University of North Carolina Athletics
Torbush Reviews Clemson, Previews Virginia at Weekly Press Conference
October 24, 2000 | Football
Oct. 24, 2000
Carolina head coach Carl Torbush met with the media Tuesday afternoon at the Kenan Football Center for his weekly press conference.
Here's what Coach Torbush had to say:
On the Clemson game:
"I felt like we played really hard and played really well in the game against Clemson. But we were not able to make plays in the fourth quarter for the third week in a row, which ended up being the outcome of the game. If you put the same clock on each week with about nine minutes to go, we have a chance to make a play and don't make it. And because of that we end up getting beat. Really, the last three scores have not indicated the toughness of the games in any of the three. We felt like we've had a chance to win three weeks in a row and we haven't gotten it done. Therefore, we're sitting here at 3-4 instead of 6-1.
"At the same time, I'm really excited about our football team. I think we've still got a chance to be a really good team. We're healthy, and we've got the majority of our players still around. It's exciting to be where we are right now. We've still got to make some plays when we have the opportunity to make them. Anytime you get ahead of a team like Clemson 17-0 and are not able to pull it out, that's awful tough.
"I thought our players went in very relaxed and very excited about playing. And I thought we played 60 minutes of tough, hard-nosed football. But at the same time, we were not able to pull it out in the end, and that's something that we've got to be able to do.
"I do feel like there is a lot of balance in the ACC. I look at the teams that are basically second through seventh, and I think that any of those teams on any particular day could beat each other. And that's not to take anything away from Clemson, because I think right now I think they are one of the top five teams in the country as evidenced by their record. At the same time, I hope Woodrow Dantzler gets well. I think it would really be a shame for a young man to put together the stats that he's had over the season and not be able to finish it out. Because right now, and I said it before last week's game, if their team continues to win, in my opinion, he should be a Heisman Trophy candidate because of what he's been able to do for their football team."
On Curry:
"It's exciting to me to know that Ronald Curry came back to play the second half because a lot of quarterbacks would not have played the second half. And quite honestly, I was shocked when he came back for the second half, because I had already talked to Antwon Black about having an opportunity to win the football game for us. So when Ronald did come back, it was exciting for me. And after watching him practice yesterday, he should be full speed on Saturday. I know he'll be excited about playing on Saturday."
On the Virginia game:
"We're getting ready to face a very dangerous opponent. They've had a season a little bit like we've had except they are 4-3 instead of 3-4. This is always a tough, hard-fought ball game. There are so many similarities between the schools. There's a lot of respect and dislike involved. We have quite a few kids from Virginia and they have some from North Carolina so that adds even more excitement to it. We know we will have our hands full. We have not been successful in Charlottesville for a long time. We won't talk about that this week, but our players are smart guys so they understand. We'll be excited about going to play, and I think it's a great opportunity for our football team. Just like I've said for a number of weeks, this is a very important ballgame. We're at a point right now, for us to make some things happen the rest of this football season, we need to win this ballgame."
