University of North Carolina Athletics
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF:Durant Named Starter
August 27, 2002 | Football
Aug. 27, 2002
Carolina football coach John Bunting announced today that Darian Durant will be the starting quarterback for the Tar Heels this season.
Durant, a sophomore, was competing with University of Florida transfer C.J. Stephens for the starting job throughout the preseason. Durant shared time with Ronald Curry in 2001, going on to set UNC freshman records for touchdown passes (17), passing yards (1,843), total offense (1,917) and completions (142).
"Darian won the job by his performance last season and is in charge out there," Bunting said. "He has command of the offense, and knows that C.J. is right there too. He has more experience, has a little more poise,and is ready to go out there and lead this team."
The 5-11, 214-pound sophomore, who dropped 12 pounds off his playing weight from a year ago, said that he is ecstatic about the opportunity that comes with being named the starting quarterback, and at the same time knew the effort it would take to win the position.
"I knew that I was going to fight for the job," Durant said. "That is the mentality I took to the practice field every day. Having a guy like C.J. to push me every day really brought out the best in me and made me really value the importance of practice."
Last season, Durant replaced starter Curry for two-straight losses to Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. In those games he was he was 46 for 69 with seven touchdowns and two interceptions while throwing for 647 yards. In the other games, Durant and Curry alternated as signal callers every two series.
"I feel like I have experience playing the whole game," Durant said. "I don't think that I have to go out there and pressure as much. I am not worried about the two series thing anymore. I can just go out there, and relax and have fun."
Bunting cited that Durant had the better fall in practices, and Durant said that he knew he would have to be nearly flawless to beat out Stephens for the job.
"I pretty much didn't have a bad day, and the times that I did play bad the next play I came back with a good one," Durant said. "I was always told to never live on the last play, but just keep moving forward and that is what I do."
With the competition neck and neck until the announcement was made -- today was the first time that Durant and Stephens were not listed as an either/or on the depth chart -- Durant prepared himself mentally for either outcome.
"I felt like that no matter what the news from Coach Bunting was I was going to hear that I gave it my all throughout practice," he said. "As long as I gave it my all during practice then I wouldn't be disappointed with either outcome."
With the kickoff of the Miami (Ohio) game approaching quickly, both Bunting and Durant said that it was important for the quarterbacks to know their roles as game week preparations become more intense.
"I think it was important for both of us because you get into a certain rhythm when you are working with one group," Durant said. "For us to alternate with the one's and the two?s you can lose the sense of timing that you have with one group."
As the starting quarterback, there are expectations of leadership and performance placed on Durant, but he has quickly embraced his role as the offensive leader of the team.
"The quarterback is the guy that everyone in the huddle looks at every play," Durant said. "If they sense any doubt or anything then they may have doubt in their mind. I have to take that mentality out on the field because I am the leader out there."
Even though Stephens is not pegged as the opening game starter, Bunting expects him to continue working hard to prepare for when he may be called upon. He also said that he hopes to get Stephens some snaps in the first-half of this weekend's game,
"C.J. and Matt Baker are going to work hard at getting better every practice, with the idea that they are one injury away from being in the game," Bunting said. "C.J. is taking this decision very well. He is pleased to be in this program and is anticipating getting better every snap he takes in practice. He told me that he is looking forward to getting better so that he is ready when called upon."
