University of North Carolina Athletics
Wednesday Practice Report
October 25, 2012 | Football
By Megan Walsh, GoHeels.com
Senior defensive tackle Sylvester Williams doesn't want his final season in Chapel Hill to be remembered for last weekend.
After a narrow loss to Duke in the final seconds of last Saturday's game, Williams said this Saturday's rivalry game against NC State is all about redemption.
"I don't want to leave the 2012 legacy with that bad taste in my mouth," Williams said. "Every time people think about the 2012 Tar Heel football team they're always thinking about us losing the bell and us losing to Duke or sending Duke to the bowl game. ... Hopefully we can go out and get going early on to get the win against State."
After losing to the Wolfpack five years in a row, the Tar Heels are looking to make a change this Saturday in Kenan Stadium.
Head coach Larry Fedora said after practice Wednesday that although the in-state matchup does carry some special significance, the team has prepared this week just as they have all year.
"One game doesn't ever make your season, so the way we've practiced and the way we've prepared has been the same," Fedora said. "I'd be cheating all the other games if I said, 'Oh, yeah, we've been holding back and now this week we're really going to prepare hard.' You can't do that. We've prepared like we have for every other game.
"Our guys know the importance of this game."
The Tar Heel defense has spent practice focusing on stopping NC State's running game, while also doing all they can to prepare to halt Wolfpack quarterback Mike Glennon, who Fedora called one of the best in the country.
So far for UNC's preparation, Fedora said the team has been high energy this week and has completed two very good practices. Defensive end Kareem Martin agreed.
"What's understood doesn't have to be said," Martin said. "We all know how big this game is for us to bounce back from the loss Saturday and to beat State. Everybody just has a focus that I don't think we've had all year. I think it's going to carry us for the game."
Martin said he has seen a noticeable increase in intensity leading up to Saturday's game. He has noticed teammates spending more time in the film room and taking a more serious approach to learning their assignments practice.
And that all comes down to UNC fighting for a long-awaited victory against a heated rival.
"With Duke and State, they bring their best game because it's like we're competing for the state," Williams said. "We're so close to each other you can almost walk to each school in a reasonable amount of time. ... We're so close it's like a battle for the state and right now, Carolina, we need to redeem ourselves."
