University of North Carolina Athletics
Mick: Pregame Breakdown - Oklahoma
August 23, 2001 | Football
Aug. 23, 2001
How Carolina shocks the world and beats OU in Norman:
*** Nate Hybl, the Sooners starting quarterback, develops a case of opening game-induced rectal stenosis. Though uncommon in juniors of his size and talent, this sudden and severe narrowing of the lower bowel is often associated with interceptions, poorly thrown passes and bad judgement.
*** Oklahoma under-estimates UNC and doesn't come out all buckered up like they normally do.
*** Linebacker Rocky Calmus, the "toughest player in America" according to The Sporting News, gets a painful paper cut while working on an English composition Saturday morning and, despite the doctors' insistence that he is fine, tells Coach Stoops that he just can't go.
*** The Tar Heels bookend "5-techniques", Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims, are too big and fast for OU's offensive line and 4 wide receiver sets to handle. Pep and Sims collapse Oklahoma's protections and hold many team meetings at the quarterback.
*** Ronald Curry finds his touch on the dumps and dinks. He completes all the easy ones and a few of more difficult, downfield throws and Carolina gains over 200 yards in the passing game.
*** Bosley takes a kick to the house.
*** Carolina punter John Lafferty performs so well that we have no choice but to feature him on next week's "Inside Carolina Football With John Bunting" television show.
*** The UNC secondary tackles well.
How Carolina gets cuffed up and slinks back to Chapel Hill:
*** Oklahoma, the defending national champions, proves to be just too deep, too quick and too talented for the Tar Heels.
*** The Tar Heels, who have demonstrated excellent ball security throughout fall camp, come down with turnoveritis.
*** Carolina doesn't tackle well.
*** Nate Hybl is as good as advertised.
*** Sooner safety Roy Williams, a vicious hitter, causes UNC's receivers to have Tyrannasaurus Rex arms (short arms) when they run crossing routes over the middle.
What we think will happen
*** Carolina will play with energy, aggession, intelligence and intensity for every last one of the game's 60 minutes, no matter what the score.
*** The Tar Heels will return to Chapel Hill either still giddy from the victory or disappointed not to have won but still proud of the effort they turned in.
*** UNC's running game will show some promise, even against OU's outstanding defensive unit.
*** We'll have a heck of a radio broadcast for you, beginning at 6:45 eastern on the Tar Heel Sports Network!
