Michael Carter II: "Everybody's motivated around here, moreso because it's UNC"

Duke safety Michael Carter II spoke about the importance of Duke’s rivalry game against UNC this Saturday.

“It is important to everybody in that locker room to keep that bell,” he said, referring to the Victory Bell that goes to the winning team in the annual contest. “It also is important because it is a Coastal game.”

Carolina and Duke are both vying for a chance to win the ACC Coastal Division. Each is a game behind leader Virginia in the loss column, and a loss could be fatal to the hopes of either team.

“Coach always talks about how the most important game is the next one,” he said. “So this is the next game. This game is like a deciding factor, but at the end of the day, this is the most important game. We’re focused on UNC and keeping that bell.”

Carter has been Duke’s kickoff returner this year, but he’s had trouble finding room to run. His longest return has been just 31 yards this season, and Damond Philyaw-Johnson got a look at the position on Saturday. “I think we’ve just got to trust everybody, from the front line to the back wedge to the off returner,” Carter said. “Whoever the returner is back there, just hit it and trust everybody in front of them to do their job.”

Carter said the team is motivated for the upcoming game, coming off the tough loss.

“We take it as motivation,” he said. “We had a not-so-good showing out on TV. We want to carry that to this week coming up. Everybody’s motivated around here—a little moreso because it’s UNC.”