Sept. 9, 2006

by David Droschak, TarHeelBlue.com

CHAPEL HILL - There haven't been many times in Frank Beamer's coaching career that Virginia Tech has served up a game on a silver platter. That day was Saturday, and North Carolina failed to capitalize on a rare opportunity to pluck the proud maroon and orange bird and will now start the season 0-2 for the fifth time in the last nine seasons.

There was no room to blame the Tar Heel defense on this day, a defense that was taken to task by coach John Bunting after a season-opening loss to Rutgers. That unit allowed just nine first downs and 2 of 10 third-down conversations to a highly-ranked Hokie team in the 35-10 loss. In a nutshell, the defense responded to a huge challenge and played the way Bunting thought it would in week one.

"We stayed so positive this week. After every big play we were congratulating each other. We played fast, we played physical and we played smart," linebacker Larry Edwards said. "That's what we want to establish as our trademark."

The defensive performance was a tremendous positive with 10 games still remaining on the 2006 schedule. It's something worth building on as the Tar Heels look toward Furman next weekend.

In reality, the defense should have been playing with a big cushion in the first half, maybe by as much as 17 points if the Tar Heels executed with any bit of savvy and confidence on the other side of the ball.

That was the troubling side of the coin in Kenan Stadium.

Joe Dailey was intercepted at the goal line one time as North Carolina was "driving" after recovering a fumble, and another one of his misfires was returned to the UNC 1. To add more misery to the first 30 minutes, the Hokies blocked a UNC punt to start a second drive at the North Carolina 1.

"To give a team 14 points on 2 yards of total offense is disappointing," Bunting said. "It will usually cost you a game."

Jesse Holley was a little more blunt after a second quiet game from the UNC star wide receiver.

"We gift-wrapped a lot of stuff for them," Holley said. "In the game of football when you give stuff away they're supposed to take it."

Cam Sexton got his first taste of game action when he took over for Dailey late in the second quarter, but his first five drives resulted in just one first down and he looked a bit nervous, as most freshmen are.

Sexton started the second half with his team down by 11 points and still in it, but he threw two picks in less than a minute, one of which was returned for a TD as the Hokies blew the game open.

The QB job is wide now open again, with Bunting and his coaching staff heading to the film room Sunday to see which guy will be given the next opportunity to try to guide Frank Cignetti's offense.

Bunting said Dailey gives his team "a great opportunity to win," but added that he has confidence in Sexton, too. He also has belief in his new offensive coordinator, saying Cignetti is an aggressive play caller and won't offer up as an excuse the newness of the system.

"We just need to become more sure of ourselves," Bunting said. "We need to see to it that we help our quarterbacks get better, to make better throws and make better decisions."

One major decision was made after the game in the Carolina locker room: this group isn't going to throw in the towel after just two games.

"Sure, the guys are going to be down a little bit, but we've got to keep going out there and grinding it one practice at a time, one game at a time," Holley said. "That's the way we're going to get through this thing.

"We've got 10 games left, it's a long season," Holley added. "I know some of you guys are going to write us off and say that Carolina is going in the tank, but if that was the case why should we even come out and play football. We believe in each other and we believe in our coaching staff. We're going to keep on humping it and turn this thing around."

Bunting often digs into his memory bank and comes up with some note from his NFL past to offer some perspective. This time, Bunting remembered plenty of 0-2 starts as a player and coach, including a Philadelphia Eagles team that lost their first two and still made the playoffs.

"Seasons get turned around when people start doing things together, start playing together," Bunting said. "It's up to us as coaches to help our guys. All we need to do is put the package together. We've got 10 more opportunities to do that. Who knows what might happen?

"Our kids are responsive and we've got talent," Bunting later added.

It's time to start responding in week three.

David Droschak is the former sports editor for the North Carolina bureaus of the Associated Press, the largest news-gathering organization in the world. In 2003, Droschak was named the North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year. He currently works in public relations at Robbins & Associates International, based in Cary.