Sept. 22, 2000

When has a more crucial non-conference football challenge faced the University of North Carolina?

The issues Saturday afternoon are varied and intense.

Marshall is coming off of an open date. Carolina is coming off of a 49 point loss at Florida State. As the winningest college football team in the decade of the 90's, no current Marshall player knows the emptiness of consistent defeat. They will come out of the visitors locker room having already taken mental possession of victory.

UNC, on the other hand, apparently dismissed Carl Torbush last season, only to re-hire him in December. Carolina is a good football team, but do they themselves believe it yet? And with what mindset will the Tar Heels take the field against the Herd?

Carolina's offense has been sporadic. Is it poised to come together? Is fan confidence in the program in a holding pattern, waiting to see if the Tar Heels can return to national prominence? Will Ronald Curry's legacy be as a great quarterback, or as a great athlete who played quarterback and basketball?

Four straight winable home games are on the schedule. So are four straight losable home games.

The time is now. Right now.

WHEN MARSHALL HAS THE BALL: The Thundering Herd's offense is more like lightening than thunder. A highly-skilled unit, if they are playing well they will look to the trained eye like a poor man's Florida State.

Quarterback Byron Leftwich is huge, 6-6 245, and has been compared to Chris Weinke of FSU in terms of his arm strength, grace in the pocket and decision-making ability. Their offense is multiple in both formations and personnel groups, they use motion liberally and they rarely huddle.

Carolina has worked hard this week on getting ready more quickly on defense, and must not panic when Marshall runs their rapid fire, no-huddle attack. The Heels also have to get Leftwich on the ground some, and tackle backs and receivers better than they tackled the Seminoles.

WHEN CAROLINA HAS THE BALL: UNC's point production Saturday will probably be more about Carolina than Marshall. The Tar Heels have the weapons to move the ball explosively, but mistakes have killed too many drives.

The Herd defense is aggressive, hard-nosed and they disquise their coverages nicely. They run well, are physical and won't beat themselves. Marshall's safeties are heavily involved in run support, so the onus will be on the cornerbacks to contain Carolina's talented wideouts.

HOW I SEE IT: This is a huge game. Marshall would like it. Carolina has to have it. The Tar Heels, somehow, someway, survive in a close one. UNC 27 Marshall 24.