Special teams coach Joe Pannunzio thought he was getting a pat on the back from offensive coordinator Mark Whipple after Saturday's 52-17 victory against Virginia. Turns out his buddy was razzing him.

``Whip looked at me and said, `Man, you helped me a bunch,' '' Pannunzio said Wednesday. ``I said, `How is that?' He said, `Man, I knew we couldn't punt, so I had to call good plays.' ''

Whipple was just kidding, of course. But the trouble UM has had protecting punter Matt Bosher this season (opponents have three blocks) is nothing funny to coach Randy Shannon.

This week, Pannunzio and Shannon, who share the brunt of coaching the special teams, emphasized avoiding the same breakdowns in punt-protection schemes that have led to the blocks.

Last season, UM used a conventional punt scheme. Pannunzio said he switched to a spread formation this season because the Hurricanes had been having such a hard time returning punts against it, so he thought it would be more effective.

Pannunzio said he plans to keep the spread for the rest of the season and that no personnel changes are being made this week because no one in particular has been blamed for the breakdowns.

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