Oct. 6, 2002

The five team busses rolled into the Kenan Center parking lot at 8:30 Sunday morning. Seven hours after posting their 38-35 win at Arizona State, the Tar Heels were back home. By noon the weary coaches--John Bunting will not let his staff or team talk about fatigue--were reviewing that game before getting busy with their planning for N.C. State.

Bunting didn't want a Saturday night shootout with the high powered Sun Devils in Tempe, but that's exactly what he got. Despite giving up a UNC record 657 yards of total offense to Arizona State, Carolina found a way to win. The Tar Heels manufactured 478 yards of their own, gained five turnovers and got some unexpected help from the ASU placekicker. Mike Barth had not missed a field goal inside 50 yards in seven previous tries, but he watched three attempts sail wide left and another hit the right post.

Bunting felt good about the win, but he realizes a team doesn't build confidence playing those kinds of games. And, he doesn't think the Tar Heels are going to have to try and win this way for the rest of the season. "No, I think we'll get better on defense," said Bunting. "That's my way of thinking. I think we'll get better, and we'll show it."

Saturday the Carolina defense struggled mightily against the Arizona State offense, but the Sun Devils have a tremendous unit. Yet Bunting didn't see his defense get better, and that hurts him because that's not what he's all about. "To me it's fundamentals and techniques along with discipline, and that's not what I've ever, ever been about as a player or as a coach. Right now it's not getting done so we as coaches have to take part of the responsibility. And so do the players."

The five turnovers gained were the most since last year's shellacking of Florida State, and it reduced the margin to minus-five for the season. "That turnover thing usually comes in spurts or you're good enough at the various positions to create turnovers," Bunting explained. "that's not happening for us because right now we're not as good as we need to be. Our players are certainly talented, and we've got to get them coached up. Everybody's working together to make some more plays."

His philosophy is to work hard to keep the players in the game. Keep them believing that the next play is the most important. Not the last play, but the next play. Hopefully, that belief will keep them playing hard.

Sparked by Darian Durant and Chesley Borders, the offense proved once again at Arizona State that it's capable of scoring points. Yet Bunting knows very well that both sides of the ball will be tested when the unbeaten and nationally ranked N.C. State comes to Chapel Hill for Saturday's high noon kickoff. The Wolfpack is currently ranked second among ACC teams in both total offense and defense.

Despite three straight home losses this season, Bunting wants Carolina fans to know that he and the team need their support, and he wants them to be there wearing school colors as part of Saturday's Blue Blitz. State fans, who are trying to grab up as many tickets as possible, hope to counter the Carolina effort with their own Red Rage.

"We won't be able to beat N.C. State unless our fans are in Kenan Stadium," Bunting pointed out. "We'll need to play a very football game in order to win, but we won't be able to do it without the fans. I'm hoping they'll be there in full support."

It's all part of the culture change Bunting is trying to achieve, and he's working on a weekly basis both in and out of season to make it happen. In fact, he's relentless in what he's trying to do with the football program and with Carolina fans.

That's why he went quickly to work Sunday when the Tar Heels returned home.