University of North Carolina Athletics
Bunting Press Conference Quotes
September 25, 2001 | Football
Sept. 25, 2001
UNC football coach John Bunting met with the media Tuesday afternoon for his weekly press conference. Here is some of what he had to say:
"Looking back on Saturday, we're still obviously thrilled to be able to come out of there with a win, our first win, and obviously for me personally my first win. And at home, it was a great experience. Our defense played well - I was not surprised. They played their best. Number one, they stopped the run. That's important in any football game for a defense to do. Number two, I think we played our best game on special teams by far, not giving up any big plays. We had a snap over the punter's head, which was pretty ugly, but our special teams performed very, very well, the best by far they've performed. That's important for us to win. No way we can win ball games without them playing well. Offensively, we didn't turn the ball over (and we) made a play or two. That's what football games can come down to - playing great defense, playing well on special teams and don't give the other team the ball."
"I think a big plus for us was playing at home, playing in front of those great fans, seeing those fans at the Old Well. It was real thrill for me and I think it was exciting for the players. I think the fans were into the ball game. I think their mindset combined with how we started the game helped our players get a mindset and I think it carried through for the entire football game. I'm thrilled for our players, especially our seniors, that we had that kind of game. Unfortunately in this business you don't have much time to think about that - 24 hours, 36 hours. It certainly didn't go much beyond about 12 hours for me and for most of our staff. We've been back hard at work. We've got to refocus our attention on a very imposing opponent. Obviously it's an intrastate rivalry. It's a rivalry that when I was here 30 years ago was ablaze and I don't expect it to be any different this week."
On NC State:
"Obviously they had success last year and have had great success this year. They're a very good football team, and they do a lot of different things to put pressure on you offensively, defensively, and they've been extremely good in many phases of special teams, particularly punt rush."
On Julius Peppers:
"I think Julius sets the tone for the defense in the way he works in practice along with the big plays that he will make on Saturdays. He certainly came up with a big interception (against FSU). He's our leading interceptor - our only interceptor I might add.
"Julius is one of those playmakers. He's a big-play guy, but he also is doing some other things that are making him a more consistent football player. When I say that, I'm really referring to the way he works on the practice field. That's how he gets better, that's how he makes big plays because of his preparation on the practice field. He's getting much more consistent, I think he's playing the run pretty well - it doesn't always show necessarily in tackles or tackles for losses - but he is a pretty stout individual and one with a lot of athleticism. As I've said to him and as I've said before to anyone who cared to listen, I think he has a huge upside. I think his best football is still way out there in front of him. I think he's going to get better and better and better, because I think he really enjoys the game."
On defensing NC State QB Philip Rivers:
"I don't think he's been sacked very much. I think he only has two. The reason is that they're obviously doing a good job up front, but mostly I think Rivers has a very good release. It's uncanny - it reminds me a little but of (Jeff) Garcia, a little bit of (Dan) Marino - very, very quick. He sees things very well. He sees blitzers. He sees receivers. He knows where to go with the ball and where to get it right now. Not only does he have this uncanny quick release, but he has the anticipation. So he is an excellent football player, and obviously he makes that offense go."
