Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 8, 1989, edition 1 / Page 20
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Offensive 1 Dime seeks greatness of yeairs past By CHRISTINA FROHOCK Staff Writer While the rest of the North Caro lina football team is working to im prove their skills and tactics of last season in hopes of a winning 1989 record, the offensive linemen have different concerns. They have a tra dition of greatness to uphold and, so, are both confident and frustrated. In the last decade, nine North Carolina offensive linemen have per formed in professional football. Three of the most outstanding are: Ken Huff, who played for the Baltimore Colts from 1975 to 1982 and the Washing ton Redskins from 1983 to 1985; Brian Blados, who has been with the Cin cinnati Bengals since 1984; and two time All-American and All-Pro Har ris Barton, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers after his 1987 gradu ation. Today's linemen hope to con tinue this impressive legacy. However, coming off a 1-10 sea son in 1988, the football team first needs to regain a positive self-image and confidence. Despite the success ful history of the Tar Heel offensive linemen, these players consider any loss or win a team effort. "You can't think about pressure from the past," said Alec Millen, a freshman offensive guard from At lanta, Ga. "We all accept responsi bility. If the team is losing, I don't IllJJJJUUUWJWAUIJl wwubwh; 1 1,1 1111 tti j. ...hi uMimmmm)mrv'mvAM'.vm ,iMMUurawiMyj.ujmju w-.,v , w - w -.;,---r .w,? ,wct' 4 a I -r ' s - Senior quarterback Jonathan Hall's chances for survival rest heavily on the shoulders of an offensive line with five new faces care if you're All-ACC, you always try to do more. Everybody thinks of the team. We don't concentrate on the individual, so it's frustrating when the team loses." One of the disadvantages any col lege sports team faces is the loss of the seniors from the previous year. The Tar Heels return just 33 of 62 lettermen from 1988 11 on of fense, but only four starters. The de fense is blessed with more veterans and, perhaps, an easier job. One "wisdom" of football is that the offensive linemen must be more intelligent, controlled and stable than their counterparts on defense. Andrew Oberg, a sophomore offensive tackle from Rochester, Pa., agreed that the offensive linemen have more com plex blocking assignments, saying, "All the defensive linemen really have to do is read the offensive linemens' heads and anticipate blocking." But, in the spirit of fairness, Oberg added, "We have an easy part, too. We know the snap and where the ball is going. We know where we have to block. We don't get the indi vidual glory some of the others play ers do, so we have to be controlled to just get our job done. To score a touch down is our big reward." Striving for such a reward in 1989 See OFFENSE, page 14 Five freshmmeo add speed to. receiving coops By JASON BATES Staff Writer The talent is plentiful, but the experience is sorely lacking. Only two North Carolina receiv ers who have actually caught a pass in a college game return for this year's You Don't Have to SEARCH the whole world over for quality, unique clothing and equipment when Sid's is in your backyard! Surplus Sid's Military Surplus 302-A E. Main St. . Carrborp campaign. Even worse, one has been moved to tailback this year and the other is injured and out for at least four more weeks, and possibly the season. The available receivers for Saturday's opener against VMI con sist of one red-shirt freshman and four true freshmen. Kennard Martin's well-chronicled off-the-field problems have not only hurt the running back situation, but have also given the receiving corps a severe blow. This year's best return ing wideout, Eric Blount, has been moved to tailback to help solve the problems there. But that leaves plenty of unanswered questions as to who will catch the ball when Saturday rolls around. Fifth-year senior Kurt Green also returns from last year. He earned starts in the last three games of last year and is being counted on heavily to provide much-needed leadership this fall. However, Green's season was cut short before it even began. He suffered a broken clavicle on the first day of two-a-days during a collision with a defensive back. The injury is said to take 6-12 weeks to heal. Green says he is shooting for the Wake Forest game to make his re turn, but he is still ready to provide the leadership and guidance the fresh men will need. "I feel I can come back immedi ately, not in a player role, but in a coaching role" he said. "I'm a senior, so no matter what happens, I want to enjoy my senior year and do all I can 3639 cnapel m Blvd. (near Scutli Square Ma!!) The Durham Kitz present Mtzy Mdes to roctoall Action! Fri.y Sept. 88 am-8 pm Sat., Sept. 98 am-6 pm UNC NC CENTRAL DUKE NC STATE SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL! We will broadcast on G105 which fans are "out in force." Wear your school colors and receive $1.00 off any wash. Drawings tcr RBTZY ocrs to include: Football Game Tickets, Cinderella Limos ine, Gourmet Basket by Southern Seasons G105 Live at the CsrwasM Saturday 12-2 FREE Pepsi & Pizza Hut pizza Lots of Giveaways to make the season a success. "Even if I'm hurt I'm still a part of the team. If we win, I win, and if I help the other guys, I feel like I've contributed to the win." None of the players who will play in Saturday's opener has ever caught a pass in a collegiate game. Red-shirt freshman Joey Jauch would have to be considered the most experienced of the bunch, but he has only participated in practices. He cracked a rib in early spring drills and missed most of that valuable practice time. But Jauch said he is back to 1 00 percent and ready to play. "I'm the only other (receiver) who's been here," he said. "But I'm sure I'm going to be nervous since I've never been in (a game)." Nervousness seems to be the whole key for the four freshmen who will make the transition to big-time col lege football in front of 52,000 screaming Tar Heel fans. They all come in highly touted and with loads of potential; it's just a question of how they handle the pressure. Bucky Brooks, a 6-0, 170-poun-der, comes in from Raleigh Millbrook High, where he had 63 catches for 1,110 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. He was named to the Charlotte Observer's Top 25 in North Carolina and the Raleigh News and Observer's Top 30. Randall Felton, a 6-1, 180-poun-der, is from Durham Jordan High. He caught 40 passes for 707 yards and seven touchdowns his senior season. He was also named to the Charlotte Observer's Top 25 and the Raleigh News and Observer's Top 30. Corey Holliday played for Hugue not High in Richmond, Va. The 6-3, 1 80-pound Holliday caught 30 passes for 575 yards and four touchdowns in . 1988.- He was - named' to the' Roanoke Times Top 25 in Virginia and was also a Mid-Atlantic and Super-Prep All-America. Julius Reese, probably the strong est and fastest member of the Fabu lous Four, is a Parade All-America from Mt. Tabor High in Winston Salem. A 6-4, 200-pounder, Reese had 25 catches for 400 yards and six touchdowns last year. He was named one of the top five players in the state by both the Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News and Observer and was also named to the USA TODAY Super 100 list. "All four of the true freshmen have done good things," wide receiver coach Jim Cavanaugh said. The other receivers and Blount echoed Cavanaugh 's comments con cerning the freshmen. Blount, who set the freshmen rec ord for single season receptions last year with 17, said, "They all did a good job during the preseason. They all run good routes and catch the ball real well. They're going to do a good job." "(They) are thinking about the big crowd and all the excitement that comes with college athletics," he said. "I think they're pretty nervous, also. But as the game rolls along, they'll get used to it" "As usual, the first game, they will be a little jittery," Green said. "In a game or two, they'll settle down." The young receivers are ready to prove themselves in a game situation, said Jauch. 'To have the crowd behind us will help pump us up for the game and give us an emotional lift that we need to help us early in the game," Jauch said. "(A win) would be a confidence builder for everyone. The key is be lieving in ourselves and getting our confidence level up." - -
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 8, 1989, edition 1
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