University of North Carolina Athletics
Droschak: Baker Turning Doubters into Believers
October 4, 2005 | Football
Oct. 4, 2005
by David Droschak, TarHeelBlue.com
CHAPEL HILL -
The North Carolina players who have been around Matt Baker for three years knew he was a leader. They thought enough of the senior quarterback to vote him a team captain despite limited playing time. But just how would that leadership translate into production on the field as the No. 1 quarterback?Talking about it and doing it are two different things.
Some fans and media across the ACC snickered when UNC coach John Bunting said Baker could be every bit as good as Darian Durant if given the opportunity.
Bunting couldn't have been serious, could he, comparing Baker to arguably the best quarterback in school history?
Well, one month into the season, Baker has proven to be everything Bunting said he would be, and maybe more. The senior has shown remarkable toughness and an uncanny ability to rebound from two poor first halves to lead the Tar Heels to two wins in a row.
The jury is no longer out on Baker, who is on pace to throw for 3,000 yards. That's something Durant never accomplished in four seasons.
"It's not even a question now," linebacker Tommy Richardson said when asked about the team believing in Baker's ability to produce. "The toughness he has shown throughout these first four weeks has even the offensive linemen in awe of him."
Baker withstood a brutal beating in a close loss to Wisconsin to earn additional respect from his teammates. He then rebounded from a 1-for-9 passing first half to rally the Tar Heels to a win over arch-rival NC State.
He wasn't sharp again in the first half against Utah last Saturday and threw a pair of second-quarter interceptions. But Baker refused to give in and threw two second-half scoring passes to lead the Tar Heels to a 31-17 victory.
"He's growing with the offense every week," said Richardson, who is also one of the team's captains and a close friend of Baker. "They are getting better in the red zone. We're going to continue to get them the ball so we can keep seeing them. I'm a fan."
Offensive lineman Kyle Ralph said Baker has been the same in the huddle from day one, as if he's been a four-year starter.
"He has always been a pretty confident guy," Ralph said. "He always takes the leadership role in the huddle. He understands he has to do that. He's very consistent in the way he manages things."
While his teammates have been impressed with his demeanor on the field, Bunting has been blown away by Baker's ability to manage the game from week-to-week despite a lack of previous playing time.
"By the season's end he may be the best quarterback in the ACC," Bunting said with out hesitation Tuesday.
Baker will be under the gun again this weekend at Louisville, a team that has sacked the quarterback a whopping 19 times in four games. However, one of Baker's strong suits so far has been his ability to escape the rush, and in some instances, run for key first downs.
"What has surprised me is his running ability," Richardson said. "He's elusive. He reminds me of John Elway in the Super Bowl, getting bounced around and still getting first downs. But he's got to learn how to slide better."
One thing that can be overlooked in Baker's fine September start is the loss of star running back Ronnie McGill to a torn muscle. At times, the UNC running game has been weak at best, meaning teams know that Baker has to sling it. Still, he's averaging 251 yards a game with six touchdowns. Baker has also spread the ball around, as six different receivers have caught at least six balls.
"The first guy I saw after I heard Ronnie got hurt was Matt Baker and his bottom lip was on the ground back in the summer," Bunting said. "He was just so upset for Ronnie because he got injured. That's just the way Matt Baker is.
"These guys rally around Matt Baker, but Matt Baker gives it back. It's a real good situation. I really believed it would happen and it happened. The guys who have been in battle with Matt know we always have a chance to win, just like last year with Darian. That's what is very similar about those two players. I know for a fact that these guys believe in Matt."
With McGill slated to return to limited action this weekend at Louisville, there's no telling where Baker can take the Tar Heels in October and November.
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.
