University of North Carolina Athletics
Bunting Press Conference Quotes
September 4, 2001 | Football
Sept. 4, 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:
Opening Remarks:
"Certainly the Maryland game has left a bad taste in my mouth, but we're not going to dwell on it. We have to go on. If I thought this program or this season hinged on winning the Maryland game, then I would have not taken this job.
"We have to get beyond Maryland, and we have to go on to this upcoming game and look forward to the rest of the season. As I've said before, this is a 12-round fist-fight and we've lost two rounds. One round we fought well, and in the second round - the Maryland game - we certainly fought for three quarters. What was most disappointing to me in that game is that the No. 1 thing I wanted to see change when I took over this program was to win in the fourth quarter. I wanted the game to be close. I wanted to win it in the fourth quarter, and just the opposite took place.
"Right now we're struggling, and everybody knows it. I could come up here and beat on the offensive line over and over and over again. That does no good. We are what we are. We've got to continue to improve there. By the same token, our big-play players have got to make big plays.
"We're not where we want to be after two games. Period. We're not where we want to be. What are we going to do about it? We're going to try to get better. We're going to work hard in practice. The coaching staff has spent an enormous amount of time reflecting back on everything we've done. There's no doubt that we have a very good defense. The disappointing thing is that Maryland gained almost 100 yards in the fourth quarter.
"We're not protecting the quarterback well enough and I wanted to run the football. We're not doing that. But to beat on the offensive line is the wrong thing. To try to get better is the right thing. To try to find some rays of hope - we keep trying to do that. It's got to happen on the practice field first. Last week it didn't happen as much as I wanted it to happen on the practice field. We also have to make plays in the kicking game.
"We have a great opportunity this week. Our seniors once again have to step up. I'm counting on our seniors. I will always do that. That's what I've always done in the past - I count on the older players to step up and show the younger players how to do it. But there's no gloom and doom in our offices."
On possible changes in the depth chart:
"We're going to work some other players in practice this week and have a final determination when we go into Texas. There will be more guys playing this week than played last week. What in fact will absolutely happen will be determined toward the end of the week."
On particular positions where more players may play:
"Fullback, line, safety, tight end, running back. The quarterback situation is the same."
How do you make sure that the team doesn't lose sight of their goals and of the attitude of the coaching staff?
"As far as I'm concerned they don't have a choice. We're going 100 miles per hour, and they better stay on board.
On missed tackles:
"It's a problem from last year that still happens and it must change. We played good defense for three quarters - we had one bad play in the first half, a third down, but otherwise we played very good. But in the fourth quarter, particularly at the end, they were running the football on us and we were missing tackles. We were also not executing the defense called."
On Texas coach Mack Brown:
"I've talked with him a few times since I've been on the job, and he's been very kind to me. He's been very helpful in discussing relative things about the program as I took it over - staff, players, I had consulted with him and he was very helpful with that. I respect him. He's done a great job wherever he's been. We're looking forward to playing his football team - not him, but his football team.
"I think he has a high regard for many of our players, and I also share his opinion. We're in agreement on the fact that we have a number of very good players on this football team."
On Texas:
"Speed. They have the fastest players I've seen to date. From what I gather, those two wide receivers (B.J. Johnson and Roy Williams) may be the fastest in the country. They look very, very fast. They blow right by people. Their offensive line is huge. Their freshman running back (Cedric Benson) was the most highly recruited running back in the country and played some last week and from what I understand may play more."
On Chris Simms:
"He's more of a pro-style quarterback - live arm, all the throws, the receivers will be running deeper routes, double-moves. They have the ability to go deep a lot better than the two teams we've faced."
On Ronald Curry's confidence level:
"I think he's fine. I met with him and a few others, and I think they're fine. I think they're disappointed with the way they played in the fourth quarter. I think they also know there's no reason to dwell on it - it's one thing to talk about it, and it's another thing to do something about it. So I'm anxious to see what they do about it."
On Ronald Curry's leadership:
"Ronald's a quiet young man, he's a great young man. He has a fine future in front of him - whether it's in sports or not in sports - he's a quality person. But he's more of a laid back guy than some might want as a quarterback, but that's his way. I said to him before the season started, 'In your way, within your personality, I expect you to lead this football team.' He was elected captain of this football team by his teammates."
