Abbreviated Training Camp Begins

August 9, 2004 | Football

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Aug. 9, 2004

By Adam Lucas Leave it to Tommy Richardson to cut through most of the usual first day of practice platitudes. After the Tar Heels jogged off the practice field following Monday's first workout, a session that took place in just shorts and helmets due to the NCAA's acclimatization rules, Richardson was asked if anything can really be gleaned from observing a practice under those constraints. "Nah, you can't tell anything," the junior said with his trademark grin. "All you can really see is if when you're running around, you're in the right place and where you're supposed to be. Putting on pads is a whole different thing." The Heels still have one day left in just shorts and helmets. Wednesday and Thursday's practices will be in half pads, and then the five-day acclimatization period concludes over the weekend. Despite Richardson's skepticism, head coach John Bunting says he knows what to look for even when practice observers---and some players---might be lost. "I look for speed, quickness, and hands," Bunting said. "I see how well they can play with their hands. I also like to see if they can stay off the ground. When you're on the ground you can't play football, and we only had a few occasions today where we were on the ground." The early practices are also a time for players making position switches to get adjusted to their new roles. Bunting, who hit upon success with Richardson's swap from safety to linebacker in the spring, hopes to find similar results with Donnell Livingston moving to offensive line and Melik Brown going to defensive end. Freshman Kenny Price is beginning his Carolina career on defense, and fellow rookie Kentwan Balmer played at defensive tackle in his first practice. In truth, the opening days of training camp are as much about building a team as they are about on-field production. Bunting presided over the first team meeting of the night last season and included some clips from the movie "Miracle" in his speech, although he was quick to note that he did not intend for the 2004 Heels to need any miracles to earn victories. The choice of films made at least one player a little nervous. "I thought he was going to attack us," Richardson said. "That movie was about old-time coaches and going all into the night doing conditioning. I thought he was going to come at us with that kind of attitude, so I was a little scared." The NCAA needn't worry, however, because the coaching staff doesn't have time to implement any all-night conditioning sessions. This is the shortest training camp of Bunting's Carolina career, a factor caused by the early start to classes at Carolina. The squad checked into Carmichael dorm on Sunday and has to check out by Sunday, August 15th. The shorter timeframe is good news for the players, who once again had their car keys locked up by Bunting upon their check-in yesterday at the dorm. The keys will be returned upon the conclusion of camp. "The keys are gone, the cars are parked," Bunting said. "By now, they know it's automatic. They just come in and hand them over." Notes: Sometimes the biggest news of camp isn't what's there, but what isn't there. Senior defensive tackle Jonas Seawright checked in at 307 pounds and drew raves for his improved conditioning...Lose one baseball player, gain another. The number 18 jersey that was designated for Michael Rozier has been given to walk-on Matt Brown, a defensive back from Randleman who formerly played minor league baseball. Rozier is negotiating with the Boston Red Sox and is not in camp. Brown is the second former minor leaguer to play for the Heels, joining linebacker Tyson Graham...Bunting was careful with his praise for his freshman class. "They're all lost right now," he said. "But they all displayed talent. Del Roberts is a thicker Jarwarski Pollock. Stephen Green and Trimane Goddard impressed me with their speed and change of direction. 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.