Oct 7, 2005 :
CHAPEL HILL -- It's a different opponent, but the story is the same for the North Carolina football team this week.
The Tar Heels (2-2) head into their second consecutive game looking to atone for a debacle. UNC was successful in round one, rebounding from a 46-16 loss to Utah last season to beat the Utes 31-17 last week.
Saturday, the Tar Heels face Louisville (3-1), which blanked them 34-0 last season at Kenan Stadium. At least UNC's players don't have to manufacture any motivation for the 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
"That was the emotion at the time," senior linebacker Tommy Richardson said of his team's desire to make up for a poor performance. "When you can use it, you can use it. And with 34 to zip, you can use it."
The similarities between Utah and Louisville are numerous. Both teams won at least 11 games last season, both lost their star quarterbacks to the NFL and both had six players selected in the NFL Draft.
But the teams dominated UNC in different ways. Utah racked up 669 yards of total offense, the most in history by a UNC opponent, and the Cardinals held the Tar Heels scoreless. UNC's defense met the challenge against the Utes; now it's the offense's turn.
"It's another game where I wouldn't say revenge is on our minds, but we want to bounce back and make up for the poor performance we had on offense last year and getting shut out," said senior quarterback Matt Baker, who was 4-of-7 for 65 yards and one interception last year against Louisville in relief of Darian Durant. "That's definitely in our minds this week -- to try to bounce back against this team."
Last year's game -- in which the Tar Heels gained just 222 yards and had the ball for just 23 minutes, 30 seconds -- still is a sore subject. UNC had three turnovers and dropped at least three passes, one of which would have been for a touchdown.
"Offensively, your job is to score points," senior guard Kyle Ralph said. "Putting up a zero is pretty much like a failure in the classroom, like getting an F in your school work. Whether the defense is just that much better than you or you just made some bad plays, it makes no difference. There's no reason to not put up points on the board."
McGill will play
He thought he would, and the coaches thought he would. But after practice Thursday, junior tailback Ronnie McGill was sure: He will play against Louisville.
"I had to go through this week before I actually did get cleared," said McGill, who has not played this season because of a torn pectoral muscle he suffered in June. "It's not hurting. I'm good to go in the eyes of the doctor. But I've been ready to go for a couple of weeks."
McGill's big test came Wednesday, when the Tar Heels practiced in full pads. He had no trouble with his left arm or the wrap that will be on that arm to keep him from aggravating his injury.
As Bunting began to answer a question about McGill after practice, McGill walked by him. Bunting joked about playing him in UNC's junior varsity game next week, but his real answer showed how confident he is in McGill's ability to contribute.
"We're going to get him in the game early," Bunting said. "I don't think he'll be in the first series, but I bet he's in on the second series. That will be my plan, depending on how things go."
Injury update
Starting cornerback Jacoby Watkins, who missed much of training camp because of vertigo and left Saturday's game at Utah in the first quarter with similar symptoms, likely will play against Louisville.
"He's practiced all week, and he's practiced very well," Bunting said. "He's gotten more interceptions this week than I've ever seen him. There must be something to that."
Reserve defensive end Melik Brown's status is less certain. Brown left practice Tuesday after a teammate rolled into his ankle during a punt drill.
"We'll wait to see how he is tomorrow," Bunting said. "But I'd say he's questionable at best right now."
CHAPEL HILL -- It's a different opponent, but the story is the same for the North Carolina football team this week.
The Tar Heels (2-2) head into their second consecutive game looking to atone for a debacle. UNC was successful in round one, rebounding from a 46-16 loss to Utah last season to beat the Utes 31-17 last week.
Saturday, the Tar Heels face Louisville (3-1), which blanked them 34-0 last season at Kenan Stadium. At least UNC's players don't have to manufacture any motivation for the 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
"That was the emotion at the time," senior linebacker Tommy Richardson said of his team's desire to make up for a poor performance. "When you can use it, you can use it. And with 34 to zip, you can use it."
The similarities between Utah and Louisville are numerous. Both teams won at least 11 games last season, both lost their star quarterbacks to the NFL and both had six players selected in the NFL Draft.
But the teams dominated UNC in different ways. Utah racked up 669 yards of total offense, the most in history by a UNC opponent, and the Cardinals held the Tar Heels scoreless. UNC's defense met the challenge against the Utes; now it's the offense's turn.
"It's another game where I wouldn't say revenge is on our minds, but we want to bounce back and make up for the poor performance we had on offense last year and getting shut out," said senior quarterback Matt Baker, who was 4-of-7 for 65 yards and one interception last year against Louisville in relief of Darian Durant. "That's definitely in our minds this week -- to try to bounce back against this team."
Last year's game -- in which the Tar Heels gained just 222 yards and had the ball for just 23 minutes, 30 seconds -- still is a sore subject. UNC had three turnovers and dropped at least three passes, one of which would have been for a touchdown.
"Offensively, your job is to score points," senior guard Kyle Ralph said. "Putting up a zero is pretty much like a failure in the classroom, like getting an F in your school work. Whether the defense is just that much better than you or you just made some bad plays, it makes no difference. There's no reason to not put up points on the board."
McGill will play
He thought he would, and the coaches thought he would. But after practice Thursday, junior tailback Ronnie McGill was sure: He will play against Louisville.
"I had to go through this week before I actually did get cleared," said McGill, who has not played this season because of a torn pectoral muscle he suffered in June. "It's not hurting. I'm good to go in the eyes of the doctor. But I've been ready to go for a couple of weeks."
McGill's big test came Wednesday, when the Tar Heels practiced in full pads. He had no trouble with his left arm or the wrap that will be on that arm to keep him from aggravating his injury.
As Bunting began to answer a question about McGill after practice, McGill walked by him. Bunting joked about playing him in UNC's junior varsity game next week, but his real answer showed how confident he is in McGill's ability to contribute.
"We're going to get him in the game early," Bunting said. "I don't think he'll be in the first series, but I bet he's in on the second series. That will be my plan, depending on how things go."
Injury update
Starting cornerback Jacoby Watkins, who missed much of training camp because of vertigo and left Saturday's game at Utah in the first quarter with similar symptoms, likely will play against Louisville.
"He's practiced all week, and he's practiced very well," Bunting said. "He's gotten more interceptions this week than I've ever seen him. There must be something to that."
Reserve defensive end Melik Brown's status is less certain. Brown left practice Tuesday after a teammate rolled into his ankle during a punt drill.
"We'll wait to see how he is tomorrow," Bunting said. "But I'd say he's questionable at best right now."
