University of North Carolina Athletics
Bunting Looks Back At Miami, Ahead To Syracuse At Weekly Press Conference
September 3, 2002 | Football
Sept. 3, 2002
UNC head football caoch John Bunting met with the media Tuesday afternoon for his weekly press conference. Here is some of what he had to say:
"We have to focus on what is important and that is the next game. That is the business of this game, whether it be the college level or the high school level, you have to get ready to play the next game. We need to focus on finding a way to win. I have been in these situations before, one, two and sometimes three games into the season. We discovered a new way to give a ballgame away last week, but that is behind us. Our seniors are fortunate to being able to travel to Syracuse, New York, and play a good program like Syracuse University. I think that it is great that our football team gets to play programs like Syracuse and Oklahoma last year, it is good for the team and the program. The game will be on national T.V. and the crowd will be making a lot of noise, it just doesn't get any better for our players. I have always liked playing on the road myself. I think the team enjoyed playing on the road last year as well.
"We are pretty healthy. We have some bumps and bruises, but that is it. We have one change and that is with Eric Davis being out. We are going to give Darryl Grant some time and we are going to move Jonas Seawright to nose tackle, from offensive tackle. I think that will help us now and down the road, because I think Jonas is more natural at nose guard."
On the offense:
"You always have to be aware of what the defense gives you. Miami (Ohio) did
a substantial amount of blitzing, and that makes the linemen shift on angles
and therefore cuts off your running game. That is why we passed more often
last week and did it successfully. We will have a plan of attack for their
defensive schemes, and then take what we think they are giving us.
"The running backs are doing fine. The only disappointment I have from the last game is I didn't get Madison Hedgecock a carry. So he will get some carries this week against Syracuse.
"The biggest challenge that I have presented this football team with this year is with our offensive line. I challenged them to come through make some holes and protect the quarterback. We will be able to evaluate our play this week with a more determined running game. I don't think the weather will play a factor this week."
On the defense:
"We are going to learn a lot more about the defense this week. Syracuse is
going to present multiple formations, shifts and motions, but when they are
in their regular personnel, two backs and one tight end and two wides, they
like to pound the ball. They will run a series of options, so we are going
to have to defend power and option football.
"We knew we we're going to see our strength against Miami's strength last week. Their quarterback had never thrown for less than 50 percent in a game and he did. So we did a real good job covering.
"I anticipate a very different game this week. SU's quarterback can run and throw. They have power and they can throw it too. They have good special teams. Damian Rhodes, a true freshman, is a very dangerous player. He returns kickoffs and punts, as well as seeing time at the tailback position. So we will have to be aware of him on the field.
"Our linebacker situation has not changed, although I think Doug Justice will be ready to go. I didn't think he was going to play at all last week, but as game time got closer and closer, we thought he had a good approach and he saw some action. So I will be more comfortable having him on the field this week."
On Syracuse:
"This is a first class program. They have a good offense with a quarterback
that can throw the ball well and run with it. They have several formations
and will create a lot of chaos on the field. Our defense is going to have to
do a lot of thinking out there. We are going to have a great week of
practice in order to prepare for them and be at our best. I think we can
take advantage of their youth on the offensive line and create some havoc
there. So it will be an interesting match-up.
"They didn't have a lot success throwing the ball last week, but BYU is a very tough team. I don't know if anybody knows very much about Gary Crowton, the head coach at BYU, I had to prepare against that guy when he was at Chicago and he was a pain in the butt. He had six months to prepare for Syracuse, and I would want to play anybody in my first game other than YU.
"BYU frustrated Syracuse's defense last week and I am sure they are going to be ready this week. They have an awful lot of talent on that defense."
On quarterbacks Darian Durant and C.J. Stephens:
"I want to get C.J. in the game in the first half if at all possible.
eyond that, Gary (Tranquill) and I have not sat down and talked about it. As far as
Darian bouncing back, there is no doubt in my mind that he has put that game
behind him. He usually makes good decisions with the ball.
"There were some communication problems with Jason Brown on a couple of those snaps. He was anticipated the ball being snapped at a certain time, and it wasn't on one of the plays. Youth at center plays a part in that and Darian has to ride the quarterback thing out, and not pull out of center so quickly. But that shouldn't be a problem this week."
On the special teams:
"I was very disappointed in our special team gunners last week. If you guys
want to see how good Syracuse is, watch some tape of their special team
personnel. If our team thinks Miami had good special teams wait until
they see Syracuse. They have speed and athleticism all over the field and
our guys will be severely tested on special teams.
"If we want to have a chance at winning anything, we have to win that war. It will be one of the toughest battles all night. They are as good as I have seen."
On practice:
"We will have lots of noise at practice this week to get them accustomed to
the crowd. Practice will be on grass for today and Wednesday, then move to
the turf on Thursday. We did this last year preparing for the Peach Bowl
and it worked pretty well for our players."
On Jarwarski Pollock:
"He will not go full out at practice today, but will be back to full
practice tomorrow. He played one heck of a football game Saturday. He
dropped one pass that he probably wishes he had back, but he made some nice
blocks and some nice plays."
