The Tar Heels came out of the gate running and never looked back. UNCstruck first and often in Jacksonville. Quarterback Chris Keldorf threwfor 161 yards in the first quarter alone. It was an impressive debut fornew head coach Carl Torbush, one that left an impression on the many fanswho made the trip to the Sunshine State.
You would think after a long day in the Gator Bowl and a flight back toRDU, Tar Heel fans might feel a little weary. That just wasn't the caseas WRAL'sLen Besthoffmetthe masses. Among the most pumped up folks on hand, UNC coach CarlTorbush.
"As a football team, I think this was the best game we played all year,"Torbush explained. "I think we really put in together offensively,defensively with the special teams. For the first time this year, weplayed some good halves. This is truly the first four quarters we haveput together."
UNC Athletic Director Dick Baddour isn't sure how the outcome of the gamewill affect the team's final standing. He believes the team will eitherremain at number five or get bumped up to number four.
Tar Heel fan Bill Moore was beaming as he deplaned at RDU. He says theteam is very supportive of their new coach. For Moore the trip was a verygood time. He hopes the Heels can play for a national title next year.
In spite of Torbush's triumph, he has no plans to coach another game fromthe press box.
"I don't see that it's feasible, the reason being that next year I need tobe the head coach of the university," said Torbush. "Today I was the headcoach, but more so the defensive coordinator. I think going into theSpring, we'll have to make some adjustments so I can get acclimated todoing what I'd like to do on the field instead of the press box."
The 11-win season is only the third the team has had in 107 years. The 42points scored in the Gator Bowl are the most scored in UNC's 22 bowlappearances.
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
