University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heel Football Notebook
October 26, 2005 | Football
Oct. 26, 2005
By Adam Lucas
Brian Chacos won ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Virginia, but another Tar Heel lineman actually graded out higher when Hal Hunter reviewed the game tape. Chacos graded out at 86 percent against the Cavaliers; Steven Bell achieved a grade of 87 percent, which ties for his season high.
"Steven had the best game he's ever played against Virginia," offensive line coach Hal Hunter said. "He's coming into his own now and he's starting to play better."
"I've been watching more tape," the versatile senior says. "I'm learning tendencies of the guys I'm matching up against and I'm also trying to be more physical."
Ironically, his previous grade of 87 percent came the same week that he was named co-offensive player of the week for the Tar Heels--the same week Barrington Edwards won ACC Back of the Week honors.
"No respect for the center," Bell says laughingly...
Carolina has practiced in chilly weather the last two days, especially once the sun goes behind the trees in mid-practice. The conditions Saturday will be very different, as highs in Miami are expected to be in the low 80s...
The game will still be played at the Orange Bowl on Saturday, but Carolina's travel situation has already been impacted. The number of rooms allocated to the Tar Heels at the team hotel has been cut almost in half. The hotel did not sustain significant damage, but because it made it through this week's hurricane relatively unscathed, it's being used as a shelter area for emergency personnel and other relief staff. In light of the room decrease, the Carolina traveling party has been cut to only essential personnel...University of Miami classes are cancelled through Monday, but the Hurricane football team has still been able to practice...According to a report given to a UNC football operations staffer Wednesday morning, the city of Miami has 2,400 stop lights. 18 were working on Wednesday...
The Tar Heels played just six offensive linemen against Virginia, an abnormality for Hunter, who usually likes to rotate at least eight players on the line. "I'd like to rotate more," John Bunting says. "We have to make a conscious decision to do that. Last week was a unique game because we were playing against a 3-4 defense. That's a little unusual...Arthur Smith needs to get in there. Garrett Reynolds needs to get in there."...
The season-ending injury to cornerback Jacoby Watkins means a secondary shuffle is in order. Quinton Person--who had 10 tackles against Utah and also earned the squad's special teams player of the game honor in that contest--is likely to move into the starting corner role, with Trimane Goddard seeing significant action as a nickel back and Mahlon Carey entering at safety in that situation. Goddard will be back at first team strong safety in the base package for the second straight week after a strong performance against Virginia. His play against the Cavaliers was impressive, but he earned his way onto the field partly by virtue of the way he handled losing the battle with Carey during training camp. "He and Mahlon had a tremendous battle starting in the spring and going into summer camp," Bunting says. "Rightfully so, Mahlon won the job. It was significant that Trimane didn't go into the tank. He didn't whine. He didn't pout."
Adam Lucas is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly and can be reached at alucas@tarheelmonthly.com. He is the coauthor of the official book of the 2005 championship season, Led By Their Dreams, and his book on Roy Williams's first season at Carolina, Going Home Again, is now available in bookstores. To subscribe to Tar Heel Monthly or learn more about Going Home Again, click here.
