University of North Carolina Athletics
Peach Bowl Notebook: Sunday
December 30, 2001 | Football
Dec. 30, 2001
TarHeelBlue.com is in Atlanta, where the Tar Heels are just a day away from playing Auburn in the 2001 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Here's a look at more news and notes from Sunday's activities at UNC prepares for Monday's 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Town Is Buzzing: With thousands of Carolina fans arriving over the weekend and the majority of UNC's athletic department travel party now in Atlanta there is plenty of excitement at the plush Marriott Marquis, the official Carolina fan headquarters here in town.
Among the highlights on Sunday was a "Chalk Talk" banquet luncheon with Bunting and Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville. Among those in the 1,000 or so in attendance were members of both teams as well as fans who had purchased tickets to the event, where both coaches answered questions from the fans and the top scholar athletes from both teams were recognized.
Game Day Plans Are Set: One battle coaches face when playing a night game is what to do with the players all day long as they await one the biggest games of their careers. While Coach Bunting wants to give his team plenty of rest on Monday prior to the 7:30 p.m. kickoff, it's also important not to get too restless and anxious laying around the hotel all day.
"It wears on a player," Bunting said. "You sit there and churn all day long, so you wonder what you should do with them during the day."
unting and his staff have decided to take the Tar Heels to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site here in town. Among the attractions at the site and MLK's birth home and his grave site.
"It will be just long enough to get out and stretch their legs a little bit and get back to the hotel and get ready to get on the buses," Bunting said.
Tranquill Update: When asked about Gary Tranquill's health Sunday morning, Bunting again stressed that while he has a backup plan in place in case Tranquill cannot coach in the game, he expects the offensive coordinator to be able to call the game from his normal position in the press box.
"With what he's gone through he can't be perfect, but I think he's going to be as close to that as possible," Bunting said. "Generally speaking, he's pain free now and he's been that way for about two or three days.
"Yesterday he went to practice and near the third or fourth period of practice we actually saw him throw his hat. He stomped, yelled, screamed, maybe even cursed and the players rallied. They were jumping up and down, they were all fired up because they knew Tranquill was back. I think Gary's ready."
Curry's Final Game As Carolina Athlete?: After a record-setting four-year career, quarterback Ronald Curry will suit up for his final football game - and perhaps his final game of any kind as a Tar Heel - on Monday in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. John Bunting spoke about what Curry has meant to UNC and his professional prospects on Sunday morning.
"Being around Ronald this year has absolutely been a pleasure for me, because I really think he's special," Bunting said of UNC's career leader in total offense (6,236 yards), passing yards (4,987 yards) rushing yards by a quarterback (1,249 yards) and rushing touchdowns by a QB (13). "When we asked him to give Darian time he respected that and took it like a man. It just makes me feel really good to see him smile when he's out there on the practice field. To see him laugh when we have something happen that's funny out there on the field. To see him into it like he is and to know that he has truly contributed so much to us being in this position that we're in right now and getting the opportunity to play in this Peach Bowl. It makes me feel good because he feels good about himself and everything he's done here at Carolina over the four years."
Curry, who as the starting point guard on the UNC basketball team helped lead the Tar Heels to an 18-game winning streak and a No. 1 ranking last year, has not officially announced whether he will play hoops this year, but Bunting thinks his future is bright as a professional football player.
"I hope he gets an opportunity to play at the next level, and I'm going to do everything I possibly can to help him," Bunting said. "I think Ronald's best days could be ahead of him as a quarterback. Ronald has the type of arm strength and athleticism that, if he were put in the right situation, I think he could play quarterback because he's very bright. He just needs to continue to work in one system."
unting noted that two of the NFL's finest quarterbacks, Jeff Garcia in San Francisco and Kurt Warner in St. Louis, went through the Canadian League and the Arena League before they found a home in the NFL and flourished.
Curry Nurses Sore Throat In Final Walk Through: Carolina held its final team walk through Sunday afternoon in the Marquis Ballroom of the team hotel. Coaches and players had the opportunity to make their final adjustments and fine tuning to Monday's game plan against the Southeastern Conference's Auburn Tigers.
Ronald Curry, who has developed a sore throat over the past several days, said the team is ready to get on the field Monday night. While his hoarse throat is a concern, the QB says he feels fine.
"I don't feel bad, I feel fine," Curry said. "It's just that my voice is gone. I'm taking cough medicine and I'll be alright."
Tar Heels Use Final Night For Dinner, Movies: Following Carolina's brief workout before Monday's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the Tar Heels showered and were to meet for dinner as a team. They will then depart the team hotel to a local movie theater for the evening's entertainment.
