Bosley Allen and Jamal Jones on 54- and 50-yard bombs, respectively. In the third quarter, moments after two botched punt attempts gave the Yellow Jackets a two-touchdown edge, he lifted the Tar Heels back into contention with a beautiful 78-yard spiral that came down in the arms of Kory Bailey.
So why the fuss about Curry? Give the kid a break and get some facts straight. Ronald Curry is going to be one heck of a football player. I say going to be, because he is still developing. Despite his lofty high school records, accolades, and absurd recruiting guru evaluations, Curry did not come to Carolina as a Hall of Fame-bound, finished product.
In fact, he came here as a freshman to return kicks, be the third- or fourth-string quarterback behind Oscar Davenport, Kevin Carty and Phillip Deas, and report to the Smith Center for basketball practice on October 15th. However, he quickly beat out Carty and Deas, the latter of whom transferred before school started. Five plays into the first game of the season, upon Davenport's knee injury, Curry was the starting quarterback.
He played like a talented freshman with a suspect offensive line and little running attack would be expected to play. He mixed brilliance (witness 304 yards passing at Stanford) with inconsistency, and led the bowl-triumphant Tar Heels with 1,394 total offense yards. His 48-yard touchdown run through the heart of San Diego State's defense was the lone offensive highlight in Carolina's 20-13 win in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Last year, he never felt fully comfortable in the offensive package and saw both his interception rate and scrambling opportunities rise to alarming levels. He threw for 241 yards in the win at Indiana, made several electrifying plays against Virginia, and had an upset brewing at Georgia Tech before he was injured. He also made an ill-advised pass in the flat that Florida State picked off for a touchdown and had an inconsistent effort at Clemson. But he only played a little more than four games.
He came into this season having not played in over 325 days. During spring practice, a time in which Mike O'Cain was installing his offensive system, Curry was studying film and watching others make throws he knew he would ultimately be making. He had just three weeks of practice in August to prepare for Tulsa, including a couple of preseason intrasquad scrimmages. Then he went out and led UNC past Tulsa (a team that went on to win three times in September) with 69 yards on the ground and another 192 in the air. His 55-yard touchdown pass to Jones put the game out of reach.
Admittedly, Curry played poorly in the first half at Wake Forest, but his performance was a result of trying to make big plays when he should have thrown the ball away. In the second half, he was much more relaxed and blew the game open with a 60-yard touchdown strike to Allen.
Not many Tar Heels played well at Florida State, but Curry was one of them, throwing for 235 yards. Against Marshall, he completed 24 of 39 for 292 yards and two touchdowns. Trailing 9-6, he gave Carolina the lead on a 16-yard pass to Bailey, releasing the ball just moments before getting clobbered. Two minutes later he hit another home run, finding Allen deep for 49 yards and a score.
Two Saturdays ago, he picked apart the Yellow Jacket secondary, averaging nearly 23 yards per completion. He set a number of school records, including the most yards and longest touchdown pass ever in Kenan stadium.
Curry has improved each week this year. His pass efficiency rating of 147.19 is the second-highest in school history and he is 15th in the country in passing. He averages 250 passing yards and 262 total yards per game, light years ahead of Mike Thomas's UNC single-season marks.
In fact, Curry is already eighth in Carolina history in total offense yards even though he has played in just 21 games and made only 14 starts. He has surpassed Chris Keldorf, Mark Maye, Scott Stankavage, Kelvin Bryant, Kevin Anthony, Don McCauley, Ethan Horton and Natrone Means among other former Tar Heel greats.
Ronald Curry is among the most competitive athletes ever to suit up for the Tar Heels, no matter the sport, yet he must also be one of the most taken-for-granted talents we have ever had in Chapel Hill.
Curry is refreshingly polite and respectful and has a wonderful sense of humor. He hates to lose, despises not showing improvement and has a burning desire to lead the Tar Heels to the promised land in both football and basketball. Almost every game he does something that makes you scream out loud and say `Wow' because you've never seen that before.
It's midway through his junior season. Enjoy what you see and who he is, because before you know it, he'll have his degree and be gone. And that will be a shame.
Players Mentioned
