University of North Carolina Athletics
Nicks Breaks Record In Style
November 8, 2008 | Football
Nov. 8, 2008
By Lauren Brownlow
Earlier this season, Hakeem Nicks hauled in a ridiculous catch in practice on what Cameron Sexton said was a poor throw by him. He flagged down his star wide out and said, "Man, you saved me right there. I appreciate it."
Nicks looked at him, completely serious, and said, "Cam, I'm here to bring you back to life."
He has done that, and he has helped bring this Carolina offense - and entire program - back to life. He has caught passes when defenses knew he was the main target. He has caught passes thrown too high, too low, too short or too long. He has made catches while wide open, in between defenders and even dragging defenders with him into the end zone. He will not be denied, and today was no different.
That's why even though Carolina has had quite a few talented wide receivers, Hakeem Nicks now sits atop the list in total yards with 2,472.
But just as the game seemed in doubt in the second half with Carolina holding a slim 7-0 lead, it also seemed like Nicks might not break a record that seemed within reach before kickoff. Going into the game, he needed 48 yards. After the second half, he did not have a catch. His first came in the third quarter and it was a 13-yarder for a first down.
Nicks desperately wanted to break the record at home. Two Ryan Houston touchdowns later, Carolina was up 21-0 with 10:49 to go. Jonathan Dwyer was able to bust an 85-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 21-7 with 6 minutes to go. On the ensuing onsides kick, Nicks made perhaps his most important catch of the day (even though it didn't count towards the record). Carolina had gained eight yards in three plays and faced fourth-and-two at the Georgia Tech 31-yard line.
At first, everyone assumed Carolina would take the field goal. Then Carolina came out in its Rhino formation with Bobby Rome and Houston in the backfield. The entire Georgia Tech defense bit and Nicks sprinted wide open into the end zone to catch a 31-yard touchdown pass from Sexton.
Despite that, he still had two catches for 44 yards. He needed just four more, but Carolina was up 28-7 with 1:49 to go. T.J. Yates got his first game action since September 20th and was just supposed to throw Nicks a hitch to pick up the necessary yardage. In typical Nicks fashion, he took it up the sideline for 28 yards to set the record.
He didn't even realize it was Yates that threw him the pass until Yates found him on the sideline and told him. They exchanged a special handshake, and then Nicks hugged him and thanked him. But there was one more person he had to talk to - Corey Holliday.
Holliday had been atop the list with 2,447 yards in four seasons at Carolina. It has taken Nicks less than three full seasons to break that mark, but Holliday didn't mind. "When I broke the record he came up to me and he said he'd rather it be me than anybody else," Nicks said.
But this was a team win, and Nicks knew he would have to wait his turn. Shaun Draughn and Ryan Houston combined to grind out 164 yards on 30 carries. Draughn had 28 yards on four carries on Carolina's second touchdown drive of the game. Houston had 32 yards on five carries on the next touchdown drive to put Carolina up 21-7.
It was the Carolina defense that put Carolina in that position. ESPN's Lou Holtz pointed out during the game highlights: "They didn't defend the wishbone. They attacked the wishbone and tore it in two." That sounds odd to say when Carolina allowed 326 yards on 54 rushing attempts (6.0 yards per carry), but it was first a fumble recovered on special teams, then a fumble forced and recovered at the 32-yard line to put Carolina in position for two of its three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Who would think that a Georgia Tech team would need to pass it 23 times? But it did, and Trimane Goddard got Carolina's only interception and returned it to the Carolina 49.
This was an offense that Carolina's defense might not have been able to stop in the past. It's portrayed as a dynamic offense but as defensive end E.J. Wilson pointed out, it's one that is less dynamic than it is frustrating.
"The most frustrating is probably seeing the same thing over and over again but you can't let that lull you to sleep," Wilson said. "Sometimes, you tackle the running back and he doesn't have the ball. But if we didn't do that then they're going to give the ball to the running back. The one time we don't think to hit a running back, that's when they take off. It's a very monotonous offense. It makes you monotonous on defense. You're doing the same thing every play. But you can't let up and you can't let your mind wander because once you let your mind wander, they're going to gash you for a 20-yard run."
The defense has had better games. The Carolina offense has had much better games. Hakeem Nicks has certainly had better games. But it's fitting that the Tar Heels won this game as a team and every phase of the team - offense, defense and special teams - thoroughly outplayed their Yellow Jacket counterparts.
Lauren Brownlow is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly.
Players Mentioned
