With his facemask not hiding most of his face like it typically does, the lone senior of the UNC linebacking corps spoke to the media — flashing his signature energetic smile.
But with the mere mention of 2013’s game against East Carolina, a 55-31 trouncing by the Pirates at Kenan Memorial Stadium, Hughes’ grin disappears, his brow furrows.
Hughes led the UNC defense against ECU with nine total tackles, two for a loss. But UNC’s overall performance — specifically the defense’s — wiped away his smile on that day, too.
“I can’t even try to take credit for anything as far as tackling, because we lost,” Hughes said. “And at the end of the day, stats don’t matter in that game after you see that scoreboard.”
Now, with a chance for revenge looming, the UNC defense needs energy, specifically from Hughes, to contain the high-octane ECU offense in Greenville Saturday.
Ron West, a co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, said Hughes’ ability to energize the defense is crucial for UNC, which has forced nine turnovers thus far.
“He’s a very competitive guy, very hard-nosed. He’s a physical player,” West said. “He brings what I call a great energy to our football team. A very positive energy, and a very hard-nosed energy.”
In 2013’s showdown, UNC lacked that energy, as the Pirates’ offense amassed 603 total yards — the second most ever allowed by the Tar Heels in Kenan — on 101 plays, the most plays an opposing team has ever run against UNC.
