With a healthy Keldorf, Carolina can aim high

Sporting News, The, April 14, 1997 by Tom Dienhart, Mike Huguenin

A thumb's-up sign from a doctor in March could translate into an index finger extended skyward in November for North Carolina fans.

That's right, the Tar Heels have a great chance to be a No. 1. Maybe not in the nation but in the ACC, a league that has been dominated by Florida State since it entered the conference in 1992.

The source of optimism was a recent report that Tar Heels quarterback Chris Keldorf had successful surgery March 31 to remove disks from his back. Doctors say he should be fully cleared for preseason practice, which begins August 8. Keldorf suffered a season-ending fracture dislocation of the ankle during a November 23 game at Duke and didn't play in the Tar Heel's Gator Bowl win over West Virginia. But he did participate in spring practice, which began in mid-February and ended March 21.

That's why you'll find many smiling faces as you walk down Franklin Street in Chapel Hill this spring, despite the North Carolina basketball team's loss to Arizona in the Final Four. Indeed, 1997 is shaping up as perhaps the best season in Tar Heels football history. At the least, it's the most anticipated since the 1980 and '81 campaigns, when the Heels wen 11-1 and 10-2, respectively. It's hard to believe coach Mack Brown went 1-10 in each of his first two seasons (1988 and '89). Since then. Brown has led North Carolina to a 57-25-1 mark--including last year's 10-2 record--and five bowls. But the Heels have yet to beat Florida State in the Brown era. That could change this year, especially with a healthy and hearty Keldorf directing traffic, a monster defense and the Seminoles having to visit Chapel Hill on November 8.

Keldorf, a first-team All-ACC pick last season, set school single-season passing records for yards (2,347), completions (201), attempts (338) and touchdown passes (23). He also established a school mark for consecutive passes without an interception (143).

All of this from a quarterback who looks more like a linebacker (6-5, 230) and began his career at Utah State as a tight end. After deciding he'd rather play upright than in a three-point stance. Keldorf left Utah State for El Camino College (Calif.). But he found Steve Sarkisian there and transferred to Palomar College (Calif.), where Keldorf proceeded to turn heads. Now he's healthy, happy and headed for big things.

Tom Dienhart and Mike Huguenin cover college football for The Sporting News. E-mail them at colfb@sportingnews.com and see their responses at www.sportingnews.com and on our AOL site (keyword: TSN).