The numbers are staggering nearly three decades later—11.5 points and 218 yards a game allowed over the 1996 and '97 seasons; two shutouts and nine more games with the opponent held to 10 points or less; eight Tar Heel defensive players being drafted into the NFL over two cycles.
Admittedly, offenses in college football in the mid-1990s weren't running hurry-up attacks all game and wielding quarterbacks and receivers who'd been playing in 7-on-7 leagues since kindergarten. But still …
It was a remarkable era of Carolina football from 1988 to 1997 with Carl Torbush calling the shots as the Tar Heels' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.