University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: First Practice for Carolina's Freshmen
August 3, 2002 | Football
Aug. 3, 2002
2002 Newcomer Roster
by Adam Lucas
Tar Heel Monthly
While most incoming college freshmen spent Saturday savoring their last days of freedom, North Carolina's incoming freshmen football players spent Saturday wondering what they had gotten themselves into.
"I think some of them are really excited that they got through it and feel great about how they did," head coach John Bunting said about the first practice for the freshmen. "Some of their heads are spinning, because they saw how intensely we practice, the speed with which we practice, and the way our coaches coach."
The squad of rookies, plus transfer Rikki Cook, worked out for a little over an hour on a day that is expected to push 95 degrees in Chapel Hill. While a couple of players had issues with the heat, Bunting seemed pleased with the effort.
"It's impossible to get ready for it unless you've been here at least a month," he said. "The guys who got down here early for summer school, those guys have an advantage because they've been in the strength program and they've been outside in the heat."
Among the players who attended summer school were Tommy Richardson, Lewis Burnham, and Victor Worsley.
While preseason is the time for players to round into game shape, it also takes conditioning for the coaches. "Cough drops," Bunting said when asked the most important thing for coaches when he rolled up to the practice field on his bike. He and his staff then proceeded to show why, as they indoctrinated their freshmen into the world of Division I football with boisterous commands to run at all times.
"I want you to stretch in football position," the second-year head coach told his troops. "I want you to play in football position. I want you to eat in football position. I would ask you to sleep in football position, but that might be too hard.
Once upperclassmen arrive next week, competition will ratchet up a notch at several positions. However, some of the rookies will see the field this year.
"I think we'll have five, six, or seven guys get on the field," Bunting said. "Tommy Richardson will play, one or two of those defensive linemen will get on the field, Victor Worsley will get on the field, and one or two of those wide receivers will get on the field."
One player who made an impression on Saturday was linebacker Xavier Rainey, who played defensive end in high school but is starting the preseason at linebacker. The Atlanta native, who jumped over ten feet in the standing broad jump in strength testing, drew praise from the coaches at Saturday morning's practice and still had Bunting smiling afterwards.
Freshmen are unable to talk to the media until they have played in a game, but the head coach had plenty to say about the freshman who was given Julius Peppers' 49 jersey.
"He may grow into a defensive end, but right now I'd like to see if he can play linebacker," he said. "He could be an awesome linebacker. I think 49 is appropriate. Those words came out of my mouth today, that he could be the next one."
