Extra Points Founded and Published from 1990-93 by the General Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina
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EXTRA POINTS FOUNDED AND PUBLISHED FROM 1990-93 BY THE GENERAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA. Vol. XII, No. 15, Feb. 8, 2002, Chapel Hill, NC Tar Heels Catch 22: ‘You Get What You Need.’ CHAPEL HILL evaluate talent. I trust his ability to relate to kids and their parents. I think his love for am a thankful man today, grateful that Carolina and for the game of football will at some point in the late 1990s I lost my come through and work to his advantage.” Iaddiction/obsession for college football With those components at work, I think the recruiting. It’s allowed sleep to come easily Tar Heels will get their fair share of good the last 10 days. I take pride in fielding the players. question, “How’s Carolina’s recruiting Which is why, despite the last-minute going,” and responding with a glazed look rejections of several prime targets on and the response, “Beats me.” I answered Carolina’s recruiting board this week, I my phone Wednesday and talked to a man believe Bunting when he says the following: who said he’d heard A.J. Davis, the highly “These are good, good football players, regarded cornerback at Northern Durham many of whom will become great players High, had reneged on his verbal commit- here at the University of North Carolina …. ment to Carolina and instead had signed “They will sell-out for this University with N.C. State. As we talked, I logged onto and this program. They will make strong the Internet, confirmed that Davis had contributions for many, many winning indeed become a Wolfpacker. My pulse seasons to come …. remained constant. Only one meager swear “I think the Rolling Stones had the word passed my lips. So we lost a good expression, ‘You can’t always get what you player. It’s not the first. It won’t be the last. want. But you get what you need.’ I think It wasn’t always this way. Back before we did that. Nobody can have the perfect the Internet—during the late-1980s and class. But we have a strong, strong class. early 1990s, when Mack Brown was getting We’ve added a lot of speed, a lot of his program on solid recruiting ground— athleticism. The defensive linemen and the my main source for recruiting news was John Bunting on his signing class: “I offensive linemen we’ve signed are very Jeff’s Campus Confectionery. Most days wanted to look them in the eye, to tell physical, which we were looking for.” during the height of the recruiting cam- they loved the game of football.” Bunting announced a class on Wednes- paign in January and early February, I’d day that included 22 players. There are drop by Jeff’s, where for four hours a day assistant coach and get the skinny. Often I’d three offensive linemen, one or more of you could find Bob Osterneck, the Tar Heel run into Brown and his boss, John Swofford, whom Bunting expects to challenge for fan well known for his money and his having lunch at Ham’s on West Franklin playing time as freshmen. There are 11 girth—both considerable indeed—sitting on Street and catch a good recruiting buzz. players projected on defense, any of whom a bench in the back of the shop with the I soured on the whole deal years later could seize opportunities to play immedi- latest morsels from the football office. when a procession of highly ranked, highly ately given the loss of nine starters from “Jordy, you should see this tailback we touted players came to Chapel Hill with 2001. There is also a kicker with a strong leg had in last weekend!” Osterneck would wheelbarrows full of press clippings and and a terrific window given the departure of chirp to the proprietor, Jordy Mousmoules. supposedly with rejected grant offers from Jeff Reed. “This town’s gonna be rockin’ next fall if we places like Notre Dame and Penn State, There are four wide receivers who could get this kid!” from Georgia and Miami and Texas A&M. play early but will work toward forming a Not only did I need staples like oxygen, Turns out, they couldn’t play their way out foundation at that position when Sam bread and water at the time, but I also of a wet paper bag. If highly skilled, paid Aiken, Bosley Allen and Chesley Borders needed to know what Mike Thomas and professionals on the staff of the Tar Heels are gone in 2003. Bunting and receivers Oscar Sturgis had eaten for breakfast back could make such mistakes, why waste coach Gunter Brewer were working toward during the celebrated recruiting wars in energy now worrying about it when you a deeper haul at receiver, but in the last Rockingham in 1989. I had contacts in won’t know for probably two years whether week three high-percentage scores went Gastonia to tell me about Greg Black and they’re any good anyway? Can they run as astray—one junior-college player failed to Sean Boyd, in Clinton to talk about Fuzzy fast as the tout sheets proclaimed? Will they clear admissions, a New Jersey prospect Lee. I knew a woman in Southern Pines go to class and do their homework? Are opted at the last minute for Purdue, and the who was a friend of a cousin or something they tough enough? Are they good kids football staff lost David Noel of Southern of a kid in Alabama, one Michael Clemmer, once they leave the cocoon of their family? Durham to the lure of playing basketball for who the Tar Heels once invited to town on So today when I get those questions the Tar Heels (and to do so without a scholarship. Halftime at the Dean Dome about the Tar Heels’ recruiting, I usually scholarship). was always a good time to button-hole an answer: “I respect John Bunting’s ability to What this class does not include, PAGE ONE EXTRA POINTS 2002 TAR HEEL SIGNEES Name, Position, High School, Town, Ht-Wt., 40-yard dash time; other schools considered. Alden Blizzard DE Laurel HS, Laurel, Md. 6-4, 225 4.7 Marshall, Md., WV. No. 18 senior in state by SuperPrep; “Long arms, high motor, should be fine DE for us,” John Bunting says. Melik Brown LB Wilson HS, Camden, N.J. 6-2, 225 4.6 Tenn., GT, Wisc., Mich. St. All-Area selection in making 57 tackles and 10 sacks; deep-snapper as well; “Great instincts;” product of JB's South Jersey contacts. Lewis Burnham TE Moorestown HS, Moorestown, N.J. 6-5, 235 4.8 UK, Iowa, Rut. Father Lem teammate of JB’s with Philadelphia Eagles; No. 27 prospect in state; OT, DE in high school. Mahlon Carey RB South Cobb HS, Mableton, Ga. 6-2, 195 4.5 GT, NW, WV Figures to be early impact player; very bright, excellent grades; Top 50 prospect in state by Atlanta J-C. Whit Efird OL West Stanley HS, Oakboro 6-5, 305 5.1 ECU Shrine Bowl, N.C. Top 20 by Raleigh N&O; ability to do standing backflip denotes great athleticism; projected as guard or center. Daunte Fields WR Cardinal Newman HS, Wellington, Fla. 6-1, 160 4.5 Wisc., VT, BC SuperPrep’s No. 41 prospect in-state; great speed, hands, leaping ability; “Upside is great, could play either side of ball.” Ian Firestone WR Wilson HS, Sinking Spring, Pa. 6-2, 190 4.35 Miami, ND, UVa. Consensus prep A-A; 134 career catches for 1,907 yards; “Extremely competitive, soft hands, could play on special teams right away.” Michael Gilmore WR Mann HS, Greenville, S.C. 6-1, 170 4.55 VT, Md., WF, GT All-state receiver who caught 20 passes for six TDs; kick-return ability as well; “I see him starting for us before too long.” Kendall High DE W. Rowan HS, Salisbury 6-6, 250 4.8 SC, MD, WF, ECU JB likes his “great motor” and thinks he could grow into a tackle; will play in E-W All-Star game; 86 tackles, 7.5 sacks as senior. Cedric Holt DB Anson County HS, Wadesboro 6-1, 180 4.45 WF, ECU Four-year starter, Shrine Bowl, Charlotte Observer Top 25; “He has a good chance to make a contribution right away.” Derrele Mitchell WR Hargrave M.A./Winston-Salem 6-4, 190 4.5 NCS, Tenn., Clem., UGa., VT 2001 signee who prepped a year at Hargrave Military, where he made honor roll first semester; “Delighted to have him sign again.” Brian Rackley DE Chiles HS, Tallahassee, Fla. 6-5 230 4.7 Clem., UK, Syr. Perhaps a “sleeper” of the class; “Can’t understand how we got him out of Tallahassee,” JB says; should grow to 270 pounds or so. Xavier Rainey DE SW DeKalb, Stone Mountain., Ga. 6-5, 230 4.65 Aub., Miss. St., GT Could develop into LB; No. 23 prospect in state; “Over-achiever, a great kid;” 181 tackles, 52 for loss, as senior. Kyle Ralph OL St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati 6-5, 280 5.1 Vand., UF, Ill., ND Key O-line signee; projects as tackle; good athleticism; “Has a little nasty streak about him, which I like.” Mickey Rice DL Union HS, Union, S.C. 6-2, 265 5.0 Mich. St. Compares to graduating Tar Heel Ryan Sims; 96 tackles, 18 for loss, as a senior; Shrine Bowl, Observer Top 25.