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 By Carrie Chin/ STUDENT PUBLICATIONS |
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| Now comfortable with his new receivers, Joe Hamilton hopes to attack Carolina's talented secondary which features all-American Dre Bly. | |
The loss wasn't the only bad news for Carolina. Three minutes into the game, on their first offensive series, the Tar Heels lost starting quarterback Oscar Davenport. Davenport, a senior, twisted his left knee and underwent arthroscopic surgery the next day. He will be out four to five weeks, which adds on to Carolina's woes. Also injured in the game were senior defensive tackle Russell Davis, one of the four returning starters from 1997, and his backup, Sherrod Peace.
Carolina's losses may be Tech's gains, as the Jackets will be facing a diminished version of a program that has dominated them for the past two years. Last season, Carolina went 11-1, routed Virginia Tech 42-3 in the Gator Bowl, and was ranked sixth in the final national rankings. The Tar Heels' 7-1 conference record was second to Florida State in the ACC, and it included a 16-13 win over Tech in Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Carolina began the year almost a completely different team from last season. Only ten starters returned from 1997, the fewest of any ACC school. Six returned on the offense, including the now fallen Davenport, and four came back for the defense. The Tar Heels are even working with a new head coach, Carl Torbush. He moved over from the defensive coordinator position when Mack Brown left before last year's Gator Bowl to head up the Texas Longhorns' program.
Looking at the offense, Carolina boasts a great core of receivers, but now they don't have an experienced passer to throw them the ball. Freshman Ronald Curry completed 11 of 22 passes against Miami for a total of 115 yards. Curry showed some poise by throwing a four-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Allen Mogridge.
Seniors L.C. Stevens and Na Brown are North Carolina's two wideouts. They were Carolinas' leading receivers in 1997. A third wide receiver who has worked his way to the top of the depth chart is junior Jason Peace. He caught four passes for 37 yards in the first game.
Junior Mike Gimbol was the only returning starter from last year on the offensive line, but he lost his job at left guard to sophomore James Wagstaff. The rest of the line all started for the first time against Miami. The five men on the line, including Wagstaff, add up to a combined weight of 1,535 lbs. for an average of 307 lbs. per player. The Tech defense will have a lot to push around in Chapel Hill.
Besides the quarterback troubles, Carolina has another weak spot in tailback. Returning fullback junior Deon Dyer is a solid blocker and ball carrier, but behind him is inexperience. The Tar Heels were already left with a huge void when TB Jonathan Linton, a 1,000 yard rusher, graduated. Sophomore Domonique Williams was the leading returning TB with 50 yards on 15 carries in 1997, but Carolina suffered another hit when Williams was declared academically ineligible for the entire 1998 season. In his place in the number one spot is sophomore Ronnie Robinson. Freshman Rufus Brown also might get a few handoffs.
The prime-time player on the Tar Heel defensive squad is consensus all-American junior cornerback Dre' Bly. Bly is dangerous; he swiped his 17 th career interception against Miami, a school record. Bly also shares kickoff return duties with sophomore safety Antwon Black. Tech offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen and junior QB Joe Hamilton will have their hands full trying to deal with Bly, and they may not find any relief throwing away from him. North Carolina's senior safety Jomo Legins also picked off a Miami pass, so the Tar Heels' other defensive backs may prove to be just as dangerous as Bly.
Senior defensive end Mike Pringley joins Davis as the only returning starters on the line. Davis, however, is questionable with a sprained ankle following the Miami game. Returning senior outside linebacker Keith Newman adds stability to the defense.
Though he did not start in 1997, junior LB Brandon Spoon got in on 65 tackles, and his experience is a plus for Carolina. His backup, sophomore Merceda Perry, saw some action in the first game, and he deflected a key pass that Legins snagged for the interception. Except for sophomore LB Sedrick Hodge, all of the other starters on the Tar Heel defense are seniors. This may prove to be a key factor in the Carolina defense this season. While they looked unimpressive against a team that they were supposed to beat, Torbush may have the kinks worked out in time for the Yellow Jackets' visit.
This contest presents a great opportunity for Tech. The Jackets can pick up an important ACC victory that has eluded them for the past two years. Carolina was a top five team last year, and they may still turn out to be so, but this season, injuries have depleted the Tar Heels' power. Carolina may not be able to put up the high scores and numbers that it did last year. Tech could earn a good win that would go a long way towards a higher conference finish.
Tech has the edge on offense with Hamilton at QB and jack-of-all-trades senior TB Charlie Rogers, and the Jackets' defense should have an easier time trying to contain UNC's Robinson than Boston College's Mike Cloud and New Mexico State's Denvis Manns.
Head coach George O'Leary and the Yellow Jackets will try to avenge last year's loss tomorrow night at 7:30 in Kenan Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN. Hopefully, Tech will take advantage of the situation.