University of North Carolina Athletics
John Bunting Quotes on Chase Page's Injury
August 18, 2004 | Football
Aug. 18, 2004
Opening Statement:
We faced our first adversity of training camp season. It's a difficult blow losing Chase Page for the season. He's had a tremendous training camp, the best he's ever played. He was dominating a blocker in a drill, absolutely knocked him back three yards, pulled his hand out, and snapped his pinky. It's a shame. They've already done the surgery. It will be difficult rehabilitation, but he should be fine. Fortunately for him and us he has a fifth year coming because he never red-shirted. There is a silver lining in this whole thing, and I'm sure he will get better because of all this. He was coming into his own and becoming a real big-time player.
On coming together as a team:
Now we have to close ranks, I spoke with the team about that this morning. We've got a fine defensive line coach, one of the very best. We just became a younger team. He was a senior providing a lot of leadership. He'll still be able to provide that leadership from the sideline but there is a difference in being out on the field.
On how to replace Chase Page:
Some things are obvious. He's a senior. I can't make a freshman into a senior. I have a lot of players who have been playing extremely well. They're just going to have to play more. We're going to have to focus on getting certain players to play other positions better. Khalif Mitchell will now move inside. Hilee Taylor who has been playing linebacker exclusively will now have to focus on third down rush. As time wears on we're not going to change much more, we might make another tweak here or there. The most important thing is for the Brian Rackleys, Alden Blizzards and Kyndraus Guys to step up.
