Heels aim to take advantage of final opportunity

Posted on by Staff

By Eddy Landreth
Staff Writer

Carolina came within two incomplete passes in the end zone of defeating LSU to start this season, despite missing 13 players who were suspended.
Many of those players eventually returned, while several other key performers either have lost their eligibility permanently or been suspended for the season.

Now the Tar Heels will get another chance to defeat a Southeastern Conference team. UNC (7-4) will play Tennessee (6-6) at 6:30 p.m. (EST) on Dec. 30 in Nashville in the Music City Bowl, what will effectively be a home game for the Volunteers.

“Tennessee is a hot football team,” UNC coach Butch Davis said. “They’ve won their last four football games. They always have great athletes.”

UNC understands the home-field advantage is not necessarily a determining factor. Carolina played West Virginia and Pittsburgh the last two years in a bowl game at the pro stadium in Charlotte, and lost both games. Senior running back Anthony Elzy said that he thinks this team will have a better mindset than it did in those games.

“We were satisfied to get to a bowl because we hadn’t been there in so long,” Elzy said. “This year I think is different.”

UNC could get running back Johnny White back for this one. He broke his collarbone in a thrilling victory against Florida State.

Elzy replaced White and surprised many people by producing similar numbers and giving the same energy-filled effort that White had provided.

“Between Johnny White and Anthony Elzy, those have been two of the most passionate performances by guys that I have been around,” Davis said.

For all the players on this team, this bowl game is particularly special because of the adversity the team faced. Young players who never expected to contribute played. Veterans such as quarterback T.J. Yates and Quinton Coples had to take the level of their performances to new highs for the team to win seven games.

“I’m just happy with the fact that we’re going to [a bowl game], because all odds were against us at the beginning of the season,” said senior cornerback Kendric Burney, who missed part of the year after being suspended. “For this team to step up and do things that nobody thought we would ever do is remarkable.”

Senior safety Deunta Williams also missed some time, but jumped headfirst into the fray when he returned, providing leadership and some big hits. He said he will always remember this team for its resilience.

“It feels great [to get another game],” Williams said. “We’re just blessed with everything that we went through, personally and as a team. It’s a great opportunity for us to go out there and play again.

“I’ve loved everything about this team. So I think that’s the big thing that I’m going to remember about everything.”

Now the Tar Heels just have to take advantage of this final opportunity.

“We are grateful for all our accomplishments this year,” Elzy said. “I think [a lot] of other teams would have crumbled under what we have gone through. It’s been amazing to see how guys have stuck together and fought back throughout this time.”