Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Nov. 8, 1996, edition 1 / Page 18
Part of Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
10 Friday, November 8, 1996 Sk ■ '-’i ' s'V'y jE* DTH/ERK PEREL Senior Charlie McNairy worked his way on to the varsity squad two years ago. Despite limited playing time, McNairy is a leader both on and off the court. No. ■ $3500.00 v V lACK TODD MILLS 54 WIDER ROM> I ■ CASH IN ON GOOD GRADES. If you're a freshman or sophomore with good grades,apply now for a three-year or two-year scholarship from Army ROTC. Army ROTC scholarships pay ARMY ROTC THE SMARTEST COLLEGE COURSE YOU CAN TAKE For details, visit Room 111, Naval Armory or call 962-5546 or (800) 305-6687 BASKETBALL 1996-97 Senior walk-on takes leading role BY AARON BEARD ASSISTANT SPORTSATURDAY EDITOR With all of his alternative identities, Charlie McNairy could work alongside Ethan Hunt of “Mission: Impossible." His identity can change daily, de pending on what his teammates call him. He’s been “Air McNairy” and “McNasty.” Once, he even took the name “Opie Taylor.” “In high school, they started chant ing it at one gym," McNairy said. “(It’s because) my hair used to be jet-red.” Despite his aliases, however, UNC fans can spot him whenever he steps on the court. He’s the skinny forward wear ing the wide smile on his face. The meaning of the smile it’s game-time. “It was a childhood dream to play here,” he said. ”... I love every minute of it. Maybe that shows.” It does. His childlike wonder and sheer joy at entering any contest earns him raves from the Smith Center crowd. It started innocently, with McNairy moving up from the junior varsity ranks to the varsity during the 1995 season. Tyndall content to show support BYPAULSTRELOW ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Even though North Carolina men’s basketball coach Dean Smith mentions tuition, most books and fees, plus $ 150 per school month. They also pay off with leadership experi ence and officer creden- tials impressive to future employers. During that year, he appeared in 12 games, including a memorable eight-point, two-rebound, one-dunk performance against VMI. It was that dunk that gave him the “ Air McNairy” title, one that came from Rasheed Wallace and Jeny Stackhouse. His role now differs from two years ago. On a squad with only three seniors, the former walk-on is an elder statesman. “I feel really comfortable with my role," McNairy said. “I feel comfortable with the plays. I feel like I know what (UNC) Coach (Dean) Smith expects.” What Smith expects is senior leader ship, something walk-on Webb Tyndall said McNairy provides by example. “In practice, he hustles," Tyndall said. “He’s all-out and intense. He pushes the guys that are out here playing. He’s a worker. That’s what his leadership is.” McNairy’s efforts haven’t gone unno ticed. He received the Rick Sharp Award as the player who contributed the most behind the scenes during the 1995 season. Not bad for a guy who started off as a walk-on. But the seeds were planted with Smith’s recruiting visits to Kinston High, Webb Tyndall’s name in the battle for the point guard position, few heed Smith’s words. That’s fine to Tyndall, who sees his role extending whether he plays or not. “I just got on here last year and was thankfultobehere,”Tyndallsaid. “Now I’m a senior, and Coach is big on senior leadership. The best thing I can do is to encourage the younger guys, be there and show support and do the little things behind the scenes.” Tyndall is one of the men behind the scenes for the UNC squad. The 5-foot-10 guard demonstrates enthusiasm and a strong work ethic, qualities that led to his promotion to the varsity before the team’s eighth game a year ago. But his moment in the spotlight came during a game against N.C. State, when he stepped to the free throw line seeking his first career point. Swish. Tyndall entered the scoring column, but he then missed his second attempt. While some would have been happy just scoring, he couldn’t forget the miss. “I was so upset,” he said. “A lot of times, I was nervous when I came out there. Sullivan looks for more playing time BY AARON BEARD ASSISTANT SPORTSATURDAY EDTOR Ryan Sullivan is not unlike Charlie McNairy and Webb Tyndall. He relishes PT playing time. Last year, he appeared in 11 games, usually when the contest was well in hand. And in the Smith Center, his ap pearance incites a chorus of cheers. It’s the kind of thing that every reserve loves to hear. “It’s really exciting,” Sullivan said. “(The crowd) knows that we work hard. They really appreciate what we do. It makes us feel really good.” The sophomore guard from Bogota, N.J. is familiar to Tar Heel fans for an other reason he’s the younger brother of the graduated Pat Suilivan. (Tljr Sathj (Ear Urrl *&. REBOUNDS: 0.5 ”7 ■— ASSISTS: where McNairy played with Stackhouse. “I was blessed because (Smith) would come watch Jerry play, and he’d see the red-headed white kid out there, ” McNairy said. “(Smith) said, ‘We can’t promise you anything. But... play a year of JV, and maybe ... you’ll have a chance.’” In only three years, McNairy has seized that chance. In fact, about the only thing McNairy hasn’t achieved at UNC is win ning the senior class presidential election last year. Regardless, McNairy a.k.a. Opie Taylor, Air McNairy and McNasty is living out his dream. •mM I WebbTyndaiTl *3 fM Err. . • sonoxNaSTo. i VjT.. REBOUNDS: OB "7 0.4^/ “This year, whatever happens, I’m just thankful to be out there. I want to go out and run the offense and get my team mates scoring.” No one recruited Tyndall out of high school, even though his resume included excellent on-the-job experience. He manned the point at Kinston High School for three years, dishing the ball to former Tar Heel Jeny Stackhouse and current teammate Charlie McNairy. While he’s played with talented team mates before, he says he still gets nervous if and when he enters a game. But no one can say he didn’t work for the chance. “I’ve worked hard with ballhandling drills since I was little, so if I get the chance, I’ve got to capitalize on it,” Tyndall said. Sullivan said he hopes to find more minutes during the 1997 campaign. “Hopefully, I can be the guy to come off the bench and hit the open shots," Sullivan said. “Hopefully I can be in there to hit some shots and ... pose a threat offensively.” In the meantime, life for the young Sullivan follows a simple routine. “Workhard in practice," Sullivan said. “Play defense ... and hopefully Coach Smith will look your way.”
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 8, 1996, edition 1
18
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75