After an 0-3 start, the Tar Heels roared back following a 41-9 thrashing of Florida State and won eight of its last 10 games.
That stretch included a Peach Bowl triumph on New Year's Eve, an appropriate finish to an unlikely turnaround.
And it also taught a valuable lesson.
"It's not how you start, it's how you finish," said junior tailback Willie Parker.
Four months later, those words still ring true. UNC will conclude spring practice Saturday with its annual Spring Game at 1 p.m. at Kenan Stadium, and the team is primed to answer some of the questions observers had entering the spring.
As in past years, the offensive line is one of the Tar Heels' major concerns. After losing center Adam Metts to graduation, left tackle Greg Woofter left the team, leaving the line with holes at its most important positions.
UNC hired a new offensive line coach, Hal Hunter, in the offseason, and players have responded well to the former Indiana offensive coordinator.
"It's really worked out well with him coming in here," said left tackle Skip Seagraves, who will vie for a starting job. "We've really gelled, both as a unit on the line and as a player-coach relationship."
Another spot where the Tar Heels were decimated by graduation is at linebacker. Starters David Thornton, Merceda Perry and Quincy Monk all were seniors last season.
