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Chat Reel: John Bunting

'They'll play hard for 60 minutes'

CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's college football chat with UNC head coach John Bunting. Welcome coach and thanks for joining us.
John Bunting: I'm glad to be here.

From Ted Dey in Boston: Coach Bunting, congratulations on your position as the head football coach at University of North Carolina. I have received my season tickets, and I'm excited to see the 2001 Tar Heels. What do you think the biggest change Tar Heel fans will see on the field compared to the last several seasons? Good luck to you and the team!
John Bunting: Thank you. I think the thing they will see the most different in this team is its desire to fight and the way they play the game. They'll fight and they'll play hard for 60 minutes.

From Andy Dear in Allentown, Pa.: Coach, how does it feel, from starting your playing career at UNC and now being the head coach at UNC? It must be a dream come true. On Aug. 25, against Oklahoma shock the world!
John Bunting: It feels great to be back where I started my football career. I really have great feelings about Chapel Hill. I have great pride in what we accomplished as players in the late 60s' and early 70s'. Ever since I left, I've wanted to come back because I have such feeling for this University. I am very thankful that it happened. There isn't a moment that goes by where I am not thankful and excited about this job.

From Cjheel: How much will the toughing of the football schedules for the next six to seven years help you in recruiting?
John Bunting: I think any time that you play a nationally-ranked schedule, the good players are going to want to be involved. When you get to play the Oklahomas people are going to want to watch them, and they're going to want to be here playing against them,

From Jeff Blythe in Chapel Hill, N.C.: Coach Bunting, I am a senior at Carolina and one of the most loyal Carolina fans in the world. I have heard a lot of rumors about you and the athletic department making Kenan Stadium and Chapel Hill a fun place to watch a football game. What kind of changes do you have in mind or is it all a surprise?
John Bunting: Well, there's been recently, and I haven't been here, that the mindset that Kenan isn't a good place to tailgate or come in and be festive and be a fun Saturday activity. That's not true. I know there have been a couple of instances where people have been overzealous in some of the activities that take place on Saturday. And that has been construed as the norm, but the University endorses tailgating and having a good time. But they do not endorse something criminal or not in good taste. But it all starts with winning. If your team is running out on the field not looking excited, it's going to carry over to the fans. So we're looking for a new way for our guys to enter the field.

From LaSalleCoach: What are your expectations for Ronald Curry and Julius Peppers?
John Bunting: I have high expectations for our entire team, but particularly those two men. Ronald has one year of eligibility left, and I would love to see him have a tremendous year. I don't think there is anyone better to do that than our offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill. He has done a great job with Curry in camp, and I see things falling into place. We have two more weeks for him to prepare, and I think he's on track. He's very proactive when working in practice. Julius Peppers is really learning the game of football even more than he has in the past. I am excited about the way he has practiced. I am excited about James Webster, who has coached him, and put him through the stunts that the defensive end needs at this level and the next level. I think Julius is going to come out this year after the season. He has put on 25 pounds. Since basketball has ended, and he's running with the receivers. I think he's really learning a great deal about football, which will really help in years to come.

From goheelsfootball: What freshman has impressed you most thus far, and which freshmen will play this year?
John Bunting: I think there are two to four guys that could help is this year. Harry Lewis is trying to catch on in our system, but he has impressed us with his ability to catch the ball. Jacque Dumas I think is going to have a great career here. He will be on the field as a defensive end vs. Oklahoma. Chase Page has a great chance to play a couple of different positions. He is at tight end now, but I think he belongs on the offensive line, but our defensive line coach would love to have him. He is coveted by three of our coaches, He's going to see the field, just not sure where.

From Quick: The offensive line was a problem last season and as a result Curry took some 36 sacks. Have they improved so far this season, and are you confident that they will come around this season?
John Bunting: I think we're better in the offensive line than they were last year, and that is really saying something because they're all sophomores, with the exception of the center who is a senior. They have worked hard this summer and it shows. They are becoming a very cohesive group, and very soon into the season they're going to blossom and we're going to see our passing game better protected than it was last year.

From UNCChris: Hi coach, I just graduated from UNC. I'm wondering how the running game is shaping up, and how often it will be used.
John Bunting: I think I have the potential for two 1,000-yard rushers in Andre Williams and Willie Parker. They are having great camps. They're different in that Parker is more explosive take it for the distance runner and Willie is a grinder. They've displayed excellent balance and are really good at finding the hole.

From George Ellison in Bryson City, N.C.: Coach, you've got the Tar Heel faithful fired up. Through the years, with some exceptions, UNC has neglected the far-western portion of North Carolina when it comes to recruiting. Clemson and Tennessee have ruled the roost out here. For instance, Western North Carolina prep stars Heath Shuler and Carl Pickens both went to Tennessee. Can your recruiting staff regain control throughout North Carolina, especially here in the mountains?
John Bunting: The person asking the question is right, We haven't done well in Western North Carolina, and my first commitment this year was from Western North Carolina. And we think we'll continue to get players from there. There are some coaches with an Asheville connection. And I hope we can take advantage of that and make it a stronghold for a recruiting base for us.

CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with John Bunting. Coach, thanks for joining us and good luck this season.
John Bunting: Thank you.

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