2
KICKOFF
New season lacking typical hype
The wait is finally over.
Ever since the BCS proved
incapable of putting together
a satisfactory championship game
again —and the Patriots won the
Super Bowl on a last-second Adam
Vinatieri field goal again the
collective cry in the sports world
has been, “I can’t wait for football
season to begin again!”
Well now it’s here, and the first
games are upon us. So why doesn’t
it feel like it?
For some reason, I’m not get
ting the same anticipation for
Look what's new
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Chapel Hill
Located just 1 mile from UNC
Convenient to restaurants & shopping
Guest rooms with oversized work desk,
2 line phones, free high speed Internet access
& coffee maker
Breakfast buffet in the Courtyard Cafe
Heated pool & whirlpool
On-site exercise room
Fax, copier, & printer services available
Courtyard by Marriott Chapel Hill
Across from Meadowmont & next to The Friday Center
100 Marriott Way, Chapel Hill
919.883.0700
the pigskin in Chapel Hill that I
felt during the past seven months
from sports fans elsewhere.
Could it be that North Carolina
won just one home game last year?
Could it be because the ACC has
welcomed two football powerhous
es seemingly to bury the Tar Heels
even lower in the conference cellar?
Or could it be that, with Dick
Vitale hyping up the basketball
team like he was Don King, every
one is saving the excitement for
November?
All of these things surely play
DELAY OF GAME
BRANDON PARKER
SPORTSATURDAY EDITOR
some role in the lack of passion
surrounding the land of Carolina
blue, and understandably so.
The Tar Heels did manage to
lose in just about every manner
last season, and it is hard to get
pumped up for a season opener
against a squad that rarely sees
Division I-A competition.
But before you switch back to
the riveting World Series of Poker,
take a look at the national scope.
The BCS is back for another
year of confusion and surprises.
Who knows, maybe this year there
will be national tri-champions.
Plus, chances are pretty slim
that the year’s most memo
rable replay will be another UNC
defender getting steamrolled by an
opposing running back... right?
But all jokes aside, I really think
the 2004 college football season
will warrant something to cheer
about, even within the walls of
Kenan Stadium.
The same Ronnie McGill
who ran for 244 yards and three
touchdowns in one game is still
here. Darian Durant is back under
center, looking to break whatever
UNC passing records are left with
out his name beside it.
Yes, the defensive side of the
ball can be more questionable than
Ricky Williams, but new co-defen
sive coordinator Marvin Sanders
has a proven record of piecing
together an impressive bunch.
And of course, the ultimate
question is why the Tar Heels
will line up against Miami on
Homecoming of all days. But in
college football, a win is never
impossible on any given Saturday.
I could keep going with proposi
tions, which is the beauty of football
season’s premiere. Anything could
happen and is open to discussion.
So I don’t know about you, but
I’m hyped for football season,
whether it be in Kenan Stadium
or Bank of America Stadium, in
the backyard or on the big screen.
Enjoy it while it lasts because
before you know it, the new
champion(s) of the gridiron will
be crowned, and you will be wish
ing September was here again.
Contact Brandon Parker
at bcparker@email.unc.edu.
9/4/04 | DTH SPORTSATURDAY
COVER STORY
Tar Heel quarterback faces NFL doubters
3M Despite Darian Durant's
' 3 impressive stats at North
* B * 4* \ { Carolina, his NFL chances
I are difficult to measure.
FEATURES .
When an easy win becomes a hard lesson
UNC's last meeting with
P/Vjßj a l-AA team wasn't the
Previews of the nation's top matchups
8* FSU and Miami usher in
$ J| the ACC expansion era;
the Aggie-Eagle Classic
celebrates its 11th year.
Olympic sports feature: Tim Merritt
nUNC men's soccer defender Tim
Merritt tasted a championship in
his first season. Three years later,
he thirsts for the same prize.
DEPARTMENTS
North Carolina faces William & Mary
6wmm check out the starters, key
J matchups and analysis
mm I for the Tar Heels' season
9 opener against the Tribe.
OFF THE RECORD with Marvin Sanders
9 UNC's new co-defensive
coordinator opens up
V3S| about football, life and
HlflEJ who's the greatest.
The BCS: Many changes, same outcome
The BCS searches for a solution
4 to its pitfalls, but the formula
continues to use incorrectly the
past as a model for the future.
CONTENTS