North Carolina football coach Butch Davis has been so thorough in his praise of UNC’s last two opponents that even former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz would blush.
One week after calling Clemson the best football team UNC had played so far — and not undefeated No. 6 LSU — Davis was at it again, showering praise on No. 25 Miami.
“By no stretch of the imagination at all, this is clearly the most physically gifted football team we’ve played,” Davis said. “They are playing extremely well right now.”
Holtz was famous for always making his team’s next opponent sound like a juggernaut.
That said, even cynics would admit Miami’s pass rush is fearsome.
Miami (4-2, 2-1 ACC) comes into Saturday’s matchup with the Tar Heels ranked fourth in the country in sacks, notching 3.3 per contest.
“They have some big guys up front on the interior, and they’re always a fast defense,” UNC offensive lineman Alan Pelc said. “They fly off the ball, and they’re just a really talented team. They’ll get after you.”
The prolific pass rush is a main reason why Miami also ranks fourth nationally in pass defense.
“They have an awful lot of talent and depth on the defensive side of the ball,” Davis said.