The deal is done and the UNC athletic department hauled in the big score, signing Butch Davis to head up the Tar Heel football program. In the spirit of looking ahead, Bret Dougherty outlines his Five Wishes For Carolina Football -- some trends Bret would be psyched to see completed during the Davis Era at UNC.

"5 Wishes'

by Bret Dougherty, December 1 , 2006

Well, look who has the last laugh around ACC Football for once... the followers of the Tar Heel Nation!

Carolina fans went from cueing up Sinatra singing 'Send in the Clowns' to Caron Wheeler belting out Soul II Soul's 'Back to Life' in the space of one season.

Well, while everyone else is sequestering their philosophies of why universities will never be able to have big-time football and basketball within the same athletic program, or saying that UNC will never attract big-time football, this is your time.

The phenomenal feat of hiring Butch Davis has shoved the UNC Football program right into the national spotlight.

With that feeling of being back on the stage, here are a few winter wishes that I would like to share while following the Tar Heels' development over the next few seasons.

1.) Bring back the 'Freaks' - Each and every program talks about the athleticism and speed that they've picked up during the recruiting season, but not every program can develop and produce the 'freaks.'.

What do you mean by 'freaks', you ask?

The athleticism of a Julius Peppers, the upper-body strength of a Marcus "Wolverine" Jones, the 6'8" height and long reach of an Austin Robbins, the leg power from the "Earl Campbell"-like legs of a Natrone Means, or the tree-trunk arms of a Greg Ellis are all 'freaks.' These are the athletes who have the physical attributes that change game outcomes.

Throughout the '90s, the UNC Football program was known for these types of physical specimens, who were both multi-dimensional players and 'freak' type talents.

With the arrival of Coach Davis, it seems that these types of athletic talents will be finding their way back to Chapel Hill…quickly.

In his debut press conference, Davis touched upon his fondness for the multi-faceted athlete, and one only has to look at the cases of Jeremy Shockey, Clinton Portis, and Ed Reed to see that he has a passion for developing players with a 'freak' types of talent such as speed, leg-strength, and overwhelming power into solid All-Americans and NFL All-Pro type performers.

Referring to the oft-mentioned case of former "U"/Miami All-American, Santana Moss, Davis is not afraid to be creative in his ways to attract high-end multi-skilled athletes into the football program.

Due to the lack of football scholarships from the punishments handed down before Davis's tenure, Davis managed to enroll Moss at Miami U. on a track scholarship. Moss not only emerged as a first-team All-American in football, but he also became one of the most outstanding track athletes in the Big East during the past decade. He combined his 'freak'-like speed with a hard work ethic, to become a major element in Davis's early success at Miami.

Many football followers have been leaning toward the belief that the 'freak' talents that are combined into two-sport superstars ( for example, Peppers, Ronald Curry, and Mike Thomas) are a dying breed. The multi-sport athlete has become an exotic animal in a sports world that filled with skill development camps and sports academies. The role of the specialized one-sport athlete has come to dominate today's youth culture.

Yet, one only had to view the past few ACC Football and Track and Field seasons to be reminded how two-sport athletes influence games outcomes. The 'freak' speed of former Clemson cornerback standout and ACC 100m Track Champion, Tye Hill, who was the St. Louis Rams' first round pick in 2006, was renowned for locking down wide receivers, and he was a building block for the new-found culture of speed at Clemson under Tommy Bowden.

"Freak" talents such as Moss, Hill, and former Tar Heel mainstays Leon Johnson and Brian Simmons, typified the athletes that the Tar Heels developed into NFL draftees and were the trademarks of UNC Football. Davis must, and will, capture and develop those types of athletes to Carolina…Bring back the 'freaks.'

2.) Re-Establish Southern Virginia Recruiting Pipeline - Undeniably, the importance of retaining in-state football talent is of 'Defcon 5' importance for North Carolina. When elite talents leave the state for national programs, the initial impact is devastating to the long-term reputation and performance of the program.

However, the Chesapeake and Southern Virginia area have always provided cover for the Tar Heels when the so-called elite athletes have flown to programs with a higher national status.

Even passive Tar Heel football followers are quick to remember Lawrence Taylor, Amos Lawrence, William Fuller as the UNC stand-outs from Virginia, who dominated the ACC with their play. But even below the superstar level, players such as Dre Bly from Chesapeake, Dwight Hollier and Ronald Curry from Hampton, Bracey Walker from Portsmouth, were the mainstays of a pipeline that was provided a steady flow of talent to the UNC football program.

Where has that pipeline gone?

The initial reaction is to say Virginia Tech. Yet, UNC was always able to pull talent out of that area when UVA was a tough player there. Although rumors abound whether or not the top recruit of 2006 for Tar Heel football, U.S. Army All-American Bowl nominee, Jarrell Miller, will eventually play at UNC are valid. UNC proved that top talent can be pilfered from the recruiting hot-bed that is predominately owned by Virginia Tech and UVA.

Maybe, there's something in the Chesapeake water that makes athletes different. Outside of UNC, you only have to look at Michael Vick, Allen Iverson, and Alonzo Mourning to name a just a few of the athletes that have made the smartest recruiters plunder the region over the past decade or so.

The players from that region have been special for UNC football.

Here's to hoping that Butch Davis and North Carolina can re-capture some of that cauldron of talent.

3). Who's coming from the NFL? -- With all of Butch Davis's ties to the NFL over the past decade, you have to wonder who will say 'adieu' to the NFL ranks to come work in Chapel Hill.

There's no doubt about the impact a former NFL player can make. Look at the job former All-Pro linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, Ken Norton Jr., is doing for the USC linebacker corps. Every school needs a guy who can 'walk-the-walk.' Look at guys like Eric Bienemy.

You remember, Eric Bienemy...Don't you? At Colorado, Bienemy ran roughshod with a bang-and-run style while flashing Omega Psi Phi symbols in Big 12 end-zones throughout the early '90s.

What's special about Bienemy is that he returned to his alma mater at Colorado in 2000 after a solid NFL career to become one of the nation's top recruiters and running backs coaches in the country. His running backs amassed 3,000 yards in 2002, and he left Colorado for his hometown of Los Angeles to build UCLA's stellar backfield from 2003-2005, where he nurtured and tutored Maurice Jones-Drew with his running and pass-catching abilities.

Drew came out of nowhere to steamroll the NFL this season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and watching his development should leave no one to wonder how much Bienemy may have played a role in his development.

What every program needs is an 'Eric Bienemy.' A guy who knows the culture of his alma mater and home region, has his degree, owns a NFL resume, and is 'down' with today's youth.

North Carolina could have an "Eric Bienemy" in Tommy Thigpen.

Thigpen had a short career with the New York Giants and Barcelona Dragons, then finished his degree at UNC and did an excellent job of recruiting at Illinois. Although the wins weren't there with John Bunting over the past two years, no one can argue that the recruiting classes have improved significantly over the past two years. A major reason for that improvement has to be credited to Thigpen.

Davis is all about class and building a program the 'right' way. He knows the NFL game, and no one has pumped talent into the professional ranks the way he has. With the amount of NFL talent that has passed through Chapel Hill, who's going to come back to pass along NFL skills and relate with the youth?

Thigpen has done an excellent job of recruiting with this season's potential signees, offensive lineman, Lamar Milstead and linebacker, Danorris Searcy. Guys like Tommy Thigpen, are a strong start.

4.) Enhance the N.C. State Rivalry – With the Tar Heels hiring of Butch Davis to step up the program, be rest assured that N.C. State will not lay dormant with replacing Chuck Amato in the now fiercely competitive ACC. 'The Pack's' supporters have pumped a lot of revenue into the football program, and the already intense rivalry is going to grow over the next few seasons, which is great.

However, this interstate rivalry just doesn't have the kick that it should.

Why?...You ask. The best and natural rivalry for Tar Heel football is consistently buried in the mid-season.

One click and a scroll with your cable guide this past weekend displayed the great traditional battles that exist between in-state 'public' schools. Games such as Oregon/Oregon State, South Carolina/Clemson, Georgia/Georgia Tech, Arizona/Arizona State, Florida/Florida State not only close each and every season, but they're also intense…and even better yet, fun for the fans inside their respective states.

Thanksgiving Saturday is an incredible day for college football. Why not provide the fun of a perennial UNC vs. N.C. State football game on Thanksgiving weekend to the fans within the state?

People try to press that the UNC/Duke game as a great finish to the football season…Those people need to leave their collared shirts draped over their cubicles. The fact that Tar Heel fans have to be relegated to a drab rivalry with Duke that is only competitive when the Tar Heels are at their worst is a sham.

The people's rivalry in this state belongs to UNC/N.C. State.

Over the years, both programs have used each other as the barometer for their success. To set off this decade, the now dismissed John Bunting and Chuck Amato generated enough heat between each other during their recruiting wars to last a decade.

If you don't think the reasons are there for a late-season Thanksgiving weekend game, go ask the people in towns such as Kinston, Asheboro, Faison, Mebane, Yadkinville, and Robersonville, this question - what game means the most to people in the state of North Carolina during a football season? Hands down…It's the North Carolina/ N.C. State game. Despite this season's UNC/Duke 45-44 barn-burner to close this season, the hype around that rivalry game over the past decade has been fizz. Two weeks ago, conversely, a crowd of 54,000 paid to watch a the 1-9 Tar Heels play the 3-8 Wolfpack at Kenan Stadium.

In football, the Tar Heels need 'The Pack', and 'The Pack' needs the Tar Heels. Here's to hoping that the fans can have a perennial game that has meaning.

Use the game to bookend the season.

5.) Uniform Change – This request may be asking to pry the cap off the sewer because of the impassioned fervor the subject of uniforms always creates. Yet, here it goes…

Change the "unis." Yes, there is a psychology to uniform design. Don't listen to people that say that uniforms don't matter. Think uniforms don't matter. Hell, the only reason why people are still in the stands in at Oakland Raiders games in Alameda County is for the silver and black. Think about it.

The time has come to harden the "Carolina Blue" helmet. Let's go with a darker blue.

Although students today would prefer to wear a generic North Face parka, UNC still has one of the best letterman's jackets of all-time. The dark blue letter jacket with the white interlocking letters is one of the baddest @$$ badges of honor for earning a letter at a major university.

The suggestion here:

Incorporate the UNC letterman's jacket with subtle stripes of Carolina Blue and grey. Look at the design of the New York "Football" Giants. Classic, timeless, stellar design allows for hard-@$$ football. And Nike won't hire me...What 'evs?

And if you are from Nike reading this article, please, please…please. North Carolina is not Miami. North Carolina is not Oregon, and does not share the style of the U of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. North Carolina is not asking for swooshes, slashes, wack-@$$ space numbers, or dock plate imprints to be emblazoned upon our jersey. And most definitely do not…do not throw black in there! It just doesn't fit.

Keep it simple, solid, and tasteful. Yet, mean…In a "Longest Yard" type of way. "Got It?"

*****

(** Writer's Note: … By the way, this suggestion should not be extended toward the basketball program. The mash-up concept is just plain 'wack.' The UNC basketball uniform is the hoops equivalent to the uniforms worn by the Penn State, Alabama, and USC football programs. The 'Julian' is unique, simple, classy, tasteful, with a streak of counterculture.

The fact that Nike continues to mess with the Alexander Julian masterpiece is beyond words. The trendy slashes on the necklines of the new 'unis' and cuts are comparable to a World Series telecast on Fox Sports. Just brutal. Lose the sound effects, will ya'? )

We take our 'unis' serious, here. Keep it local. Bring back Alexander Julian for a local design. Re-create the masterpiece that was advised by Jordan, Smith, and Julian. This is family y'all. Create something new, powerful, and tasteful. That's North Carolina.

*****

So there's the list of five wishes for some new -- and renewed -- traditions we would like to see at North Carolina. The Butch Davis era is off and running.

If you're a major UNC football follower, what type of attitude should you expect to see coming your way over the next while? Well, you may want to check out a quote that appeared in the September issue of FHM Magazine from former Miami standout and All-Pro, Edgerrin James, of the Arizona Cardinals, on the attitude that players brought on the field while he was played for Butch Davis at the University of Miami.

According to FHM, which did a feature article about the abundance of Miami players that are in the NFL, (by the way, I can't believe that I'm using FHM as a source...) James stated:

"We have a little slogan at UM. When you leave the locker room, you say you're going to "hit, stick and bust d!<%. THEN what else? Talk $#!^."

With Butch Davis's arrival the Tar Heels could do just that...Bring on the spotlight!

Head-Knockin',

BD

Bret Dougherty is an alum and is earning his MBA at the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at UNC-Chapel Hill. He appears as a host of WXYC FM 89.3 Chapel Hill 'SportsRap.Visit his website at www.bretdougherty.com and his blog, "The IronDog Chronicles, which can be reached at www.irondogchronicles.com. He may be reached at bret.dougherty@gmail.com.