University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Credit Where It's Due
November 8, 2003 | Football
Nov. 8, 2003
By Adam Lucas
Less than halfway through Saturday's second quarter against Wake Forest, a smattering of boos drifted through the Kenan Stadium pines.
Carolina had been stuffed on a 2nd-and-1 against the Deacs and then followed that up with a 3rd-and-2 screen pass that went for nothing. The Heels had to punt, and some of the more impatient among the 35,000 assembled in Chapel Hill thought it would be a good time to boo.
David Wooldridge boomed a punt, the Deacons fumbled it, and Ronnie McGill recovered the fumble. A few snaps later, Jacque Lewis caught an 11-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven, and all of a sudden that guy a couple rows behind you was getting defensive.
"Oh no, I wasn't booing," he might have tried to tell you. "I was just saying 'Lewwww, because I knew Jacque was getting ready to catch a TD pass.'"
McGill rushed for an astounding 244 yards on 29 carries, the sixth best rushing performance in college football this year, but it's entirely possible that his most important play might have been that fumble recovery. Wake had already built a 7-0 lead, and had they scored on their next possession, the momentum would have been squarely in their favor. Instead, McGill, a true freshman who has never complained about doing any of the dirty work required of him--including playing special teams--zipped almost the length of the field to pick up the fumble and change the tenor of the game.
If you've read anything about University of North Carolina football over the past few weeks, you've doubtless heard continual sniping over the performance of certain Tar Heel assistant coaches. Assistant coaches have much in common with offensive linemen--no one ever bothers to learn their names unless they perform poorly. Most of the heat, especially after last week's meltdown against Maryland, has been reserved for defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable. If you're going to take the time out to rip Huxtable, it's only fair that you learn a few more assistants' names.
You can't rip them. But after Saturday's 42-34 victory, these three men deserve a quick step into the spotlight:
Offensive line coach Hal Hunter: Hunter came to Chapel Hill from Indiana with the reputation as one of the best offensive line tacticians in the country. Turns out, the reputation was exactly right.
He's turned Carolina's veteran unit into one of the strengths of the team. The Heels have given up just seven sacks in their last five games and have gradually propelled the rushing offense into the top half of the league in that statistic.
"It was great blocking," Ronnie McGill said about his 244-yard effort that was keyed by the o-line. "Without them making the holes, I wouldn't have been able to read anything. I've got to give full credit to them for making the blocks."
Offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill: There's nothing every football fan loves to do more than criticize the offensive coordinator. It's no different at Carolina, where fans regularly send in plays to Tranquill with the suggestion that they might work better than the ones that Tranquill, who has 42 years of experience in college football, designs.
Despite the fact that many fans seem to think they could do a better job, Tranquill has put together an offense that has already scored 27 or more points on seven different occasions, the first time that has been accomplished in Chapel Hill since the glory days of 1996. He's not just scoring points, he's being innovative. The Tar Heels are operating primarily with an offense that includes two tailbacks, and some of their best rushing efforts have come lately with tight end Bobby Blizzard--one of the keys to the running game--hampered by an injury.
On Saturday, his fourth quarter play calling might have sealed the win. Ahead 35-27 with eight minutes left in the game, the safe thing to do was run the ball and grind out the final minutes on the clock. Instead, Tranquill called for Mike Mason to run a stop-and-go route that completely flummoxed the Wake Forest defender, and Darian Durant hit Mason for a 45-yard game-clinching touchdown.
Special teams coach James Webster: Over the past few weeks, there's frequently been one special teams breakdown per game that proved to be a major momentum shifter. On Saturday, there were three--and all three went in favor of the Tar Heels. Carolina blocked a pair of field goals and also blocked an extra point that was returned for two points. The two field goals, the missed extra point, and the two points the Heels gained on that PAT represent a nine-point swing in the kicking game. Give Wake those nine points, and we're talking about a ninth Tar Heel loss.
"Wake Forest's field goal protection is a lot different from others," said Michael Waddell, who blocked a pair of kicks. "I knew that if I could get a good jump, I could come off the side and make something happen."
How'd he know that? His special teams coach told him.
Adam Lucas is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly and can be reached at alucas@tarheelmonthly.com. To subscribe to Tar Heel Monthly, click here.
