University of North Carolina Athletics
Bunting Press Conference Quotes
October 30, 2001 | Football
Oct. 30, 2001
"We had the bye week, but now we're looking forward to getting back into football. I think our staff and players have done a real good job handling that. I think we got a lot accomplished during that time - the players got fresh, our staff was working hard recruiting. Obviously it's football time again and we're playing a very fine football team Thursday night at their place. We're excited about playing again, and they've got a lot of good players - top quarterback, top runner, top kick returner, top punt returner, top receiver - you name it, they've got it. They've got a top defense, so needless to say this is a very big game in that they're a very fine team, very finely coached team - I have a great deal of respect for Coach O'Leary. I think our kids are excited about playing again and playing on the road."
On playing following a bye week:
"We won the AFC West one year at 13-3 and had the best record and the best defense in the NFL and lost in the opening round (of the playoffs) to the Colts after a bye week, in a game that had a significant amount of importance. It was a playoff game. That's been one experience. It's also been my experience to get to bye weeks and play at home and win. It can go either way. I feel very comfortable with the way we've handled it. I feel good about the way the team has responded in preparation this week. When we prepare well, we play well. It's not always an exact measure of how we'll play, but it's the best one I can forecast anyway. I'm not a big believer in predicting or forecasting on the unknown. We know they're a good football team, we know they've got a lot of weapons, we know their quarterback is excellent, we know their runners are excellent, we know that their coaching staff is excellent, we know that they were predicted at one point maybe to contend for the ACC - and they certainly are contending - and one team's going to go on and one team's going to drop out (of the ACC title race)."
On injuries:
"We have some nicks and bruises just like any team at that time of the season will have. I think we were a little tired and emotionally spent to an extent because of what we had gone through, starting at Oklahoma and going to Maryland and going to Texas. That takes its toll - we knew that it would. I think the bye week was an excellent week for us to restore some energy, to restore the emotional part of the game - and I've seen it out on the practice field, I feel good about that."
On hamstring injury to Ronald Curry:
"Ronald is looking like he's going to be available to play. Beyond that I think (that after) another day of practice we'll see. He has not taken his normal reps. They have gone to Darian (Durant) and Darian's reps for the most part have gone to Aaron Leak. Ronald has thrown the ball. Ronald spoke to me yesterday and said 'Coach, I'm ready to go if you need me.' That's typical Ronald. He will not start, regardless of what takes place today. I think he is available to play though if we need him.
"With so much football left in this season, I probably will not play him unless there is a situation where we absolutely, desperately need him in the game. There's a lot of football left. I would not want to risk it, but he is available. He made a significant amount of progress between Sunday and Monday. He threw the ball sharp last night."
On Darian Durant and the quarterback situation:
"It's hard to say he hasn't gotten a lot of experience. He's played in every single ball game. He's played a significant role in he last five wins. He has a lot of confidence. He's had a good week of practice so far. I feel very good about Darian Durant starting for us and playing the whole game.
On winning streak following 0-3 start:
"I don't know what's normal about this game of football. All you have to do is watch games every week - there's nothing normal about it at all. It starts with the shape of the football itself. Anything can happen in any week. I still believe the best way to control your destiny is to prepare well, and our football team has learned how to do that. We have a chance to compete with the real good teams and beat some of those teams. A lot of things have to go right. We have to be good in the kicking game, we cannot turn the ball over - there are things we talk about every week. You can't turn the ball over and win. Whether you're Florida State or the old Pittsburgh Steelers you can't turn the ball over. You need to play well in the kicking game, and you need to play good defense, you can't give up big plays. That's what we've done these last five weeks - we've been good in the kicking game, we've been better not turning the ball over, we were perfect not turning the ball over at Clemson. That speaks volumes of how well we played that game. If you don't turn the ball over, you have a chance to win, and if you play good defense and if you play well in the kicking game."
