University of North Carolina Athletics
Bly's Big Five
May 22, 2014 | Football
1. Sept. 21, 1996, vs. Georgia Tech: Bly picked off a career-high three passes in his third game as a Tar Heel, helping Carolina's stingy defense shut out the Yellow Jackets, 16-0. Bly also showed off some shiftiness in the open field, as he returned his first interception 44 yards to the Tech 6-yard line, setting up the Tar Heels' first touchdown. How good were Bly and his defensive teammates? Georgia Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton didn't complete a pass until two minutes remained in the third quarter.
2. Sept. 27, 1997, vs. Virginia: This one was special. You have to remember that the Cavaliers had delivered the most heartbreaking defeat in Tar Heel history the season before, and that Bly, a Virginia native, always drew the most abuse against the Wahoos. So the Kenan Stadium mood was dark when the Cavs sprinted to a 20-3 lead. But Mack Brown's team played with more intensity in the second half, and had already closed to 20-13 by the time Bly picked off an intended wide receiver screen and carried it one-handed into the end zone 17 yards away. The onslaught continued, as Carolina went on to win, 48-20, exorcising some demons from the previous year. Side note: this was also the game when referee Jim Knight collapsed at Kenan Stadium but quick work by game personnel helped save his life.
3. Nov. 15, 1997, at Clemson: Coming off a disappointing defeat in the Judgment Day game against Florida State, Bly and Carolina responded with a 17-10 win at Clemson, the program's first win in Death Valley since 1980. Keep in mind that by this point in his career, most opponents were taking great care to avoid Bly's part of the field. But he still managed to find a way to make big plays; against the Tigers, it came with 1:22 left in the game, when he picked off a potentially game-tying pass in the end zone to seal the win.
4. Jan. 1, 1997, vs. West Virginia:Bly's redshirt freshman season ended with the perfect summary of his first campaign-he intercepted two passes in the Gator Bowl and helped lead Carolina to a 20-13 victory. The bowl win marked his fourth multi-interception game of the season. "We know once again after today why Dre' Bly is the best corner in the country," Mack Brown said after the game.
5. Nov. 27, 1998, vs. NC State. In a game played at Charlotte, Bly and NC State star Torry Holt went head to head for most of the four quarters and overtime. The fact that Holt racked up 180 receiving yards and this game is still on Bly's list shows you just how good Holt was in college, and just how good Bly was for stretches against him, including an interception on a pass meant for Holt. Bly limited Holt to just 18 yards on two catches in the first half and Carolina took a 37-34 win in the extra stanza.
