University of North Carolina Athletics
Sunday Practice Notes
August 21, 2005 | Football
Aug. 21, 2005
By Adam Lucas
Tar Heel football players moved out of their training camp dorm rooms in Teague Dorm on Sunday, opening rooms for the rest of the student body that will begin moving in this week.
The move means that for the first time, players won't awaken to the familiar sound of the ear-splitting wakeup horn, so some of the personal responsibility for being in the right place at the right time shifts to the players rather than the coaching staff.
"Our team knows they have to do things right," John Bunting said after Sunday's practice. "Our seniors have a good grip on it. I will meet tonight with the seniors and talk about it. The `senior police' will be around."...
After watching film of Saturday's scrimmage, Bunting was pleased with his defense. "I saw a defense that really ran to the ball," he said. "I saw defensive linemen, for the first time since 2001, really get after the offensive line. They're more experienced and stronger and faster. Khalif Mitchell played his best football yesterday, and that's really pleasing to see."...
From the Did You Know department: Bob Lombardi served as Joey Bozich's quarterback coach at Hinsdale Central High. Lombardi is also Jason Stanicek's uncle and served as Stanicek's quarterback coach in high school...Bozich continues to battle for the backup quarterback job. Bunting said Sunday that he hasn't ruled out having a true freshman serve as the backup and Cameron Sexton continues to make progress. "(Having a true freshman as the backup) happens every place in the country," Bunting said. "It may happen here, we don't know yet. Cameron is making progress and it's a day to day thing with him."...Speaking of day to day things, Bunting said Jacoby Watkins returned to practice on a limited basis Sunday, going through most periods except for the team period. "I think we're turning the corner with the virus he has," Bunting said...
Warren Green is doing Carolina's long snapping, a position taken for granted for several years under the capable hands of Greg Warren. Michael Murphy is handling the snaps on field goals...24 hours later, Bunting was still beaming about the accelerated progress of his offensive linemen. "Seeing Calvin Darity go through the scrimmage the whole time without coming out was great," he said. "We didn't even expect him to be practicing right now." The Tar Heels' offensive line depth is much improved over the patchwork group they had to put together in the spring...
Matt Baker threw his first two completions to Mike Mason yesterday and seems to be trying to establish a good rapport with one of Carolina's best deep threats. With Baker possessing a stronger arm than Darian Durant, stretching the field more often could be a viable option for the Tar Heels. "Mike is playing a lot better than he has in the past," Baker said. "Last season he came back from that jaw fracture and was a little bit hesitant. He didn't make all the plays he did as a true freshman. This season he's stepped up and realized he's got do be a big-time threat for us."...Baker's arm strength has been much talked about, but he said there's no competition for the best arm in training camp. "Bobby Rome has a big-time arm," Baker said. "I'd definitely say he's got the biggest arm of any of our quarterbacks. He just has to know how to control it and when to let up on it and when to let it loose."...Chase Rice, who was the very first player to officially sign with the Tar Heels on Feb. 4, 2004, continues to get work as the first-team nickel linebacker, and his intensity has won over John Bunting. "I have to keep pinching myself," Bunting said. "I have to remember that guy is just a redshirt freshman. He is playing really well."
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.
