http://www.greensboro.com/sports/ac...cle_e1c8fca9-d140-53c1-917c-c530560d7560.html
CHARLOTTE — North Carolina’s new-look football defense helped carry the Tar Heels to an 11-3 record and the ACC championship game last season, even generating conversation for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Even after an improvement of more than 62 yards and 14.5 points allowed last season, cornerback Des Lawrence said today at ACC Football Kickoff that the Tar Heels’ defense isn’t getting the credit it deserves.
“They don’t respect us. We don’t feel like we get the right amount of respect that we deserve,” he said. “I believe that regardless of who you put out in front of us, we were able to make plays against anybody, and at the same time, we just didn’t get the same notoriety.”
Perhaps the biggest reason for the lack of respect is the last image of 2015 for the Tar Heels, allowing Baylor to run for 645 yards in the Russell Athletic Bowl, three weeks after Clemson ran for 319 yards in the ACC title game.
Those numbers have stuck with the defense throughout the offseason.
CHARLOTTE — North Carolina’s new-look football defense helped carry the Tar Heels to an 11-3 record and the ACC championship game last season, even generating conversation for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Even after an improvement of more than 62 yards and 14.5 points allowed last season, cornerback Des Lawrence said today at ACC Football Kickoff that the Tar Heels’ defense isn’t getting the credit it deserves.
“They don’t respect us. We don’t feel like we get the right amount of respect that we deserve,” he said. “I believe that regardless of who you put out in front of us, we were able to make plays against anybody, and at the same time, we just didn’t get the same notoriety.”
Perhaps the biggest reason for the lack of respect is the last image of 2015 for the Tar Heels, allowing Baylor to run for 645 yards in the Russell Athletic Bowl, three weeks after Clemson ran for 319 yards in the ACC title game.
Those numbers have stuck with the defense throughout the offseason.
