University of North Carolina Athletics
Droschak: Humble McGill Aiming for 1,000 Yards
August 10, 2004 | Football
Aug. 10, 2004
by DAVID DROSCHAK, TarHeelBlue.com CHAPEL HILL -- One of the bigger success stories coming out of the second half of the 2003 Atlantic Coast Conference football season was the emergence of North Carolina running back Ronnie McGill. The 215-pound McGill was powerful enough to pancake defenders, yet possessed enough speed to break the big one. He gained 244 yards against Wake Forest to open a lot of eyes and averaged 5.1 yards a carry in a banner freshman season -- numbers that had star written all over them. However, you won't hear McGill boasting about how he has the potential to be next in a long line of 1,000-yard backs at UNC or how he'll be battling the likes of N.C. State's T.A. McLendon or Wake Forest's Chris Barclay for All-ACC honors in '04. One day after the opening of fall camp, McGill was soft-spoken, humble and talking more about the team than his chance to be the program's next star. "I pride myself in being humble, but Ronnie McGill is the most humble man you could ever, ever meet," senior center Jason Brown said Tuesday. "He's so shy and so bashful off the football field, he's all smiles. I love seeing his bright white teeth. You don't even know he's around because he's so quiet. "But when he gets out there on the football field he talks through his pads, he talks through his body," Brown added. "I like a little bit less talking and a lot more walking, if you know what I mean. Don't tell me what you're going to do. I want to see you have a great game. That's what Ronnie McGill is all about." rown says he's never once heard McGill talk about his potential star power. "There is a lot of self promotion in the game of football these days and playing for the name on the back of the jersey instead of on the front. Well, that's not Ronnie McGill. We're trying to get back to being humble football players like him and just trying to get the job done." Once known as the school of 1,000-yard backs, UNC hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Jon Linton did it in 1997. McGill had 654 yards last season on just 128 carries for the most since Linton ran for 1,004 seven seasons ago. McGill is hoping to get the ball 20 to 25 times a game, and wants to prove to coach John Bunting he's durable enough to depend on on a regular basis as he battles seniors Jacque Lewis and Chad Scott for playing time. "I think I've shown the coaches I can take the beating, it's just having the stamina to be able to take all the snaps over and over and over," McGill said. "The only way I can show them that is to go out in practice and take as many reps as possible without having any problems." Last season, McGill was placed low on the depth chart in fall camp because of repeated episodes of leg cramping. "I would love to say we'll give him the ball 20 or 25 times, but it remains to be seen," said Bunting. "The (cramping) is the one thing we can't control." McGill has talked with the trainers about his cramping problems and has switched diets, eating fewer meats and no french fries and adding more breads and fruits. "It's not a factor any more," McGill said of the cramping. "I have salads, but I wish there was a piece of steak in there or something. It's tough and I don't like it, but as long as it keeps me from cramping I have to stick with it." McGill said he would give up his starting spot to Lewis or Scott if it meant winning more games. He also plans to rely on his two teammates for support. "I know everybody is counting on me to be The Guy besides Darian Durant, but I don't really feel any pressure. We have three great backs." True, but McGill may be the most fun to watch this season as he barrels over defenders his way toward 1,000 yards. "I'm a power back that likes to hit people," McGill said. "But I can also get around the corner. When I run somebody over I don't even pay attention to it until we watch the film. But the offensive linemen always say something to me. They always say, `Wow' when they watch the film. It's fun to see their reaction." "I am truly confident he can be our 1,000-yard back," said Brown, who called McGill fearless. "You know, just like the old Carolina. "That's one of my goals for the offensive line, to see Ronnie get to 1,000." David Droschak is the former sports editor for the North Carolina bureaus of the Associated Press, the largest news-gathering organization in the world. In 2003, Droschak was named the North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year. He currently works in public relations at Robbins & Associates International, based in Cary.
