MrTarheel.com

2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE!

Sept 5 Citadel - home * WIN*
Sept 12 UConn - away *WIN*
Sept 19 ECU - home
Sept 26 Ga Tech - away
Oct 3 UVA - home
Oct 10 Ga Southern - home
Oct 22 Fla St(Thurs) - home
Oct 29 Va Tech(Thurs)- away
Nov 7 Duke - home
Nov 14 Miami - home
Nov 21 BC - away
Nov 27 NC State- away



Want to add the schedule to your Outlook calendar?
Instructions: Right click on the link below and select Save Target As...then save it to your PC.
Now just pop into Outlook and choose File, Import and Export. Then select Import from another program or file, hit Next, then choose Microsoft Excel and hit Next again. Now locate the Excel file you created earlier, hit Next, select your Calendar, press Next again and check that Outlook finds the correct Range Name in your Excel file. Now press Map Custom Fields to verify how Outlook is mapping your Excel column headers to its own Calendar Appointment fields, changing if necessary, then hit OK, then Finish.

Download schedule for Outlook - not all gametimes set up yet



Good schedule for the Heels next season. Heels need revenge against the Pirates on Sept 19th, the Thursday night games will be huge for the program...play well and win one or both of those televised games and the program will get a big boost. I like ending the season with NC State.








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CAROLINA IS 2-0 on the season with wins over Citadel and UConn. As expected, the defense is strong and the offense is figuring things out after losing some key players. No problems there as DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS ...if the offense improves every week the Heels will be fine.

- Tar Heel defense is the #7 ranked total defense in the country.


2009 TAR HEEL FOOTBALL SEASON

This is year 3 of the Butch Davis era. I will be looking for the following this season:

1) A stronger, faster team

2) A more "smothering" defense

3) Big plays when needed


All indications are that most of the players have made tremendous gains in the weight room and with their speed development.

Our defense played well in stretches last year but tended to give up lots of yards....with a more experienced and faster lineup we should be able to lock down opponents more this year.

On offense and defense, we need to see the playmakers on the team make plays when it counts. We had a few of those last year ( remember the last play of the Miami game?) but then in other games we couldn't make a play to close out the game. I don't think we will score tons of points this year with all new receivers...we just need to move the ball and score when we get the chance.







2009 promo video by MrTarHeel!
view video



KEY 2009 PLAYERS

All you need to know are the first names: On Defense -

BRUCE
QUAN
MARVIN
DEUNTA
E.J.
KENDRIC


On Offense -

T.J.
SHAUN
GREG
RYAN
KYLE(yes, he's an offensive lineman)


Surprise Player of the Year?


Zach Brown is a linebacker. And he is fast. real fast.
"[The coach doing the timing] got all the coaches to come down and time him, and he ran a 4.26," Yates said. "Our whole team, the coaches, everybody, just erupted. They were in disbelief. The kid is 235, 240 pounds, and running a 4.26. That's insane."




MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2009 SEASON

Citadel
Heels Win
Heels should be 1-0

UConn
Heels win ( on the road). UConn lost a lot of starters.
Heels should be 2-0

ECU
Heels Win ( could go either way as ECU returns a lot of good players ). I give the edge to Carolina since we play at home.
Heels are 3-0

Ga Tech
I do not believe we beat Ga Tech in Atlanta. If we do then we have the makings of a great team.
Heels are 3-1

UVA
Heels Win
Carolina is 4-1

Ga Southern
Heels Win
Heels are 5-1 going into the Fla St game.

Fla State
Both teams have a lot of question marks. Assuming the Heels have no major injuries I say the Heels win in Chapel Hill on National TV.
Heels are 6-1 and ranked in the top 20.

Va Tech
Heels lose on the road
Heel are 6-2

Heels finish the season beating Duke, losing to Miami, beating BC and NC State ( the NC State game will be a thriller in Raleigh ).
A 9-3 season and a good bowl game for the Heels.




CURRENT UNC FOOTBALL NEWS






OLDER UNC FOOTBALL NEWS

Austin UNC's NEXT BIG THING
UNC's 300-pound defensive tackle Marvin Austin has the size and the determination to change the football fortunes for the Tar Heels.

Robbi Pickeral, Staff Writer

CHAPEL HILL - Marvin Austin doesn't do anything small. He stands 6 feet 3. Owns a necklace as thick as a rope. Can bench press 480 pounds. Boasts at least a half-dozen pairs of oversized aviator shades. And, according to several teammates, has the lung capacity to outtalk just about anyone. But the largest part of the North Carolina defensive tackle's personality -- and game -- is his determination. Which is another mammoth reason he's on track to lead the Tar Heels defense out of obscurity, and perhaps this season to a bowl.

And thus become, fittingly, UNC's Next Big Thing.

"When I put my hand down, I feel like a giant out there,'' said the 300-pound sophomore, whose team opens the season against McNeese State tonight. "I don't care how big you are, how fast you work. If you're stronger than me, I'll outthink you. If you're smart, I'll overpower you. If you're fast, I'm going to be quicker than you. Every time I'm out there, I'm just going to figure out how to be better than you.

"I'm going to do whatever I can to help my team win."

It's that sentiment that led him to Chapel Hill last season as new coach Butch Davis' first five-star Tar Heel recruit.

Rated the top defensive tackle prospect in click here to continue this article




THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME. Congrats to Kentwan Balmer being selected as a first round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers!













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ASSISTANT COACHING STAFF

John Blake - Assoc. Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Def. Line Coach



Many experts consider Blake to be the nation’s top recruiter. Most recently,CSTV’s Tom Lemming named Blake the top recruiter in the country in 2008. In February, Carolina signed its second consecutive outstanding recruiting class under Blake’s guidance. The previous year, Blake was responsible for the recruitment of defensive tackle Marvin Austin, the nation’s No. 1 high school defensive player.
Blake came to Carolina after serving three seasons at the University of Nebraska where he coached several outstanding defensive linemen, including2007 NFL first-round draft pick Adam Carriker (13th overall). In his first year,the Huskers ranked second in the Big 12 and 11th nationally in rushing defense. Nebraska allowed just 104.0 yards rushing per game, including a league-low 2.9yards per attempt. In 2005, Nebraska’s defense ranked in the top 30 nationally in all four major defensive categories, including being the top-ranked unit in thecountry for sacks and tackles for loss. In 2006, Nebraska was 9-4 during the regular season and accepted an invitation to play Auburn in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007. The Huskers defensive line was ranked the top defensive line unit in thecountry by CollegeFootballNews.com. Blake also coached in the Huskers’ 32-28 win over Michigan in the 2005 Alamo Bowl.
Head coach Butch Davis and Blake previously worked together as members of Jimmy Johnson's staff with the Dallas Cowboys. Blake joined the Dallas staff as defensive line coach after Davis was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1993.
A native of Rockford, Ill., Blake played for Barry Switzer at Oklahoma from 1979-82 where he earned All-Big Eight honors at nose guard. He later returned to his alma mater to serve as head coach of the Sooners from 1996-98.



John Shoop - Offensive Coordinator



John Shoop enters his second season as North Carolina’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Shoop developed an exciting offense in 2007 led by a pair of record-setting skill players. Quarterback T.J. Yates set the single-season school record in passing yards and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks set a schoolmark with 74 receptions. Carolina’s top four rushers were freshmen and all but one of the starting offensive linemen returns this fall, including all-star candidate Garrett Reynolds.
Shoop came to Chapel Hill after serving two seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He was Oakland’s quarterbacks coach in 2005, the tight ends coach in 2006 and was elevated to offensive coordinator for the final five games of the 2006 season.
Shoop began his coaching career as a volunteer quarterbacks coach at Dartmouth in 1991, then served as a graduate assistant at Vanderbilt from 1992-94, where he also earned a master’s degree in education.
A native of Oakmont, Pa., Shoop graduated from the University of the South in 1991.


Everett Withers - Defensive Coordinator/Def. Backs Coach



Withers came to North Carolina after serving one season as the University of Minnesota’s defensive coordinator in 2007.
Withers, 44, spent six seasons with the Tennessee Titans from 2001-06 under head coach Jeff Fisher. From 2002-04, Withers helped the Titans defense tally 57 interceptions, which was the most for the franchise over a three-year period since1993-95. The 57 interceptions also ranked fourth in the AFC and eighth overall during that time. The Titans totaled 21 picks in 2004, including 16 by the secondary.
Withers earned his bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State in 1985. He was also a standout defensive back and captain for the Mountaineers from 1981-85. Withers and his wife, Kara, have two children, Tia and Pierce.




MrTarheel's "Way in Advance" Predictions for 2008 !

McNeese State - WIN  * I was right!
( McNeese is not as good as App St so I don't think we will have a "Michigan" type upset here - do you like how I compared UNC Football to Michigan?)

Rutgers - Loss * I was wrong!
( Rutgers will be good again but lost some key guys on offense. This will be big for UNC if they can win but I give Rutgers the edge at their stadium)

VA TECH - WIN * I was wrong again.
( We get 'em in Chapel Hill and we get 'em early in the season. That's the key. They are losing a ton of guys....they will replace them but we have a chance early in the season. and we have been close in the past when they had better teams)

MIAMI - Loss - once again - I was wrong.
( Miami wasn't great in 2007 and will have a new QB in 2008. Even still, I think their talent level and year 2 under Shannon helps them win)

UCONN - WIN * Alright! I got one right!
( I think UCONN will be strong again but UNC gets the home win. )

NOTRE DAME - WIN
( After this win and after the prior week's win over UCONN everyone will say UNC football is back! Don't get too big for your britches yet. Notre Dame will be better but still not a great team. )

UVA - Loss
( I think UVA has our number. I don't know why. UNC won't be top 25 caliber yet.)

BC- WIN
( No Matt Ryan. Key losses at other positions. Butch will get this ACC win )

GA TECH - WIN
( New system for Ga Tech. Maybe they will be good the first year but I don't think so. Heels win. )

Maryland - Loss
( Maryland loses a lot but always seem to play well against the Heels. )

NC STATE - Win
( I think the Heels will be fired up for this one. State will be about the same in 2008 as in 2007 I think. Heels get 'em in Kenan )

DUKE - WIN
( new coach- UNC wins )

That's an 8-4 season for the HEELS! Decent bowl game. Their strength of schedule won't be high as the ACC will be down in 2008 I think. Many of the young players will shine during the season...not sure which ones yet but the overall age of the team will higher as will the talent level.




2 NEW TAR HEEL FOOTBALL VIDEO JAMs!










ECU game - photos of ECU getting ready for the game here

Enjoy these unique Tar Heel designs and more at Tar Heel Apparel

spring football update from tarheelblue.com

Spring football practice is a five-week compendium of introductions, auditions, experiments and evolution. It's an organized three-ring circus with a new coach here, emerging red-shirt freshmen and sophomores there, players tending to injuries on the sidelines and neophytes sweating and grunting in an effort to be noticed.

The results of Carolina's 2008 spring Petri dish will be on display Saturday when the Tar Heels present their Spring Showcase exhibition. Among the storylines to look for are a thumbs-up reception to new defensive coordinator Everett Withers, a dead-heat in the back-up quarterback competition, the maturation of Greg Little at tailback and the sprouting of potential contributors in the secondary.

"It will be not only a showcase, but a spotlight on some of the younger guys to find out how much they have grown this spring," coach Butch Davis says. "We're not going to learn much more about Garrett Reynolds than we already know. But we need to find out about our back-up offensive line, the second-team secondary. We need to see what Devon Ramsay and Ryan Houston can do running the ball."

The loss of its coordinator and three stout seniors doesn't seem to have been a major deterrent to the continued evolution of the Tar Heel defense. Led by a deep pool of players at tackle and a salty cadre of experienced and younger players jostling for position in the secondary, the unit has been aggressive, noisy and effective.

"We've got a little bit of a swagger on defense," sophomore cornerback Kendric Burney says. "We want to develop a big swagger by August. We can be a Top 25 defense, if not a Top 10 ....read the rest of this at tarheelblue.com


2008 Tar Heel Football "Game Changers"


Here are some players and positions to watch this season:

OFFENSIVE LINE
We could see 3 seniors and 2 juniors controlling the line this year. That could set us up for a special year running the ball and protecting the QB. Here are the guys:


Garrett Reynolds      Calvin Darity      Aaron Stahl      Kyle Jolly

Bryon Bishop

This is O-Line Coach Pittman's second year working with these guys....personally, I want to see Kevin Bryant hit the field ....he is 6-7 and 350 lbs. If he can learn to play then watch out. Massive.


Marvin Austin- Defensive Tackle
If Marvin can improve over his good play as a freshman then we could be solid on the d-line.



LINEBACKER: I think we will hear a lot about Bruce Carter and Mark Paschal this year.

Bruce Carter      Mark Paschal

Paschal played great down the stretch last year. He will be a senior this fall.


1 word. Deunta.
He was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007.He will be back as a sophomore this year to man the safety position.


Here are some of the reasons many Tar Heel fans think the Heels have a chance to improve this year.

Hakeem Nicks-WR
Brandon Tate-WR
Greg Little-RB

Tate and Nicks could be an awesome 1-2 punch at the receiver position this fall. and don't forget about Brooks Foster(WR). The dude can bench over 400 lbs...as a WR.


What worries me this year are some unknowns:
QB- TJ Yates had surgery in the off season.

Conner Barth is gone. Not sure how the other guys will do.

We still have a fairly young team....we do have lots of key seniors and juniors ...but we have more sophomores and freshmen than seniors and juniors overall.

UNC Football

Leadership on the Offensive Line

Jeff Saturday (BSBA ’97), otherwise known as No. 63 on the Indianapolis Colts offensive line, has had a very good year. Saturday, who plays center for the Colts, was widely considered to be one of the key drivers in the Indianapolis win over Chicago in the 2007 Super Bowl. After that, as a second-time AFC Pro Bowl pick, he helped the AFC team win over the NFC team in February.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Saturday says. He has grown in his leadership role on the offensive line, he adds. “This season, especially, we learned no one player can be everything to a team. A leader can only go so far. But if he gets everyone to buy in and work together, it makes us stronger as a team.”

And how did his time at UNC help prepare him for his NFL career? “I had a good time at UNC and learned a great deal,” Saturday says. “Mack Brown was my coach at the time. He instilled a strong work ethic in all of us.”

Academically, Saturday says his experience at UNC Kenan-Flagler mirrored his experience on the football team. “I had to work hard at Kenan-Flagler and work in a team. And it really paid dividends for me,” Saturday says.

While he can cite a few faculty members who had a strong impact on him, one professor he recalls with particular fondness is organizational behavior professor Dick Blackburn, who he had his last year at UNC Kenan-Flagler. “Blackburn taught me to look at companies from a different perspective other than just the numbers,” Saturday says. “For example, are your employees satisfied, and how might that affect productivity?”

The lessons learned have come in handy for Saturday as he has opened a number of commercial and residential real estate development companies in Florida, Texas, Indianapolis and his hometown of Atlanta.

As for the future, Saturday hopes to be with the Colts for the rest of his professional football career. “I’d like to see us build a dynasty with this team,” Saturday says. “Obviously I’ll always cherish my first Super Bowl, but to achieve something bigger would be icing on the cake.” And if there is such a thing as life after football for Saturday, he plans to put even more of his UNC Kenan-Flagler experience to work as he switches his focus to his real estate businesses.

Saturday lives in Carmel, Ind., with his wife, Karen, and their three children: Jeffrey, 6, Savannah, 4, and Joshua, 5 months.

Get ready for the season with this video jam
U2 Football Jam



THIS NEVER GETS OLD. 9 MINUTE VIDEO OF UNC OVER MIAMI





Video from Butch Davis to Tar Heel fans!



The words of Coach Davis



Great article on UNC tight ends coach Steve Hagans



Found this on the web!



UNC Mic Man
Remember "Lump"? click here for the Lump webpage


click here for MrTarheel's Richie Rich page


click here for MrTarheel's Tailgate page


click here for photos from 2006 Meet The Heels day in Kenan Stadium


Great article on 2006 Tar Heel football click here

Another Article on UNC Tar Heel Football click here

Former UNC Head Coach - John Bunting Bunting article

Article on 2006 team & Shelton Bynum click here



Article on Former Kicker - Conner Barth


Article on 2006 QB's - UNC Football


Article on JESSE Holley - UNC Football


Video of BC game opening kickoff


Sights and sounds of Rutgers game


Article on Tar Heel defense - Rutgers game


Tailback U - 1000 yards Rushers -UNC



GAME DAY - CHAPEL HILL INFO