Longhorns part of schedule upgrade for Tar Heels

Posted 7:12AM on Friday 13th September 2002 ( 22 years ago )

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina knew it had to make some scheduling changes after a 10-1 regular season in 1997 didn't produce a major bowl bid. So, opponents like Texas, Oklahoma, Syracuse, Wisconsin, Miami (Fla.) and Notre Dame were added to the slate. Second-year coach John Bunting would have it no other way. Bunting said early season games against the Sooners and Longhorns - although helped produce an 0-3 start last season - toughened his football team, which closed by winning nine of 11. And he believes the Tar Heels (1-1) are no longer intimidated by big-name programs. North Carolina went into the Carrier Dome last Saturday and pulled off a 30-22 upset of Syracuse. Such a victory only adds confidence to a young team as No. 3 Texas (1-0) heads to Kenan Stadium this weekend. ``We know what we're up against,'' Bunting said. ``But it's fun to play the best - I've been that way in college and the pros. That's what our football program is going to stand for and that's what our football players believe. ``Win or lose, these kids are going to give every ounce of energy and right now I see a real focus in preparation the best I've seen so far. That's pretty easy when you get to play a team like Texas.'' Texas coach Mack Brown was the head man at North Carolina five seasons ago when the program's only loss was to Florida State. He left for the Longhorns before the Tar Heels rolled to a 42-3 win over Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl. In 1999, the Tar Heels went 3-8 under Carl Torbush, playing non-conference games against Indiana, Houston and Furman. Bunting said he's not interested in games against such teams, and jumped at the chance to play defending national champion Oklahoma to open 2001. ``It shows that the University of North Carolina is very serious about its football program and proves to recruits how good we want to be,'' Bunting said. ``There is no reason that this football program can't be a top 10 program just like Mack got it to be when he was here.'' Brown will be heading back to a stadium he coached in for a decade, but no players remain from his UNC era. ``There is no discussion about Mack Brown at practice,'' Bunting said. ``They don't even hardly know who Mack Brown is. It's not a focus at all with our players and they are the ones who are going out there to play.'' Brown agreed, saying last year's meeting was more emotional. ``This isn't about myself going back as much as its about we scheduled this at North Carolina to have a strong team to play against for the BCS. It's a tough out-of-conference game,'' Brown said. Texas has lost in the first or second game in three of Brown's first four seasons in Austin. ``We'll know a lot more about ourselves Saturday night when we get back home,'' Brown said. ``I would have worried about North Carolina not being very good or losing and our kids not being very focused, but then I saw the game (against Syracuse) Saturday night. We'll have to play good to win. They know that."

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/9/190162