University of North Carolina Athletics
John Bunting Press Conference Quotes
October 12, 2004 | Football
Oct. 12, 2004
"Obviously we had a problem here that we're addressing very swiftly and very firmly, which is the way we do things. We will get through this. I can tell you this, my players absolutely responded with another great Monday night practice. They bring out the best in me every single Monday night since we've been doing Monday night football. We changed our operation this year, and it's been fun to be out there with those kids and last night was no different.
"As you know, we have a situation here which we are handling ... We do a great deal of education here with our players to make good choices, and I've got over 125 kids doing it almost every day. We've got 130 players in the program, and 125 or so every day doing the right things and I'm really proud of them. We have people here to meet with our players every year during the year - students, the Orange and Chatham County District Attorney, the local office of the DEA, Chapel Hill Police, campus police officers, experts on drug, alcohol and gambling abuse and sexual harassment - speak with these football players. I don't think there is anybody that does more than we can to try to educate these players, our student-athletes, in this football program than what we do here at the University of North Carolina. I'm extremely proud of all the efforts we make, and obviously sometimes it up to the players to listen and learn.
"We are still very excited about the win over NC State and we're really looking forward to going to Utah. It's going to be an exciting trip for all of our players. We're taking probably a couple extra guys that have done terrific jobs for us on the scout teams. We're playing a No. 10 team, a very experienced team. This is a really fine team that we are going out to play. They are very worthy of their ranking and it will be a tremendous challenge for our players."
On Utah QB Alex Smith:
"He's very similar to the quarterback we played on opening day (William and Mary's Lang Campbell). He's got a gun, he can run, he's extremely competitive, appears to be very bright and makes good decisions. ... He's extremely talented and they are utilizing his talent to the fullest."
On Utah's offensive attack:
"You won't see anything like it. I've never seen anything like it. (Defensive coordinators) Marvin (Sanders) and (John) Gutekunst with all their experience have seen the things like this. To me, it goes back to some run-and-shoot principles involved with a triple option. (Utah) involves run-and-shoot principles in terms of the passing game with tremendously executed option principles."
On Larry Edwards:
"I think Larry did a good job of hanging during those tough times, continuing to work hard which is what he said he would do. All of us on the defensive side only wanted to see him try to get back to his form of last year and go beyond. I think Saturday night was an example of where he was last year at times. He certainly played very hard. It tickles me to hear that he was ACC Player of the Week. We're hoping now that he can put another (week) together so that he can become the consistent player that I want him to be, because he has a lot of talent and he is a great kid."
On Madison Hedgecock's role this week:
"I think he's earned the opportunity to play there (at tailback) and get some snaps there. We had a three-back rotation before and each one of those guys contributed. Right now Chad Scott is a little unhealthy so I would envision Madison getting plenty of repetitions this week in practice in preparation for Utah."
On red zone defense:
"I just think the players, in the course of those drives, became more in touch with what was happening at that present time, and played with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and discipline. They came up with plays ... that's a real tribute to those players and the coaches that coach them. Those kids played hard, and that was the difference in the game."
More on Larry Edwards:
"In the big picture of things, to me it's still not just coaching football here. It's seeing people grow. Larry's maturation process is probably what I'm most concerned about, as a person first, and then as a player. As he continues to grow as a person, he's going to continue to grow as a player. To see him meet the challenge of getting back in the starting lineup and then going out and playing like he did is very satisfying as a coach. ... In college ball, whether it be D-III or D-I, it's about winning, but it's about winning off the field with these kids and seeing them succeed."
