DATE: Friday, August 22, 1997               TAG: 9708220976

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL                       LENGTH:   75 lines

TAR HEELS' FOOTBALL SHRINE WILL HELP THEIR RECRUITING PLAYERS LIKE CURRY UNDOUBTEDLY WILL BE IMPRESSED ON THEIR VISITS TO CHAPEL HILL.

There are many good reasons why Ronald Curry, the splendid Hampton High School athlete, might decide to attend the University of Virginia.

Curry, a two-sport star in football and basketball, has narrowed his choices to Virginia and North Carolina.

Cavalier fans hopefully believe their school may have an edge.

It is his state university, has a world class academic reputation and a winning football program.

What more could he want?

Well, North Carolina will show Curry ``what more'' when he makes his recruiting visit on Nov. 8, when the Tar Heels play the most-anticipated game of the ACC season against Florida State.

That's exciting enough, but even more impressive will be the marvelous new $47 million football complex in the west end zone.

Coach Mack Brown calls the still-under-construction Kenan Football Center the finest in the league.

The building, which makes the Dean Dome look like a dump, includes offices, locker rooms, meeting rooms, recreation rooms, and dining hall.

The university sent scouts to 10 of the best facilities in the nation - schools such as Michigan, Notre Dame, Colorado, and Penn State - to gather ideas.

It is being built by the same company that erected the Carolina Panthers' Ericsson Stadium.

``The only times players have to leave this building is to go to class and sleep,'' Brown said Thursday as he ushered visiting ACC media through the building.

``Before they have had to go all over campus - one place to eat, another to their study hall, another for the training room. Having it all under one roof is going to save them time.''

The convenience is nice. But it is the sheer elegance of the building that overwhelms.

Even when the lights are dimmed at night, there remains a blue and white glow. The elevator plays the UNC fight song between stops. The carpet throughout is plush baby blue.

There is a theater where visitors can watch film of Carolina's greatest athletes in action, and a room of honor that recalls more history.

Whether it is Curry or any other outstanding prospect, the building surely gives North Carolina a recruiting edge - as if they need it.

Brown brought in one of the nation's top classes for this season, and there already was enough talent that the Heels are picked as one of the top 10 teams in the nation.

Like it or not, the new facility will make it tougher for Virginia coach George Welsh and his staff to keep more outstanding prep talent from straying across the border.

The Heels already have had easy pickings in Hampton Roads.

Sophomore All-America corner back Dre' Bly and starting sophomore fullback Deon Dyer are both from Chesapeake.

``The new building is very pretty,'' Bly said. ``I feel we are one of the top teams in the nation and now we have one of the top facilities.

``It has to help recruiting because it shows the commitment the school is making to football.''

Senior quarterback Chris Keldorf predicts the Heels can recruit ``anyone in the nation once they show them the new fieldhouse. It definitely is going to make a big difference. It is just unreal.''

The players will pass under a canopy of blue thunder and lightning as they run from the locker room to the field before games.

``I can't wait to do that,'' Keldorf said.

Brown said the Heels didn't need to build such a mansion.

``We already were winning with this,'' he said, pointing to the present fieldhouse.

``But it shows football is important here. If there was any question about our commitment, it has been answered.''

If there was any question about North Carolina's future, that may have been answered, too. What remains to be answered is how impressed Mr. Curry will be. MEMO: Coming Saturday: Virginia.

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