University of North Carolina Athletics
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: Veterans Benefit From Experience
August 22, 2003 | Football
Aug. 22, 2003
By Adam Lucas
John Bunting knew he was inking a solid freshman class in February of 2003. What he might not have anticipated was the impact that class would have on some of the Tar Heel upperclassmen.
A handful of juniors and seniors who fans might have expected to plummet off the depth chart at the hands of the much-hyped youngsters have dug in their heels (no pun intended) and created a fight at several positions. Offense, defense, in the trenches, at the skill positions--no matter where you look, there's a junior or a senior making life difficult for the newcomers. While a spot on the two-deep with ten days to go is no guarantee of future playing time (10 of the 22 starting spots changed from last year's season opener depth chart to the season finale depth chart), it's a good indicator of the sense of urgency that has motivated the upperclassmen.
"When you know it's your last time to do something, you're more committed," said senior Willie Parker, who is the current leader in the four-way battle for the tailback position. "You don't want to take it for granted anymore."
It was easier to take it for granted in 2002 because there wasn't much competition for playing time. Parker wasn't as physical last year as the coaching staff might have liked, but he still carried the ball 70 times. This season, it's plainly obvious that if he doesn't play up to the staff's expectations, he'll be on the bench behind transfer Chad Scott, freshman Ronnie McGill, and junior Jacque Lewis.
"There's a lot of competition this year at positions where we didn't have that last year," Bunting said. "Guys didn't always earn the right to play last year. They played because that was all we had. Now there's more competition and if you're going to play you have to earn that right."
One player who has earned that right despite fierce competition is junior cornerback Chris Hawkins. The Kinston native played in all 12 games last year but was mostly overlooked in the secondary battle in favor of sophomore Cedrick Holt and newcomer Lionell Green.
Quietly, however, Hawkins has been the best corner throughout training camp. He still has to survive the squad's final scrimmage on Saturday, but with Florida State just eight days away, he is on top of the cornerback heap.
"He started as the number one cornerback and has maintained it," Bunting said. "He is a very determined young man. He's the kind of kid you want to pull for."
Not all the upperclassmen have started from the top of the depth chart. Junior Jonas Seawright was listed as a backup going into camp and was passed over in most preseason evaluations in favor of a freshman class that included several players thought to be candidates to play immediately.
Some of those rookies, like Kyndraus Guy, may still see playing time. But at least in the early part of the season, they'll find it behind players like Seawright.
"The light has gone on for him," Bunting said. "He has a better look in his eye and a smile on his face. It's less drudgery and more fun."
Other veterans making a push for playing time on defense include linebacker Clarence Gaddy, who is challenging freshman Melik Brown at the SAM linebacker slot, junior defensive end Madison Hedgecock, who had a sack in Wednesday night's scrimmage, and senior safety Michael Gilmore.
Carolina's offense was more settled coming into training camp and had less room for position juggling. But entering the final weekend of preseason, junior fullback James Gibson has overtaken sophomore Rikki Cook, senior guard Jupiter Wilson is challenging sophomore Kyle Ralph, and little-known Chris Curry is still earning snaps at wide receiver.
It's receiver where the Heels brought in the most highly-touted youth movement, including Jesse Holley, Mike Mason, and Adarius Bowman. All of those players have been impressive, but there's one element missing from their package: experience. That's an area where Curry has an edge despite spending his first two seasons at safety.
"He has been noticed in our meeting rooms," Bunting said. "He is right there in the mix. There are probably some personnel groups we might get into where he might be a starter."
2003 was supposed to be the beginning of a youth movement for these Tar Heels. Instead, the talent infusion has done something unexpected: it's restored a bit of youthfulness to the graybeards.
Last year's senior class was small, with just 12 members, and many of the seniors who saw the most action were more comfortable in a quiet role. This year's exiting class is more vocal about their desire to play an important role.
"Look at our class," senior safety Dexter Reid said. "We were a part of a 3-8 (during their redshirt season of 1999), a 6-5, an 8-5, and a 3-9. Take out the Peach Bowl year and what has our class done? Nothing. We're not going to go through 3-9 again."
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.
