University of North Carolina Athletics
Bunting Reflects on Positives
November 12, 2002 | Football
Nov. 12, 2002
UNC head football coach John Bunting met with the media Tuesday afternoon for his weekly press conference. Here is some of what he had to say:
"Despite the results, meaning the record and the way this season has gone, there are still positive things that are happening in this football program. There are some players that are having phenomenal years, including Sam Aiken, breaking the school record last week in receptions, close to breaking the school record in yardage for a season. Dexter Reid breaking all the records in terms of tackles, Dan Orner last week kicking another huge field goal, 49-yarder, guy has had a phenomenal season, wish we had more kicks for him. Some of the things that are happening in our program in both academics and also in recruiting, those are all very, very positive. Some of the young, young players getting valuable playing time, all very, very positive and more will get those opportunities this week.
"Great week to be going down to play Florida State, in terms of that being a huge game for us last year. I hope that it's a real motivating device for us as we go down. I'm sure that they're going to be excited about playing us because of the way the game went last year. Paybacks, sometimes, can be really tough on you, but I love the challenge of that. I think it will be great for our players to be motivated by that challenge, I think it's a homecoming date for them and they certainly are an awesome football team."
Bunting on Florida State:
"I've talked with coach (Gary) Tranquill and (Dave) Huxtable and watched the tapes and I think they're better than last year, they are a year older; had a young team last year, I think they suffered an injury or two, which we all have to go through which takes away, but the games they've lost have been just bitter losses for them, but they are an incredible ACC football team, as they always have been."
Bunting on Sam Aiken's pro potential:
"I think that Sam Aiken has a got a long NFL career ahead of him. He is hard working, extremely durable, gotten better each year through his hard work, in the weight room in conditioning, he's a real student of the game and really, really works at it. I can't put a finger on where he might go in the draft, but it was great to have him selected to play in the Senior Bowl and he'll go down and make a strong impression on those guys.
"He's a quiet, quiet guy.
"Yes, I think it's a possibility. I think he's a first day guy, he may me late, and it may be early. It's hard for me to put a finger on Sam right now. He has great size, has great hands and is a good runner after the catch, those are important up there. He's got good size; the 49ers are a great example of playing guys who don't have great speed right now, but winning a lot of football games with the West Coast Offense and the big receivers. He can fit in a lot of programs like that very well; he'll be in the right fit, which means he will go early and not late.
"More importantly, what he does, is each snap out on the field is absolutely, totally important to him. He looks at the tape, studies the tape, and listens to coaching absolutely intently, which is what you want your players to do. He is a perfect example of what guys can do when they really, really put their minds to it. He's kind of the David Thornton of this year, although he had shown signs the previous year."
Bunting on freshman Tommy Richardson:
"T-Rich plays the game with a lot enthusiasm and I hope to get him more time on the field on defense this week or next week, because we're closing in here. Practice as well, because of the time he has gotten involved with our football program on the field in special teams, all of our meetings, being a backup safety, I think he's gotten a real good feel for what it's going to take to be a real great contributor next year."
Coach Bunting on Michael Waddell's injury:
"I saw him yesterday down in Dan Hooker's swimming pool trying to get some movement. It's a fracture that I think he'll completely recover from. He told me that he'd be ready this week with a big smile on his face. We're really, really anxious to get him back, get him graduated and get him into our program again in the spring. He is real disappointed I think that he can't help out and play this week."
Coach Bunting on injured players:
"Anytime you're a starter and you get injured, speaking from personal experience, and I see it a little bit in Darian (Durant) right now, but I'll tell you what you really miss it. Poor Eric Davis, defensive tackle in his last year and he gets injured in he very beginning of the season. It really, really hurts you and makes you reflect upon how lucky you were to play this game, particularly to play at the Division I level and at North Carolina. I think both those guys (Waddell and Durant) will come back with even deeper resolve."
Coach Bunting on the offensive line:
"I see the sacks late in the game being a result of the score and guys pinning their ears back. That's the way it happens at all levels of play. This week we're facing an awesome defense with tremendous speed and we're going to have to be playing at our very best. I think everybody is going to be challenged on the offensive line play their very best game of the year to protect our quarterback.
"Once again, the little things on offense are what hurts us. Penalty here, dropped ball here, false start, little things; not picking up enough yards on a first down run. A great rusher catches us sometimes, but for the most part a lot of these sacks are toward the end of the ballgame when people are pinning their ears back and rushing the passer.
"I think we battled our butts off against Arizona State. Those guys played extremely well against Arizona State. Against Virginia, our guys played well until the late in the game. Our offensive line played extremely well against Virginia, very proud of them. Against Wake Forest, once again we moved the ball that first half, we don't score points because of little things. First down, unsportsmanlike penalty, late hit pulls us back; two offensive pass interferences in the first half. Those kill drives. It's hard to play football if you don't have all those components, and overcome those large chunks, unless you have all the components and we don't have them right now. We're working hard, it's a great time to come here at the University of North Carolina, great university with a great atmosphere and a great environment to play football and get involved in our program. Young players on both sides of the ball, looking for that great running back, looking to improve our talent pool at the defensive and offensive line and linebacker."
Coach Bunting on Dexter Reid leaving early:
"I will have that conversation with him, but to the best of knowledge, no. I think Dexter needs another year of maturity, even though he is a tackling machine out there, I think he needs another year of maturity to get ready for the big time."
Coach Bunting on the tough schedule:
"I guarantee you that I will always want to play that kind of schedule. I think that's the kind of games our fans want to see and our recruits want to be part of that kind of program. Now, we've lost to some good teams and we've lost to some great teams. We've lost to some teams that are right now better than us. That's where we are right now in terms of our wins and losses, but that does not alter my thinking at all in terms of what kind of schedule I want to play.
"It's going to make those players that much better. It gives them that much more to shoot for in the offseason. They got to see all those good teams. We've got Arizona State on the schedule again, we got Syracuse on the schedule again, we got Wisconsin on the schedule and we have East Carolina back up, teams that have had great success. One year does not make a program, for sure, but those programs I just mentioned, Arizona State has made a real statement this year and the other three I've mentioned have been winning programs for a long time."
