University of North Carolina Athletics
Bunting Press Conference Quotes
August 29, 2006 | Football
Aug. 29, 2006
Opening Statement:
Opening Day - it's always a fun time, an exciting time for any program. This team we're playing has got some similarity to our team. Going into its sixth year, they went to a bowl game last year. We didn't. They played at Arizona State in a high scoring game, lost a close one. They had over 500 yards of total offense. They have great skill. They have a big offensive line returning. They lost a couple guys, but they got big guys to come in. They are athletic. Their skill guys are fast. You've got a fullback [Brian Leonard] who has done a great job catching the ball, running with the football - he's very athletic. You've got a couple of other guys who can run the football, including from what I hear, a freshman who can really, really make some big plays for them. At quarterback, they've got a guy similar to ours. He hasn't played a lot, but he's been successful. Watching them on tape, they also have the option of playing a couple of other players; one of them is a redshirt freshman and very good. They also have a guy who can go in there and make a lot of plays running the football, a former wide receiver who can play quarterback for them. They are a great mix - a great mix - of experienced players on both sides of the ball, seniors and juniors and a couple of sophomores. They also have a very, very fine kicker. I know he missed a couple for them in the opening game and then went on to have a great season for them.... They have a senior punter, so their kicking game looks like it's in good shape.
Once again, this is a program that's got some similarities [to North Carolina's], except for the fact that they went to a bowl last year and we didn't. I know they're anticipating coming down here to open their season and to have a great year for themselves. We, on the other hand, we've had a great training camp. We've had some success last year against some ranked opponents. We played very well at times. This year we're hoping that we can get over that hump. A lot hinges on these first three games. We know that. As we go forward, we want to continue the momentum of this program, the growth and the momentum. We all know we've done a great job recruiting the past few years, and we're on to a great recruiting class now. We just want to keep the momentum going, so it's important to get off to a good start for us.
On the transition to the new system installed by Coach Cignetti:
He has a terrific job, along with the staff, implementing the new system, and basically, it was a lot of terminology changes - from the way that we called personnel to the way that we called plays. I think that our offense - and I've been around this before - sometimes it's exciting to get into something new. There was some general, overall excitement about the "new system." It certainly forces you to be very alert. All through the spring and all through the summer - prior to camp - our players worked at it. They did it on their own. The leadership has been there. Into training camp now, they did a terrific job simulating all that information. Now, we've got our first game coming up. It's the opening of a Broadway play. We'll see how it goes. We've had a bunch of dress rehearsals.
On the state of the defense:
Do we need to stay healthy? Yeah. We've already started off with an injury to Trimane Goddard, and Durrell Mapp, who was our projected starter at Will linebacker, has hardly practiced the entire camp. We're not starting off the way I wanted to be personnel-wise. We were No. 1 in the ACC [in 2001] because we had great personnel. We had the best personnel in the ACC. We're getting better. Are we in the top-half of the ACC in personnel right now? That remains to be seen, but I think we're getting close. And that needs to happen. And that's recruiting.
On Larry Edwards' potential:
Pretty doggone good. And I think his production will reflect his effort. And he will give effort on every play. He's a veteran player now.
On the quarterback situation:
I'm surprised nobody's asked that question. Joe Dailey will start. He's earned that. Cameron Sexton will play. He's earned that.... Right now, it's not like it was in '01, where we had a two-series rotation. We're not there. We aren't at that point. Where it might be? - I admired what Louisville did with their two quarterbacks when they came over to face us. Would that be something I'd like to fashion? More along the lines of that.
On what was responsible for bringing Jesse Holley to North Carolina:
Probably Dean Smith. We did a great job recruiting him up there anyway. I can remember being up there sitting at the kitchen table eating pasta with his grandmother.... Jesse's special - all of us that have been around him know that - it was great of Coach Smith to come over to our offices and sit with Jesse in my office and help us. I promised Jesse a chance to play basketball, and I'm a man of my word. And he did that. He's got a National Championship ring to prove it. But Jesse had a great time down here on his visit. He's eaten up football with us in training camp. And I think he'd tell you he wouldn't trade it for anything - the experience he's had at North Carolina.
