The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • C4

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So you just move Withers will move on to Ohio State, where serve as the co-defensive coordinator. And the Tar Heels, when they return from winter break, will move on to the Larry Fedora era. The for- mer Southern Miss head coach begins his official du- ties in Chapel Hill on Jan. 9. But most UNC players we- in the mood to talk about the future Monday night.

still lingering on this said UNC freshman running back Giovani Ber- nard. think that really kick in until we get back and start talking to the new coaching staff and things like that. for the most part, this entire break that we have coming up, I think be lin- gering on this Bernard had been domi- nant at times this season but Missouri held him to 31 yards on 13 carries. UNC, mean- while, had no answer for the running game. Missouri (8-5) gained 337 yards rushing and averaged 7.3 yards per carry.

The Tar Heels arrived in Shreveport with a rushing defense that ranked 14th nationally, but they appeared confused against a spread-op- tion ground game. James Franklin, the Mis- souri quarterback, gained 142 yards on 18 carries. And Kendial Lawrence added 108 yards rushing. Franklin and Lawrence combined to run for half of six touchdowns. The Tar Heels started fast and had a 7-0 lead after Bryn 22-yard touchdown pass to Dwight Jones.

But Missouri answered with 31 consecutive points and led 31-10 at halftime. had momentum and then really just get things Renner said. Afterward, Renner spoke with emotion about the Tar failure to win their failure to do much of any- thing in inal game. When it was over, Withers walked quickly to midfield to shake hands with Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, and then Withers hurried off the field. His tenure as inter- im head coach was over.

just take away what we went through to get to this said Renner, who passed for 317 yards and three touchdowns. went through a lot this season and showed the character of our coaching staff and these play- ers and this team. I say enough about this team. one of my favorite teams ever been on be- cause of what gone through and how close North Carolina 7 3 7 7 24 Missouri 14 17 7 3 41 FIRST QUARTER 22 pass from Renner (Moore kick), 12:12. 40 pass from Moe (Barrow kick), 10:06.

2 run (Barrow kick), 2:15. SECOND QUARTER Barrow 31, 11:11. 8 pass from Franklin (Barrow kick), 5:13. Mo- 9 run (Barrow kick), 1:58. Moore 21, :00.

THIRD QUARTER 44 pass from Renner (Moore kick), 4:22. 2 run (Barrow kick), 1:56. FOURTH QUARTER Barrow 26, 6:22. 17 pass from Renner (Moore kick), 4:08. (at Missouri).

NC Mo First downs 20 27 Rushes-yards 19-36 46-337 Passing 317 176 Comp-Att-Int 27-42-1 17-26-1 Return Yards 0 0 Punts Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 2-20 6-49 Time of Possession 25:40 34:20 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Carolina, Bernard 13-31, Renner 4-11, Blue 1-(minus 1), Highsmith 1-(minus 5). Missouri, Franklin 18-142, Lawrence 16-108, Moore 10-59, Culver 1-18, Moe 1-10. PA I a i a 27-42-1-317. Missouri, Franklin 15-23-1-132, Moe 1-2-0-40, Costello 1-1-0-4. Carolina, Highsmith 8-77, D.Jones 6-77, Bernard 6-36, Boyd 3-95, Wilson 2-11, N.Hurst 1-14, Byrd 1-7.

Missouri, Washing- ton 3-47, Egnew 3-39, Lawrence 3-13, Kemp 2-48, J.Jackson 2-15, Moore 2-2, McGaffie 1-8, Jones 1-4. Defensive back Braylon Webb (9) watches as North Carolina running back Gio Bernard fumbles during in the second quarter Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. SHANE KEYSER KANSAS CITY Missouri safety Kenronte Walker (30) hits the turf as North Carolina receiver Dwight Jones and Tigers defensive back Trey Hobson, right, battle for the ball. SHANE KEYSER KANSAS CITY UNC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1C Missouri tight end Michael Egnew (82), Terrell Reson- no and Dominique Hamilton (90) celebrate their 41-24 Independence Bowl win against North Carolina. ROGELIO V.

SOLIS AP Associated Press SAN ANTONIO Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is getting help in dealing with his new fame. The Baylor quarterback confirmed Monday that sometimes shadowed by secu- rity since being honored this month as the best player. Griffin said he understands that are going to want a piece of you when do- ing great He added it was a good problem to have and downplayed the new part of his celebrity. Baylor spokesman Heath Nielsen later clarified that the school paying for private bodyguards. He said an athlet- ic department employee fol- lows Griffin in public to mini- mize demands for autographs and pictures.

Baylor will play Washington in the Alamo Bowl on Thurs- day. Broncos right at home Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit was thrilled after he found out his team would be playing in a bowl close to home. The Broncos even have to leave the state to play in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl today against Purdue at Ford Field. a perfect situation for us as a Cubit said. Security comes to aid if we start off like that against Louisville, I think it will turn out as Wolfpack junior quarterback Mike Glennon agrees.

ever need to be in the situation of being down 27 points with 10 minutes left in the third he said. know we have the ability to come back, but you count on It was not just a stunning comeback that catapulted the Wolfpack into the postseason. N.C. State closed the regular season winning five of its final seven games, including an im- probable lopsided victory against Bowl Championship Series bowl-bound Clemson. rewarding as a coach to be around kids who never give up, who hang in there and keep playing hard no matter what the score said coach Tom whose Wolfpack teams have played in bowls in three of his five seasons.

hope the finish to this sea- son is a building block toward next season. What you want to happen is to have kids who are just happy to be here. games are won by teams that are Louisville certainly fits that description as well. The Cardinals earned a share of the Big East title while clos- ing the regular season with five wins in their final six games. Coach Charlie Strong has led the Cardinals to bowl appear- ances in his two seasons.

have a real chance to put a stamp on this he said. much was said before the season about how young we were and what we could do down the road. we made it to a bowl game and got a piece of the (league) Strong sees a similar story with the opponent. State is a team with a lot of talent that came together late in the season, much like we he said. have a de- fense that creates a lot of pres- sure and offensively they can keep you off balance.

have our hands Utter 704-358-5331 N.C. STATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1C After allowing his name and image to be used in a promo- tional flier for a party a violation of NCAA rules North Carolina receiver Dwight Jones was cleared by the NCAA to play in the Independence Bowl the day before the Tar Heels departed for Shreveport, La. Jones caught a pass on the first offensive play, and later caught a 22-yard touchdown pass that gave the Tar Heels an early 7-0 lead. Missouri did what it wanted to offensively. The Tigers rou- tinely had receivers running wide open, and also had plenty of room to run.

Missouri averaged 8.3 yards per play in the first half, when it accumulated 318 yards of offense. Independence Bowl officials said that 41,728 tickets had been sold for the game. The crowd at Independence Stadium was much smaller, though. About 15,000 people were in the stands at kickoff. The Tar rushing game struggled against Missouri like it rarely had this season.

rushing output of 36 yards was North lowest since gaining 3 yards rushing in a loss against N.C. State. ANDREW CARTER OBSERVATIONS Record: 13-14 2011 Independence Bowl: Missouri 41, UNC 24 2010 Music City Bowl: UNC 30, Tennessee 27, 2OT 2009 Meineke Bowl: Pittsburgh 19, UNC 17 2008 Meineke Bowl: West Virginia 31, UNC 30 2004 Continental Tire Bowl: Boston College 37, UNC 24 2001 Peach Bowl: UNC 16, Auburn 10 1998 Las Vegas Bowl: UNC 20, San Diego State 13 1998 Gator Bowl: UNC 42, Virginia Tech 3 1997 Gator Bowl: UNC 20, West Virginia 13 1995 Carquest Bowl: UNC 20, Arkansas 10 1994 Sun Bowl: Texas 35, UNC 31 1993 Gator Bowl: Alabama 24, UNC 10 1993 Peach Bowl: UNC 21, Mississippi State 17 1986 Aloha Bowl: Arizona 30, UNC 21 1983 Peach Bowl: Florida State 28, UNC 3 1982 Sun Bowl: UNC 26, Texas 10 1981 Gator Bowl: UNC 31, Arkansas 27 1980 Bluebonnet Bowl: UNC 16, Texas 7 1979 Gator Bowl: UNC 17, Michigan 15 1977 Liberty Bowl: Nebraska 21, UNC 17 1976 Peach Bowl: Kentucky 21, UNC 0 1974 Sun Bowl: Mississippi State 26, UNC 24 1972 Sun Bowl: UNC 32, Texas Tech 28 1971 Gator Bowl: Georgia 7, UNC 3 1970 Peach Bowl: Arizona State 48, UNC 26 1963 Gator Bowl: UNC 35, Air Force 0 1950 Cotton Bowl: Rice 27, UNC 13 1949 Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma 14, UNC 6 1947 Sugar Bowl: Georgia 20, UNC 10 NORTH CAROLINA BOWL HISTORY.