University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Seek National Prominence
August 31, 2000 | Football
Aug. 31, 2000
by Steve Kirschner
Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
Once again Democratic and Republican presidential candidates are criss-crossing the United States this Labor Day weekend hoping to convince swing voters that their ticket is your path to future prosperity. Every four years this electoral dance repeats itself just as another college football season gets underway.
Four years ago when the American public was faced with a similar vote, the Carolina football program was at a crossroads. The Tar Heels entered 1996 coming off a 7-5 season in which they won the final three games, including the Carquest Bowl against Arkansas. UNC had won nine and 10 games in 1992 and 1993, respectively, but then slipped to 15 combined wins the next two seasons. The 1995 campaign began with two losses before a frantic last-minute win at Louisville in which Carolina lost five fumbles. An artistic success it was not. But a young defense developed as the year progressed and November wins over Duke and NC State sent the Tar Heels packing to Fort Lauderdale for a date with the Razorbacks.
A year later the Tar Heels, with a new offensive system in place and a maturing defense, opened the season with wins over Clemson and ninth-ranked Syracuse and regained a place in the national football landscape.
Are we at such a crossroads once again?
No question about it, the 1996 and 1997 seasons were two of the best in Tar Heel history. Twenty-one wins, Top 10 national finishes, a West Coast offense that rewrote the record books and a defense that should forever stand as one of the finest in ACC history.
Then Carolina started 1998 with three straight defeats, two of which came on last-second field goals, but became the first team in school history to rebound from such a start and win a bowl game. Last year, by any measure, was a disappointment. Injuries and lack of depth at several key positions were factors in a mid-season swoon that led to seven straight defeats. At one point, the Tar Heels were without scholarship quarterbacks Ronald Curry and Luke Huard due to injuries and even Antwon Black, a safety-turned-quarterback, missed out on becoming the starter when he contracted mononucleosis. Defensive leader Brandon Spoon ripped his biceps tendon in the first quarter of the second game and was lost for the season. A defense loaded with first- and second-year starters sorely missed its seasoned signal-caller.
Faced with mounting criticism, the Tar Heels rallied behind tailback-turned-quarterback Domonique Williams for a stunning, 10-6 win over NC State and a 38-0 whitewash over Duke in the final two games.
Now the Tar Heels open the 2000 season with a number of questions looming large. How will a quarterback with limited college experience run a newly-installed offensive system? Is the defense ready to be a dominant force? Which newcomers will emerge as prime-time players? Are the Tar Heels ready to regain a place in the national spotlight?
Four years ago, the answers to those questions developed in the form of a glorious season. Chris Keldorf absorbed the offensive package like a sponge, set a host of passing records and earned All-ACC honors, All-Americas Greg Ellis and Brian Simmons headlined a defense that became the nation's best all-around unit, we became transfixed by cornerbacks Dre' Bly and Robert Williams, wide receivers L.C. Stevens and Na Brown and tailback Jonathan Linton, none of whom were household names in the preseason, and Carolina finished the season with 10 wins and a matching place in the final national polls.
Well, who is to say that can't happen again? This team has more speed across the board than it did a year ago, has better depth at almost every position thanks to three straight solid recruiting years, and coming off those two late-season wins, quiet confidence. These kids worked extremely hard in the offseason to prove to people Carolina is a national program for which a three-win season was an anomaly. After all, this program posted a winning record in nine consecutive seasons prior to last fall.
What if Curry takes to Mike O'Cain's X's and O's and becomes the Kurt Warner of college football? What if defensive end Julius Peppers, tackle Ryan Sims and linebackers Spoon, Merceda Perry and Sedrick Hodge remind us of Ellis and Vonnie Holliday, Simmons and K Mays? Ever heard of cornerback Michael Waddell, tailback Willie Parker, wide receiver Jamal Jones, safety DeFonte Coleman? Well, get ready.
College football programs are generally constructed on successful coaches, rich tradition and outstanding talent. Carl Torbush and his staff are passionate about their sport, committed to their student-athletes, and intent on winning the right way, through hard work and discipline. A fast start is necessary, but don't be surprised if come November the college football world is talking about the return of the Tar Heels.
