Oct. 6, 2007

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North Carolina Head Coach Butch Davis
October 6 vs. Miami

"I told the team in the locker room that when you win a game like this it had to be a team victory. So many people contributed and I think to some extent the things we were able to accomplish today we kind of started on this process a couple of weeks ago. Preparation gives you the best chance to win and I think our football team is learning week-by-week how important it is to prepare well in practice Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, watching film. It gives you the confidence. By no stretch of the imagination does it ensure by any form or fashion that you are going to win, but it gives you your best chance. It gives you the most confidence to go out there and play well.

"We talked this week about we wanted to start fast. I don't think you could have scripted clearly a better way to start. One of the things that was a topic last night in our team meeting was you are going to face adversity in games like this. It could have happened in the very first quarter, it could have come as it did in the second half and you have to trust each other, believe in each other and you have to be able to respond in a way to overcome some of that adversity. We knew at halftime that Miami, as talented as they are, because they are a very good football team, they got a lot of speed, they've got good players, we knew we were going to get a shot from them. These are the lessons as a young football team that you like to learn and you certainly like to learn them on the end when you win the game. I was proud of our players that they never lost their composure, they never lost the idea that if you kept playing well and giving great effort you had a chance to win the football game.

"So many people did a lot of things that were very good. The turnovers - for the first time being on our side. The turnovers are the number one most indicative statistic that determines whether you win or lose football games.

"Getting the four interceptions, Connor's (Barth) performance kicking the ball, kicking off, kicking it deep, kicking it where they couldn't return it on some of the kickoffs with some of their dangerous return people and the four field goals was outstanding.

"Running the football, I thought we were a lot more balanced today than we were in any of the previous games. I was very pleased and very proud of our football team."

(on Hilee Taylor's sacks)
"That one play at that given moment was clearly huge because it broke the momentum, it forced a punt. It was extraordinarily important. They were moving the football. I don't think we tried to back off. We talked about at halftime you have to keep putting pressure on (their) team, offensively, defensively and special teams. But when a team gains some momentum and they start making some plays the thing you hate is the big play. You can't give up a play in 11 seconds, those are the plays that just haunt you. But by the same token, I was pleased with our kids again. They didn't crack under the pressure, they didn't come to the sidelines bewildered. They knew the game plan, they knew what we had to do as far as execution.

"We kind of went into the ballgame trying to find out what runs would work and have the most success and Anthony (Elzy) got off to a hot start on the edges. Miami's defensive linemen are big and strong and powerful and linebackers are very fast. Anthony probably gives us a little bit more speed on the edge. Because we were having success early in the game, that we just kind of stayed with Anthony.

(the postgame hug and talk with Miami Coach Shannon)
It was good. Randy and I have a lot of history together Randy's doing a really, really good job for them and he's a good person.

North Carolina Player Quotes
October 6, 2007 vs. Miami

Freshman Quarterback T.J. Yates
On upsetting the favored Hurricanes:
"I'm numb right now. It hasn't really set in all the way yet. That was an amazing game. We came out and scored quick. The defense did an amazing job. They gave us a little run in the second half, we held them off, we finished the game. It's a great feeling."

On the momentum shifts in the second half:
"Offense and defense, we played off each other. We were kind of slow there in the start of the second half. Then the defense picked it up a notch and gave us some energy. We brought that on the offensive side and got things going."

On the offense's more aggressive play:
"We tried to leave it all out there on the field. We weren't going to hold anything back. There was nothing to hold anything back for. We came out and started strong and kept going on strong. We finished the game."

Junior Wide Receiver Brandon Tate
On the importance of this win:
"This is a great win for us. This gives us momentum for the rest of the season and we are still fighting for a bowl game. We're not out of it yet. We have to go out and play just as hard against South Carolina next week."

Freshman Running Back Anthony Elzy
On earning the start for today's game: "It was maybe Tuesday or Wednesday [when I found out]. I wasn't nervous at all, I was anxious. I was excited all week. Last night, I couldn't sleep. I was just really excited."

On having one of the best running performances of the season: "All credit goes to the line. I take no credit for that. I just ran through the holes they created. If it wasn't for them 95 yards would have never happened."

Senior Defensive End Hilee Taylor
On the effect this win will have on the team's confidence:
"For a lot of these guys, it's their first time playing in college and when they win, they really feel it. In all honesty, when people see Miami they say. `they have great athletes, the great recruiting, the five and six stars.' When you are able to beat a team like that it builds your confidence.

On the team's improvement since the South Florida game: "It reflects our practices. Our practices have been a whole lot more physical. More run-game oriented. It shows. Coach always says preparation wins games. These past two weeks we have been going at it and it showed today."

Freshman Defensive Back Deunta Williams
On the team's week of practices leading up to the game:
"We've tried to let the winning take care of itself. I think during this whole week, we did everything we needed to win. We prepared like champions and hopefully next week we'll do the same thing and get another win. I thought that the game was won before we stepped out there with the preparation that we put in."

On the play of Tavorris Jolly and Charles Brown with their increased playing time:
"They went out and they played. That's what players do. That's why they got recruited. I think they did a great job today. Tavorris did a great job coming in when we had some problems. I just think that when adversity struck we met their intensity and we won."

On the emphasis getting a win in Kenan Stadium:
"We're trying to start a tradition here of winning all home games. Coach Davis had a streak of close to 51 straight games at home and we're trying to start that up here. We just felt like it was our time today."

Freshman Defensive Tackle Marvin Austin:
On beating the Hurricanes:
"Every win is a big win. But this one, Miami has been a nationally-ranked team, it's big. We just matured as a team today. Hopefully this is a turning point for North Carolina football."

On Coach Davis' motivational techniques:
"Coach Davis talked about Tiger Woods. He said play as if your opponent is always going to play well. Play as if he is going to make the next birdie, just like Tiger Woods plays in his golf tournament. That is the kind of mindset we had. Don't look at the scoreboard. Don't worry about it. Just go out there and make your best play every play."