The team Bunting built unveiled soon

CHAPEL HILL -- To his work as North Carolina's football coach, John Bunting has always brought the wild-eyed look of the linebacker he was at Carolina and in the NFL.

And his results have looked a little unhinged, too.

In five seasons in Chapel Hill, Bunting has delivered big hits and big misses on his way to a 24-36 record. His Tar Heels have beaten Miami and Florida State. They've also given up 69 points to Louisville and set a Kenan Stadium record for the biggest loss (59-7 vs. Maryland in 2002).

Off the field, Bunting has done more kickoffs than Connor Barth. He booted players who couldn't abide by the law, team rules, academic standards or common sense.

As he enters his sixth season, Bunting's intense look has changed. He has evolved from pro linebacker to college coach. There's something beyond "see it, hit it" in his eyes. It's something steadier, quieter. It's confidence.

"I believe everything is in place in our program," he said. "Now it comes down to wins and that's what we need to do."

Last season, Carolina went 5-6 despite leading at the half in seven games, being tied in one and within four points in two more. This season, Bunting thinks his team -- a team toughened by playing top-five schedules the past two years -- can finish off opponents, even Notre Dame in South Bend.

"We're capable of winning every game we play. I really believe that," he said.

This may be the year of fruition for Bunting after years of reshaping Carolina football. When he arrived, he inherited a team that went 8-5 and beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl. But when that group, which included junior Julius Peppers, left, his real work began.

While in the NFL as a player and assistant coach, Bunting heard Carolina football referred to as having "a country club" atmosphere. That wasn't how it was when he played under Bill Dooley. He came back to make it that way again.

Even for a man with Bunting's work ethic -- he made it as an NFL linebacker despite being undersized and less than fleet -- the job of making Carolina football the way he wants it has been daunting.

"When I took the program over, there were misfits here and there was a tragedy of academics," he said.

In his first season, Bunting said he had 30 players with GPAs under 2.0. By spring practice of the following year, he had 40 under 2.0.

Now he has zero.

"I'm not going to run a football program that doesn't make players accountable," he said.

For Bunting, that process starts with recruiting.

"When I did my coaches' evaluations in June, the No. 1 message to them was to continue to make character the most important part of our recruiting. You are responsible for making sure we get the right kids on this team," he said.

After years of erratic results, years of thrilling wins and boneheaded losses, Bunting said Carolina football is ready to show consistent excellence. He brought in offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti from high-scoring Fresno State, but he said the offense will reflect a broader approach devoted to basics -- stout defense, good kicking and a minimum of penalties and turnovers.

"I want efficiency. I want mistake-free offense. You need to have play-makers -- we've got them right now -- but you've got to play great defense," he said.

It's a fundamental plan by a no-frills coach. If it works, the uneven and unpredictable performance of Carolina football could become something solid, intimidating and successful -- Bunting Ball.

This will be a season that shows whether he has the vision to take Carolina to an elite level. He has everything else he needs.

He has the staff he wants. He has discarded the players he doesn't. He has outstanding facilities and a great university to sell. He has recruited with an eye toward good character and strong work ethic and has landed some impressive recruiting classes.

There's still unfinished work and a lingering sense of a program not quite in balance. Bunting is still deciding whether to use one quarterback or two. The receiving corps is largely without experience.

But there's fresh thinking behind the offense. The defense should be strong. The kicking game should be impressive. And there's a head coach who's done fixing what he inherited and ready to show what he can build.

"We're at the cusp," Bunting said. "Now we have to finish."