Three turnovers and a virtually insurmountable deficit will do that sometimes.
"It was the longest first quarter I've ever been a part of in my life," said Bunting, a linebacker for the Tar Heels from 1969 to 1971. "I didn't think it was going to end. I thought maybe they were adding time to the clock."
Of course, the opening quarter eventually did finish, as did the game for the Tar Heels, a 41-27 loss to No. 3 Oklahoma in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 75,423 at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
At the start of the game, the Tar Heels looked like a nervous high school team playing in the state finals for the first time. They turned over the ball five times in the first half, leading to 27 of Oklahoma's 41 points in the season opener for both teams.
UNC quarterback Ronald Curry lost the ball after being hit on the second play of the game, fumbled a snap and tossed an interception that was returned 47 yards for a touchdown.
Cornerback Michael Waddell, who later would run a punt back for a score, fumbled on a kickoff return. And tailback Andr
