The press release that announced the end of Mark Paschal's football career pointed out that the senior linebacker is North Carolina's leading tackler, with 103 tackles.
Quite frankly, that number underestimates his value to the Tar Heels.
Not only was Paschal a leader in the locker room and on the field, but he played an invaluable role in the heart of Carolina's defense. The school announced Tuesday that Paschal suffered a spine injury Saturday and will have to quit playing football.
Having Paschal — the smallest of Carolina's linebackers at 6-0, 230 — in the middle allowed sophomores Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant to play with reckless abandon, knowing Paschal was their safety net. With that security, they were unleashed to pursue big plays on the perimeter, one reason Carolina's defense has generated so many turnovers this season.
Paschal left the N.C. State loss in the second half, long after Russell Wilson had torn the Tar Heels apart, so his injury didn't make a difference Saturday. But his absence, as both a player and leader, will hurt Carolina on Saturday against Duke and where ever the Heels end up bowling.
Paschal's career ended on the gloomiest of notes — getting blown out by State in his final game at Kenan Stadium — but he can take some solace in knowing that whatever Carter and Sturdivant go on to accomplish, this season and in the future, he helped make happen.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or 
