University of North Carolina Athletics
Bunting Doesn't Want Young Tar Heels to Panic
September 16, 2003 | Football
Sept. 16, 2003
by David Droschak, Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --For the third time in as many seasons, North Carolina is off to a rough September under coach John Bunting.
Two seasons ago, the Tar Heels rebounded from a 0-3 start behind a defense that included Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims to win the Peach Bowl. Last year, a young team never did turn things around and finished 3-9.
An 0-2 start this time has many fans wondering which way North Carolina is headed in 2003.
"What I don't want our players to do is get caught up thinking ahead too much," Bunting said Tuesday. "That's sometimes what you do, particularly when you press, particularly when you're starving for a win. That becomes your focus and you forget what's important, which is now, which is today's practice.
"If a play starts to go haywire you can't get stressed out as a staff or as a player. Hey, I love to win, but I'm not going to allow the focus to be totally on that. The No. 1 focus is to get better and execute better each play and we'll do it together."
The Tar Heels head to Wisconsin this weekend with the nation's worst defense, allowing an average of 536 yards and 43 points a game.
Bunting scoffed when told of his team's defensive ranking, saying an off week of fundamental work will prove valuable to his young defense Saturday.
"Lies, damn lies and statistics," the coach said. "I am not going to hang my hat on statistics, that's for other people to do.
"Some people might try to tear us apart a little bit, try to critique us a little bit, but we're going to hang together."
Bunting has been around football long enough to know his team is fragile and can start to lose confidence if it just looks at the scoreboard. He said he even saw tons of improvement from his team in the season-opening 37-0 loss to No. 10 Florida State.
"I have to continually remind them that we're a work-in-progress, don't panic, keep grinding way, stay together and don't let what other people say in the public affect you whatsoever," Bunting said. "I try to settle them down and refocus them on what's important.
"I don't panic. I don't get that upset. I am not going to tear their brains out or our brains out. We're trying to get better and we're staying focused and positive on the good things that we're doing."
The team's best asset is quarterback Darian Durant, who is on his way to an all-ACC type of season.
Losing has not set well so far with the junior QB.
"Yeah, it's hard on him, it's hard on a number of guys, particularly the seniors," Bunting said. "They want to win. They would have loved to have two wins. Darian is one of the positive forces on our football team. He wants to do more. He probably would go out there and play linebacker if he could, but I think I better keep him at quarterback."
Center Jason Brown said talk on campus hasn't turned to basketball just yet.
"The fans and the students are still on our side," Brown said. "They have faith that we can still have a winning season.
"One thing coach Bunting has told us is to play together as a team and play for one another," Brown said. "But we're definitely hungry right now, almost to the point of starving. The intensity level is high and we know we've got to pull this one out. "
NOTES:@ All three of North Carolina's wins last year were on the road. ... Jawarski Pollock leads the ACC with nine catches a game. That mark is good for fourth-best in the nation. ... Starting TE Bobby Blizzard is still recovering from a viral illness and is doubtful for this weekend's game.
