By Eddy Landreth
Staff Writer
This week’s football game for Carolina does not count in the ACC standings, but there will be passionate play on the field Saturday night in Greenville.
The game, which kicks off at 8 p.m. at a sold-out Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, is the kind of backyard brawl in which emotions flow at a peak.
“Being that I’m from Kinston, it’s personal,†Quinton Coples said.
Many of the players from both teams competed or played together in high school.
Even the coaches are longtime friends. ECU head coach Ruffin McNeill and UNC interim head coach Everett Withers have been on several coaching staffs together. Their families are close.
But no one wants to lose to their close friends.
“I’ve played down there a couple of times [while coaching other teams], and I always thought it was an atmosphere for a great football game,†Withers said. “We know it’s a rivalry game. Our kids know a lot of their players. I know half their coaching staff.
“It seems like every stop Ruffin has made, I’ve made,†Withers said. “I know Erlene, his wife, as well.â€
What is great about Withers’ approach is that he didn’t say “it’s just another week†or “a team should not get up more for one opponent than another.†He acknowledged the nature and importance of this week’s game and the rivalry.
“When you are the University of North Carolina, you want to beat every school in this state,†Withers said. “We know what it is, and we have to make sure we handle our business. There is some emotion in this game. I believe it’s a rivalry, so let’s go play it.â€
Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner is from Virginia. Although this game does not carry the same emotion as it does for his North Carolina-bred teammates, he doesn’t want to win any less. He said he can understand the passion that runs deeply for his teammates in this rivalry.
Plus, the Tar Heels are coming off a bitterly disappointing loss at Georgia Tech last Saturday. That in itself is enough to get the team ready to play the Pirates.
“Losing is always tough, and it’s hard to get over it,†Renner said. “Luckily, we have a great opponent in ECU to play. We’re looking forward to going on the road again.
“We took a poll to see how many people knew a player for ECU,†Renner said. “About everybody in the room raised their hand.â€
Coples said the cell phones have been burning hot all week.
“I know it’s going to be unbelievable,†Coples said. “It’s a constant argument about who is going to win. This whole week, it’s just back and forth. We just take it for what it is.â€
To win this game, the Tar Heels will have to slow ECU’s wide-open spread offense. The Pirates run the ball, but their running game comes disguised as a passing game at times.
The Pirates threw the ball 42 times for 361 yards and three touchdowns in their 28-23 victory against the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Getting to the quarterback will not be easy, but hitting him will be necessary. ECU Quarterback Dominique Davis gets rid of the ball quickly in an effort to avoid sacks.
“Some of their passing game is considered their running game,†Withers said. “You have to look at it that way. You have to do what happened to us last week: You have to get them in third and 7-plus. Then you can get after the quarterback.â€