Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 8, 1989, edition 1 / Page 19
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Football '89The. Daily Tar HeelFriday, September 8, 19891 1 Sackfield -.rebuilds after. losing Marten, Bom ByDAVIDJ.KUPSTAS Staff Writer Talent-wise, the departure of tail back Kennard Martin should not leave the Tar Heel running game high and dry this fall. The Tar Heels have a group of multi-talented tailbacks who could eventually make up for the loss of Martin as well as tailback-turned-cornerback Torin Dorn. But as soon as you check the stats for how much experience this year's runners have, Martin and Dorn become very desir able commodities. Consider that Martin's 192 car ries in 1988 are more than four times the combined total of all current UNC running backs. Fullback Michael Benefield (38 carries, 180 yards in 1988) and tailback Aaron Staples (6 carries, 25 yards) are the only two on this year's team to have ever taken a handoff in a Tar Heel uniform. Martin's 1,194 yards will be missed, but the general attitude around the North Carolina camp is that the young tailbacks will fill the void just fine. "We know Kennard was a good running back, but we're not going to worry about that right now because I think we've got a good running back corps, and we'll make up for Kennard's absence," said tailback Eric Blount. UNC will depend mostly on three runners each at tailback and fullback. Using that many backs throughout a game allows the Tar Heels to play as many players as possible. The rota tion also keeps runners fresh into the fourth quarter, a time when opposing defenses that don't substitute much have worn down. "I don't mind playing as many people as I need to as long as they don't take anything away from us being able to execute anything we want on offense," said running backs coach Milo McCarthy. Benefield, a 5-foot-8, 205-pound junior, is the elder statesman in the backfield. James Thompson started at fullback last year, but Benefield played almost every other down, bringing in plays from the sidelines. He emerged in the final game of 1988 at Duke, both as a runner and a blocker; He ran for 68 yards on just eight carries while blocking for Mar tin, who ran for a season-high 291 yards. Benefield decided not to rest on his laurels after that performance. He jumped straight into a conditioning program after the season ended. The effort won him the Morris Mason award, which is given to a player who has made outstanding speed and strength improvements in the offsea son program and who showed great dedication and leadership in the proc ess. "Coach (Mack) Brown's philoso phy is that he wants us to be as strong at the beginning of the year as we are at the end of the year," Benefield said. "I just felt that the way the sea son had gone, I was at the point where I could really improve." The conditioning program couldn't help Benefield in one area, however. "I'd like to get taller," he said jok ingly. "No, really, I need to concen trate on catching the ball more and getting the proper technique." While he may kid about wanting more height, Benefield's present size seems to give him good body lever age, and he displays good balance as a runner with his low-to-the-ground style. Red-shirt freshman Mike Faulk erson (6-1, 219) will alternate with Benefield at fullback. Faulkerson, a strong inside runner and good blocker, came out of spring practice as one of the most improved players on the team. BJ. Runyon (6-4, 218) is another red-shirt freshman who will play full back. He was an outside linebacker before being switched to fullback in the last week of spring practice. Staples (5-9 f2, 196), a senior, is getting his first chance as a starter at tailback. After sitting out the 1986 season, Staples was a reserve defen sive back in 1987. He switched to tailback the following spring. An ankle injury slowed Staples for much of 1988, a year in which he jd - Vjs- , VI'" 1 it.-.;.-. - -.. 11 , -lA, .t.J Mack Brown is hoping defenders end up chasing tailback Eric Blount's new number (12) all year long play." Blount is switching back to his When UNC gets the ball near the natural position after spending his goal line, Staples is likely to get the freshman year at wide receiver. The move back to tailback was made at call. He is known for getting the tough yards and has a knack for falling for ward when tackled. "He's a tough, hard-nosed, solid runner," McCarthy said. "We feel comfortable with Aaron. He may not have the speed of Blount or (Randy) Jordan, but he's a good, solid foot- saw spot action at both tailback and ball player who will give us a lot of fullback. His ankle is recovered now, leadership." the beginning of summer practice when Martin's status on the football team became uncertain. Jordan, who set a state record in the 100-meter dash as a junior in high school with a 10.44 effort, will pro vide additional speed out of the back field. He did not practice or play in 1988 because of Proposition 48. "The year off was a very trying time for me, and it made me learn a lot about myself," Jordan said. "I have a different drive and determination to play this year." Staples, Blount and Jordan have a hold on the top three tailback spots, which means that incoming freshmen Derrick Henderson (6-1, 185) and Antuarn Williams (5-10, 190) will likely be red-shirted. and Staples is ready to show what he can do on a full-time basis. "I feel like I've paid my dues," he said. "I've done everything I've been asked, and it's just time for me to Blount (5-8, 183) and Jordan (5 10, 191), both sophomores, will see plenty of time at tailback also. Both give the Tar Heels speed and pass catching ability out of the backfield. UNC Football Schedule 1989 SCHEDULE 1988 RESULTS Sept. 9 VMI 10 South Carolina 31 16 at Kentucky 0 Oklahoma 28 23 at H.O. State 34 Louisville 38 30 NAVY 21 Auburn 47 Oct. 7 WAKE FOREST 24 Wake Forest 42 14 at Virginia 3 N.C. State 48 21 at Georgia Tech 20 Georgia Tech 17 28 at Maryland 38 Maryland 41 Nov. 4 CLEMSON 14 Clemson 37 11 SOUTH CAROLINA 24 Virginia 27 18 DUKE . 29 Duke 35 HOME GAMES IN CAPS ? """" '""""(f leo!dog pzM glass O cafe Ite University Square, Chapel Hill eat in 9290298 take out Come Enjoy the Looking Qlass Cafe before and after the Qamel O Custom built Burgers O Stuffed Spuds O OVegetarianSandwiches O Salad Bar ODailySpccials O SaladFlattersO ODesserts O BeerWine O i tab namnni! Conveniently located in downtown Chapel Hill facing Granville Towers 133 W. Franklin St hutch' and dinner
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 8, 1989, edition 1
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