Because it's Friday....

[TarHeelNation11]

Let's watch some Gio Bernard. One of my favorite all-time Tar Heels. This game is far enough in the past now that I can enjoy Gio's performance without getting all upset that our comeback was for naught.

Gio was a BAD man at Carolina. He was quick as lightning but could still deliver the thunder at the end of a play

 

[WoadBlue]

If he had come back, he would have been in the Heisman hunt.

 

[Archer2]

What a player, one of my all time favorite Tar Heel backs.

 

[Raising Heel]

Good find, THN. That video shows so many of the things that made Gio special.

- fearless between the tackles
- great vision to find a sliver of daylight running inside
- often made the first tackler miss, and hard to bring down one-on-one
- great hands as a receiver

The offensive line with 5 NFL guys deserves some credit, but a lot of those plays would have been unsuccessful without a running back of Gio's caliber. One of my favorite Heels ever.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

^ to add to your list of Gio's traits: SPEED. I don't remember the minute mark but there's a play where he busts it outside and looks to have no angle but beats the Dukie to the sideline, shrugs him off, and gets 6-10 more yards or so. His speed is overlooked, IMO. He's fast even for NFL standards as we have seen with his Bengals play.

I also like his big gainer on a screen pass early in the highlights where big Coop was running with him downfield looking to hit somebody.

 

[grillheel]

Now you've gone and done it THN11! I'm starting to get a little excited about football season and I know I'll regret it! Damn you!

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Now you've gone and done it THN11! I'm starting to get a little excited about football season and I know I'll regret it! Damn you!

It's tradition. You must build up so you can be torn down. Circle of life. That sorta thing