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4 Friday, August 24, 2001 Tar Heels Short on Depth at Quarterback By James Giza Sport Saturday Editor North Carolina quarterback Ronald Curry is keeping an optimistic outlook on the season and his personal health. “Hopefully, I can play the whole sea son,” said Curry, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon and missed the final six games of the 1999 season. “I’m playing for the team, not really playing for everybody else. I’m just going to do what the coaches ask. Everything’s not going to be smooth sailing, so I’ve got to go out and do the best I can do.” AD it would take is an injury to Curry to Unit Hopes Preseason Meetings Pay Off Special teams had up to five meetings a day during two-a-days and worked on multiple skills in practice. By Rachel Carter Sports Editor Jeff Reed knows exacdy what John Lafferty's going through. In fact, he feels pretty much like they’re in the same position. Reed, a senior kicker, had never kicked a game in Kenan Stadium before 2000 but came into that season knowing he was The Guy. Lafferty ’s 2000 involved fighting for punting time against Blake Ferguson. He started three games before mononucle osis cut his season short Ferguson was slated to be the starter opening day, but abruptly left the program and the University on Aug. 12. Instead of challenging for the posi tion, suddenly it’s all Lafferty’s, and there’s not a whole lot of backup. “It’s a pretty interesting situation," Lafferty said. “I’m excited about the sea son -1 have been since January -so I’m crazy with enthusiasm." Last year, Lafferty had 20 punts for 708 yards while Ferguson punted for 1,475 yards in 40 tries. Although Reed’s position is a lot more solid that Lafferty’s, he said his CD HFFI Cl IPSB These Deals w IILLLj. grill Just for \bu!! 929-655! W7LFrii*hi St. Chapel f* ® © „f£ s ®l® ®„® on* targesub, e Uß p,huias? 8 ” steak shrimp ot gyro or chicken WIIIIUSI mMrwnof swr*js combo [ftountfet ptetteij pita combo | j suck a massive amount of air out of the Tar Heels’ sails. With junior Luke Huard out of the backup picture because he left the team Tuesday, red shirt freshmen Darian Durant and Aaron Leak stand as the primary go to guys in case Curry goes down. Durant has steadily solidified .UNC quarterback Ronald Curry threw for 2,325 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2000. position isn’t secure. “I"m in the same boat as he is still," Reed said. “Just because I played for one year doesn't mean I know it all and I can do whatever. There’s a lot of pressure on me, too. “I just told him to worry about the catch. The protec tion will be there. Senior placekicker Jeff Reed converted 16 of 20 field goals last season and was a second-team All-ACC. And don’t look up; don’t look at any one. Just kick the ball, and I know he’ll do it He’s cool under pressure.” If Lafferty can perform like Reed thinks he will, then the Tar Heels can breathe a sigh of relief similar to last sea son when Reed stepped comfortably into the kicker role. After Josh McGee graduated, UNC has to find someone to replace their record-setting kicker. Reed turned in a 16-for-20 field goal performance, good enough to make him a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, which goes to the best kicker in the country, and to earn him a football scholarship. The entire special teams unit have undergone intensified practices. During two-a-days, the squad met up to five times a day and practiced most facets of Football 2001 his spot as the No. 2 quarterback in the preseason, finishing 11 of 16 for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s Aug. 15 scrimmage. Leak went 3 of 4 for 49 yards in that game. Much like Curry, the 5-foot-U, 227- pound Durant has a strong arm and is mobile, fitting well into the scheme that first-year offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill has instituted for this season. “We’re both run-pass quarterbacks, and what we try to do is use the running to our advantage,” Durant said. “Because a lot of defenses these days, they’re just as fast. So you’ve got to be able to make things happen, and both of special teams like punt returns, blocking punts and kickoff. “We worked on special teams a lot last year,” comerback Kevin Knight said. “But this is like way different. We’ve got meetings in the morning, we’ve got meetings at night. We’ve got meetings, meetings. On the field, we put things together.” Michael Waddell and Knight will handle kickoff returns, while wideouts Bosley Allen and Sam Aiken pull dou ble duty returning punts. Last year, Allen returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown to give the Tar Heels a 28-14 lead against Wake Forest. Allen returned 28 punts for a school record 421 yards and two TDs. “We work a lot, and we work harder on special teams,” Allen said. “I think we’re going to produce more than three times what we have in the past” Special Teams PK 45 Jeff Reed 95 Chrisßender P 33 John Lafferty 31 Paul Roberts H 43 Richard Moore 05 56 Greg Warren 75 Skip Seagraves KOR 18 Michael Wadded 21 Kevin Knight PR 3 Bosiey Alien 88 Sam Aiken us can do that, so I think we’re in a pret ty good situation.” Durant also should benefit from developing under Curry, wise beyond his years after having to adjust to three different offenses in his career at UNC. “I’m real comfortable because there’s nothing better them playing behind a guy like that,” Durant said. “He’s not selfish at all about giving me a few tips about what to do in certain situations, so there couldn’t be a better situation I could be in than to be behind him.” Huard was the only one of the back ups with any college game experience, but he reported to camp heavier than if •Iff*' •Mgppi' DTH FILE PHOTO UNC wide receiver Bosley Allen returned a punt 78 yards last season to give the Tar Heels a 28-14 lead against Wake Forest. Enjoy what’s left of summer on our patio! Open nightly spm - Good Times! Great Food! GO HEELS! 18 to Party - 21 to Drink tdU 137 E. Franklin SL h- $ . v Bank of America Plaza • Chapel Hi# • 919-933-6133 (Btfp Daily (Bar Hrrl the coaching staff wanted and was not allowed to practice. He didn’t take a snap in a game last season after finishing his freshman year 29 of 75 for 256 yards with one touch down and two interceptions. UNC announced Tuesday that Huard has decided he will not return to the team but will remain at school on scholarship. “I feel it is in my best interest for my health and my future that I step aside from playing football,” Huard said in a statement. “This is the toughest choice I’ve ever made considering football has been a huge part of my life, as I’ve been playing since I was nine years old.”
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