University of North Carolina Athletics
Tuesday Practice Notes
August 30, 2005 | Football
Aug. 30, 2005
By Adam Lucas
John Bunting wasn't available after Tuesday's practice because he was speaking to the Carolina Fever student group. Without Bunting, we had to turn to the second most quotable member of the coaching staff--Ronnie McGill, who has been adapting to his temporary role as a coach. "They were alright today," `Coach' McGill said. "They had a bad period or two and some people were looking a little sluggish, but we picked it up." Of course, it didn't take long for McGill's positional bias to shine through. "I like to look at the running backs, and I thought Cooter (Arnold) did pretty well today," McGill said. "He had a really good practice today."...McGill's coaching eye isn't fully developed yet, as he disagreed with venerable offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill on one of Arnold's sharp cuts. "Don't dance so much!" Tranquill told Arnold on the practice field. But after practice, McGill could just smile. "Hey, I thought that was a pretty good cut," he said. "It looked good to me."...You can't get Bunting's post-practice thoughts tonight, but if you're anywhere near a radio tomorrow you can hear him on the radio virtually all morning. He'll be on a variety of stations beginning at 6:15 a.m., so tune in early and often. There is one change from the originally announced schedule--Bunting will be live in the Triangle Sports Talk 1090/1490 studio at 9:05 rather than the previously scheduled 10:15...
Although there was no post-practice availability from the head coach he was, of course, on the field for the entire practice session. One new period added to the practice plan for the first time during training camp was "Perfect Plays." That period requires the offense to run eight perfect plays, with everyone picking up the correct blocking assignments and making the right reads. Once that goal is achieved, the defense has to run eight perfect plays. "You're never going to do everything perfect," McGill said. "That's because you never know how people will react during a play. But we want to be perfect enough to go on to the next play."...
Don't look for him on the depth chart, but Connor Barth showed off some skills snapping during a lull in Tuesday's practice...McGill is a big Cooter Arnold fan, but another true freshman has impressed Charlston Gray, the projected starter at left guard. "I have really been impressed with Garrett Reynolds," Gray said. "That dude came in as a monster. I've never seen anybody that big. Before he leaves here he is going to be very good because of the way he goes after it and the way he stays in his playbook."...Wide receiver (and projected holder) Andrew Wasserman was back at practice Monday after spending the weekend just outside of Venice, Italy, where he was attending his sister's wedding...
The quote of the day goes to McGill, of course. "I've really liked watching Cooter and Justin Warren and Nick Starcevic," he said. "Justin has improved a whole lot in my eyes from last year. Hopefully he'll take it onto the field. Cooter and Nick look like they have been here for awhile. Nick is like Madison Hedgecock, he gets kind of crazy once in awhile. We might have to put him on a leash."...We've gotten some requests for photos of the new Kenan Stadium graphics that were mentioned in yesterday's practice notes. Ace photographer Joe Bray will be taking some shots tomorrow night and a gallery of photos will be included in a story Thursday morning on the constant effort to improve the fan experience at Kenan Stadium.
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.
