Tar Heel Sports

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2010-10-11T13:25:00.001-07:00

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin has apologized for his "poor decisions'' that led to his dismissal from the team amid an ongoing NCAA investigation.

In a statement, Austin said Monday he regretted "my actions and the embarrassment I brought to the university and to the football program.'' That followed the school's announcement that Austin wouldn't play again for the Tar Heels for breaking rules on NCAA agent benefits, preferential treatment and ethical conduct.

Austin says he will pay "a severe price'' by missing his senior season and said he was sorry for letting down his teammates, coaches and fans.

Christopher Lyons, Austin's Miami-based attorney, released the statement and says it was "a very difficult day'' for his client.

InsideCarolina Has Yates A Little Bit Ahead OF Renner

2010-08-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

I think it is good news that it seems to be an open battle. Our offense is not going to be great this year, but i think we need to play the guy who won't turn it over a lot.Which one that is, I don't know, but the people of NC pay Davis a lot of money to make that decision.

I vote Renner though.

Brandon Willis To Leave UNC

2010-08-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

Inside Carolina is reporting that Brandon Willis has informed Butch Davis that he will withdraw from school and transfer. He was the no. 8 DT out of high school and we stole him last minute from that bastard Lane Kiffin. He says family issues played a huge part. I hope he gets everything better with his family and the best of luck.

UNC Basketball Picks Up An Invited Walk On From NC

2010-08-18T06:17:00.001-07:00

Since his days at Kansas, Roy Williams has always incorporated in-state walk-ons into his program. On Tuesday, the coach may have scored his best one yet when he convinced Class of 2011 power forward Jackson Simmons to walk on for the Heels and bypass a litany of mid-major offers.
The Tar Heels accepted a verbal commitment from Simmons, a 6-foot-7 rising senior out of Sylva (N.C.) Smoky Mountain. “It came out of left field,” Simmons said. “It’s truly an honor. I don’t really know what to say.” Roy Williams has been known to pick in-state kids with talent and give them a chance to earn their way and be a part of the state program. He did it often at Kansas but Simmons may be the most talented player to which he’s ever offered this opportunity. “I’m going to get to go to Carolina and play basketball at Carolina," Simmons said. "It’s a great deal. Coach Williams talked to me after the first (July evaluation) period. He said that he’s got some scholarship offers out and he gave me the proposition of being on the varsity as an invited walk-on and the scholarship stuff will play its way out.” Simmons took his team to the final four in the state last year and averaged 19.9 points and 12.5 rebounds. He played alongside Tyler Lewis and Adejhi Baru this summer with Team Loaded. “It just felt right," he said. "When I went down there I just felt the team had great continuity and I felt like I was willing to take the hard-working end and work my way up like Wes Miller, C.B. McGrath and Jerod Haase.” Simmons’ mother coached Lady Tar Heel Cetera DeGraffenreid in high school and now she’ll get to travel to Chapel Hill to watch her son. “It’s funny how things work out,” he remarked. Jackson had scholarship offers from Davidson, Charlotte and Old Dominion. He’s a gritty, hard-playing guy with a skilled face up package. Last summer he was evaluated by ACC schools and a host of mid-majors nationally including Butler. In creating this opportunity for Simmons, the Tar Heels lured in an extremely talented player who is taking a chance at walking on and earning his way. Anyone who knows Jackson Simmons shouldn’t be surprised that he accepted the challenge. “(Coach Williams) said I was the kid with the most skill that he's ever offered this to," Simmons said. "I want it and that’s what I really want. I want to prove him right.”

Trace Jones: UNC Football's Jack of All Trades

2010-08-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

He does some kicking, he does all the holding, but one thing he does not do is anything that involves theposition he use to play.

He grew up as a QB in Roanoke Rapids but at UNC he has seen the field in every other position besides QB. He has become the ultimate special teamer when he took over kick returning duties for Brandon Tate when he went down with his knee injury 2 years ago.

He is a walk-on, but his relationship with Casey Barth has produced a winning combo for the UNC special team unit. In two years he has not botched a hold which has undoubtably affected our seasons.

Trace Jones, a player no one knows but all coaches want.

Romar Morris Commits To The Tar Heels

2010-08-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

The 5-10 RB chose UNC over Georgia Tech, Clemson, South Carolina, and Tennessee.Morris , although on the small side at 171 lbs, brings to the table 4.32 speed and the break out ability that our offense seems to be missing this year. Great Pick Up.

Once we get this NCAA garbage past us and the season starts I think the Tar Heels will advance their program to the level it should have been for the last two years.

UNC Football: Baddour Worried About Program

2010-08-16T06:06:00.001-07:00

CHAPEL HILL -- Before North Carolina coach Butch Davis stepped to the podium Thursday for the Tar Heels' football media day, athletic director Dick Baddour took center stage.

For 10 minutes, Baddour addressed the ongoing NCAA investigation into members of the football team, again reiterating that the school will not discuss details of the case per the NCAA's request.

NCAA representatives were on the UNC campus July 12-13 to interview players, though the school has not identified which members of the football team were interviewed. Defensive lineman Marvin Austin and wide receiver Greg Little reportedly have been the focus of the inquiry.

However, The Herald-Sun reported on Thursday that the office of N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall has sent a letter to sports agents who are registered in North Carolina requesting that they save any information regarding contact with Austin, Little, Deunta Williams, Kendric Burney, Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant.

Even though Baddour did not share any new information, it was his first time in a room full of reporters since news broke of the investigation in mid-July.

Baddour said he does not think school officials have hidden from the review, but they are trying to work with the conflicting interests of the public's desire for information while trying to protect the rights of the individuals involved in the review and respecting the NCAA process.

"What you have to understand about an ongoing process is that it's obviously bad, and so as you get into things, you find out things," Baddour said after reading a prepared statement. "You may hear about something that wasn't on the table, so that sends you in a different direction.

"My position is [that] when it's over, we'll be in a position to talk about it and so I don't want to speculate. I don't think that's fair to the people involved, I don't think it's fair to the process, as well. I'm going to do what it is they ask me to do."

Baddour called the past few weeks a trying time for the school but said there is no timetable for when the NCAA investigation may conclude.

"It's territory that the University of North Carolina has not been in," Baddour said. "How we run this program, the integrity of this program is a core value for us. And the world doesn't know it, but we spend an enormous amount of resources and time in doing things the right way. It's a disturbing time for all of us."

Baddour said he decided to make the speech because he is the spokesman for the NCAA review and also to allow Davis to concentrate on what's happening on the football field.

But even though Baddour's statement might have addressed some NCAA issues, Davis still found himself facing questions about assistant coach John Blake.

Blake, along with defensive tackle Marvin Austin and wide receiver Greg Little, reportedly is under investigation by the NCAA because of his connection with longtime NFL agent Gary Wichard.

Davis said Blake was a good teacher and defensive line coach but would not discuss Blake's relationship with Wichard.

"Anything that has anything to do with any kind of investigation or any kind of review, we're not going to talk about it," Davis said. "I can talk all you want to about football."

Davis is not the only member of the UNC program who wants to focus on football. It's clear the lingering NCAA investigation is starting to wear on some of the players.

"It's kind of annoying when new stuff keeps coming out on the news and we don't even know about it," quarterback T.J. Yates said. "We go into the lunchroom and there's another thing up there on ESPN. It's like, 'Geez, come on, let's get it over with,' you know?

"We're all ready to move on."

But for now, all the Tar Heels can do is wait and see.

Read more: The Herald-Sun - Baddour Disturbing time at UNC

Not UNC related But too Good To Pass Up

2010-08-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

Former NFL No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell has admitted to using codeine but denied in remarks to ESPN that he has a drug problem.

Russell, whose drug possession charge in Alabama was sent to a grand jury this week, told ESPN that he tested positive after the Oakland Raiders drafted him No. 1 overall in 2007. He said he hadn't used codeine in three years.

"I missed all of training camp, so I didn't get tested when all the other guys got tested," Russell said. "I had a prescription from a doctor, but it wasn't the team doctor."

Russell held out of training camp and didn't sign his rookie contract until September. He was cut in May (considered one of the biggest draft busts ever) after winning just seven games in three seasons.Police arrested Russell in July and alleged he was in possession of codeine. The case raised awareness of the product known as "purple drank," which can include codeine, alcohol, soft drinks and Jolly Ranchers candy.

Former NFL player Shannon Sharpe told USA TODAY in July that the use of purple drank among NFL players is "something that needs to be addressed."

Russell, who hasn't spoken since his arrest, told ESPN the Raiders asked him about drug use in his first year.

"Around the time when I first got there or a year after I got there," Russell said about the team questioning him. "(They) said they were gettin' word in the streets about me using drugs. Then, one of the doctors came to me."

On Wednesday, a friend of Russell, Johnny Thornton, told police the codeine in Russell home when police arrested himbelonged to him and not the QB. Thornton was arrested but the case against Russell continued.

Report Has 1 Games Suspension For Austin for Agent Contact

2010-08-12T06:14:00.001-07:00

Not too bad

UNC Football: Coples Moves Inside in case of Austin suspension

2010-08-11T07:04:00.001-07:00

The Kinston, N.C. native spent his sophomore season backing up current Seattle Seahawk E.J. Wilson at strongside defensive end, accumulating 22 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Fast forward to this past spring and Coples had assumed the starting role at end opposite Robert Quinn, while also working at defensive tackle in the nickel package to inject more speed and pass-rushing ability into the front line.

The NCAA review of the UNC football program has clouded the eligibility of starting defensive tackle Marvin Austin, so the coaching staff has moved the affable senior to the second team and replaced him with Coples.

“Right now, I’m there all of the time,” Coples said. “But as time progresses, I’m going to go back out [to defensive end]. Basically, they just put me in that position to help the team because they know I can play both inside and out. So I’m just doing inside right now, because I played so much defensive end. They’re trying to work me at defensive tackle just in case I have to go to defensive tackle.”

The current first-team defensive line consists of four juniors – Coples and Tydreke Powell at tackle, and Quinn and Michael McAdoo at end.

Coples indicated that the transition between the two positions has been smooth. While defensive end allows for more freedom on the edge and focuses more on 1-on-1 combat, defensive tackle is typically responsible for handling two offensive linemen in the middle. The positions share a multitude of similarities, but require different techniques to be proficient.

Standing 6-foot-6, Coples looks more like a basketball player than a defensive tackle, but he carries his 280 pounds well enough to be effective.

“They want me to be 285, but being versatile, I can weigh 280 pounds and still gut it out because I have the strength to go along with the 280,” Coples said.

With his height and frame, it would be easy for observers to assume that his center of gravity could be an issue in being effective in the trenches, but Coples dismisses the notion that tackles have to be short and stocky to be successful.

“I don’t think there’s anything to that,” Coples said. “A lot of defensive tackles in the league are tall and offensive linemen are tall. So being shorter would give you a little bit of an advantage because of leverage, but other than that, it’s a tall game these days. You’ve got to have running backs that are 6-foot unless they’re really fast. It really doesn’t matter as long as you’ve got great leverage.”

With Austin’s availability in question for portions or all of the 2010 season, the Tar Heels may be forced to turn to inexperienced players in the middle to create the 4-to-5 man rotation that head coach Butch Davis and defensive line coach John Blake prefer to employ. Red-shirt freshman Jared McAdoo is currently working alongside Austin on the second team, while true freshman Brandon Willis and junior Jordan Nix fill out the third-team unit.

“They’ve got a bright future,” Coples said. “They’re going to be very helpful for us as a team. Brandon Willis came in early and got a lot of experience in the spring. Jordan Nix has great explosion. He’s going to be a big part of the rotation at tackle and so is McAdoo.”

After coming off the bench for his first two seasons in Chapel Hill, it now appears that Coples is in position for two different starting roles in ’10.

Giovanni Bernard Out For The Season...Big Blow To Future Tar Heel Football

2010-08-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Davie, Fla. native planted his right foot while making a move in a 1-on-1 drill and the ligament tore when he made the cut.

UNC head coach Butch Davis told reporters on Monday afternoon that Bernard will likely have surgery in the next 10-12 days after the swelling goes down. The injury will force Bernard to miss the 2010 season and the staff will fill out the NCAA documentation needed to qualify for a medical redshirt.

While Davis indicated that it was too early to determine how much Bernard could have participated this fall, he did provide a clue as how to severe the injury is for the 5-foot-10, 205-pound tailback.

“Fortunately, it’s not in the A.J. Blue category,” Davis said, referencing UNC’s sophomore running back that had his ACL and PCL reconstructed and his MCL repaired last season.

Davis expects a full recovery.

“We’ve had huge success – our medical people have done a great job,” Davis said. “Just take a look at guys like Matt Merletti and how he’s been able to bounce back and the success that he’s had. Carl Gaskins is another guy. No one ever likes for any kid to get injured. It’s an unfortunate thing, but he’ll bounce back. He’s a very strong mental person and I know that he’ll attack the rehab.”

Bernard was rated the No. 2 tailback in Florida by the Orland Sun-Sentinel and the No. 12 running back in the country by Rivals.com following a standout high school career at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Renner Needs To Step Up...Because We Need Him

2010-08-09T05:52:00.000-07:00

The hype surrounding the West Springfield, Va. native slowly built during his true freshman season last fall as Yates struggled at times on Saturday afternoons. That excitement reached its boiling point in April when Renner led the White team to a 17-0 victory over Yates’s Blue squad in UNC’s spring game.

The former four-star recruit completed 15 of his 21 passes for 184 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, including a 55-yarder to Dwight Jones down the middle of the field. But he convinced a portion of the Tar Heel fan base that he deserved the reins to coordinator John Shoop’s pro-style offense on the opening series, connecting on all six of his pass attempts and throwing for 60 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Greg Little on a roll-out to the left sideline.

Most observers, however, refused to put too much stock in an exhibition scrimmage and pointed to Yates’s vast experience as being the primary reason the Marietta, Ga. native would remain UNC’s starter heading into the season opener against LSU on Sept. 4.

But head coach Butch Davis delivered arguably his most intriguing comment about the quarterback situation at the ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, N.C. two weeks ago after being asked if Renner needed to see live game action before assuming the starting role.

Davis shook his head and responded, “He’s going to get a chance against a pretty good defense for 29 days.”

Despite all of the media attention, Renner refuses to ignite the fumes surrounding the situation. When asked if he entered training camp as a backup or as a legitimate challenger to Yates’s incumbency following Friday’s practice, the red-shirt freshman provided a veteran’s politically correct answer.

“I’m really just going to leave that up to the coaches,” Renner said. “That’s not really my call. I’m just going to go out there and every rep that comes, I’m going to take that as a game rep.”

Instead of worrying about what he cannot control, Renner is focusing on those things that he can.

“I need to get my reads down and get used to the speed of the game,” Renner said. “The spring game was the only live action I’ve had so far, so I’m just working hard on my fundamentals – my drop-back and throwing to my left a little bit. I’m really working hard with Coach Shoop to just hone my craft…

“In my mind, I’m just taking it one day at a time. You see it in practice – we rotate every play. So every play you just start fresh and you try the best you can. With every rep I get, I try to make the most of it.”

Renner split his time this summer between studying game film with Yates and hitting the weight room hard.

“After I left the baseball team, I took it upon myself to sit down with [strength and conditioning] coach [Jeff] Connors,” said Renner, who consistently ran the 40-yard dash in the high 4.6’s and low 4.7’s. “I really wanted to put some weight on leading up to the season and so I worked really hard this summer. I’ve added a lot of weight – I’m at 217 and I came in at 185.”

With one practice in the books, Renner now has 23 more opportunities to beat out his elder counterpart before the first game week arrives on Aug. 31.

Tar Heel Sports under intense NCAA scrutiny over nothing

2010-08-06T05:46:00.000-07:00

Athletics Director Dick Baddour of North Carolina told The Associated Press that NCAA investigators returned to campus this week and were in Chapel Hill yesterday and Wednesday. He would not reveal specifics of the visit.

The NCAA is looking into whether defensive tackle Marvin Austin and receiverGreg Little received improper benefits from agents.

Baddour said that the school is participating in the investigation and that the NCAA and North Carolina are "all working as quickly as we can to get it resolved."

The Tar Heels are scheduled to open preseason camp today. Austin and Little are expected to practice but most likely will not talk to reporters.

This is a joke for Tar Heel Sports Fans. No infractions, the NCAA is on a witch hunt

Quick Hitter on the upcoming season

2010-08-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

CHAPEL HILL -- The NCAA returned to North Carolina's campus Wednesday but once again the school declined to give details about the visit. Since news broke of the investigation in the middle of July, UNC has remained tight-lipped about the review that allegedly focuses on improper contact between agents and defensive tackle Marvin Austin and wide receiver Greg Little.

"NCAA representatives are on campus this week as we work with them on the review," UNC athletic director Dick Baddour said in a statement. "The University of North Carolina continues to fully cooperate with the NCAA and we are working hard to resolve this issue as quickly as possible."

And with the shadow of the NCAA investigation lingering over their heads, the Tar Heels are set to open training camp Friday with both Austin and Little expected to participate.

Austin was part of the top defense in the ACC a year ago and with six potential NFL draft picks returning it seems the only question that remains about the unit is how much better can it get this year.

According to UNC coach Butch Davis the answer is much better.

"I expect them to improve," Davis said. "If there are any kids on our defense that think they are absolutely the very best that they can be, they're kidding themselves. There's room for every one of them to be a better football player."

And even though there are not many holes on a unit that returns nine starters, the defense still has some uncertainties.

Will Marvin Austin play this season? The senior defensive tackle, who was expected to help anchor the d-line this year, appears to the be the focus of the NCAA's investigation, and even though he will be on the field for the Tar Heels' first practice, whether or not he's on the field for their first game against LSU on Sept. 4 is still up in the air.

Austin's eligibility for the season will not be known until the NCAA concludes its investigation and no one knows when that will be, although Davis has said the NCAA is working as fast as possible to come to a resolution. The real dilemma for the UNC coaching staff will come if no ruling has been made by the first game and then they will have to decide if they risk playing a potentially ineligible player.

But even if Austin ends up missing just a few games it will still be a blow to UNC's defense as Austin finished with 42 tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks last year.

For now all the Tar Heels can do is wait and prepare for the upcoming season like they will be full strength.

Do the defensive tackles have quality depth? Even if Austin does play this season there is still some uncertainty about the depth at defensive tackle as the Tar Heels graduated Cam Thomas, Tavares Brown and Aleric Mullins.

Austin and junior Tydreke Powell -- who played in all 13 games last year and forced a fumble to set up the winning field goal against Virginia Tech -- are listed starters on the depth chart but their backups have a combined four games of experience between them. Junior Jordan Nix played in four games a year ago and recorded one tackle, while Jared McAdoo, who has a court date set for Aug. 23 after being charged with misdemeanor for having a B.B. gun on campus, redshirted last season.

Highly touted freshman Brandon Willis, who came to UNC in January after Lane Kiffin left Tennessee for Southern California, could end up seeing significant playing time if anyone gets hurt or Austin is ruled ineligible.

How many sacks can Robert Quinn get? The 6-5, 270-pound defensive end is arguably the Tar Heels' best defender -- earning comparisons to former UNC standout Julius Peppers -- and is already being projected as a top-five NFL draft pick. He had 11 sacks a year ago and said at the ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro that he wanted "27 sacks and a Heisman" this year.

But while Quinn might have caught some teams off guard during his breakout sophomore season, he will probably find himself double-teamed more often than not this year. While Quinn's production could potentially go down with the extra attention, it might leave the door open for UNC's other defensive ends to make names for themselves. Quinton Coples, who is listed as the other starting DE, had five sacks in 12 games last year, while backups Michael McAdoo (one sack and seven tackles for loss in 13 games) and Donte Paige-Moss (two sacks in eight games) also have plenty of experience.

Read more: The Herald-Sun - Back to the beginning

Chapel Hill Golf Prodigy Brings in National Honors

2010-08-04T09:31:00.001-07:00

Chapel Hill's Benjamin Griffin carded three straight rounds of par or better last weekend to win the Boys 14 title in the U.S. Kids Golf Teen World Championship in Pinehurst. He won by one stroke over Jordan Wrisdale of the United Kingdom.

Wrisdale recovered from a troubling 78 in the first round by firing back-to-back 68s at Pinehurst. But Griffin nailed an uphill putt from 15 feet on the 18th green to stay ahead and finish at 72-70-71--213.

Wrisdale was one back at 214, followed by Daniel Jaramillo of Colombia (216), India's Rigel Fernandes (217) and James Hart Du Preez of South Africa (218).

More than 425 young golfers, ages 13 through 18, from 30 countries, competed in the Teen World Championships, with 130 playing in Griffin's bracket.

Josh Fried of Chapel Hill also played in the event and took 81st place with a three-day total of 249 in his division.

Griffin, the son of Erika and Cowan Griffin of Chapel Hill, is coming off an excellent spring. in which he won the Tar Heel Golf Foundation's Player of the Year award and won the foundation's tournament at UNC Finley GC in March with a two-day 67-69--136.

He was the youngest male to qualify for last month's 43rd N.C. Junior Championship, but he does well against adults, too. Last year, Griffin won the men's club championship at Chapel Hill Country Club, his home course.

Last fall, Griffin and teammates Will Pritchard and Caleb Lester led Culbreth Middle School to second place in the N.C. Middle School Championships. Griffin took second individually.

A rising freshman at East Chapel Hill, Griffin is wrapping up play today in the CGA's Dogwood Juniors in Holly Springs.

LSU Preview Courtesy of Inside Carolina

2010-08-03T10:00:00.001-07:00

Overview: Sixth-year head coach Les Miles has increasingly drawn criticism as the Nick Saban era in Baton Rouge drifts further into the shadows. After riding the current Alabama head coach’s leftovers to a 34-6 record with three straight top-5 finishes and a national championship in ’07, the former Oklahoma State head coach has dropped nine of his last 17 SEC regular season games, including a late-game clock debacle in a 25-23 loss to Mississippi last November in which LSU wasted 17 seconds before calling its final timeout and then watching the clock run out at the five-yard-line.

The Tigers posted a 9-4 (5-3 SEC) record in ’09, but were outgained by an average of 23.1 yards per game (327.6 to 304.5), good for eighth in the SEC. Not helping LSU was a knack for mental mistakes at inopportune times, as evidenced by the 86 penalty flags drawn last fall (78th nationally).

If you’re looking for the primary reason behind Miles’ struggles, look no further than the offensive side of the ball, where the Tigers’ production has plummeted in recent years. After boasting the nation’s 11th-ranked unit in total offense (417.46 ypg) back in ’06, LSU slipped to 26th overall during the ’07 national championship season. Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton’s squad dropped to 55th nationally during the ’08 campaign before sinking to 112th last fall (12th SEC) with an average yardage output of 304.5 per contest. Not bad for a fourth-year OC that earns roughly $470,000 per year.

Crowton returns six starters in ’10, led by junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson (182-of-296 passing, 2,166 yards, 17 TD, 7 INT) and wide receiver Terrence Tolliver (53 receptions, 735 yards, 3 TD). The Tigers lost their two rushers in Charles Scott and Keiland Williams, but red-shirt freshman Michael Ford – the nation’s third-ranked running back prospect in ‘09 – turned heads in the spring game with a 19-carry, 139-yard performance. Former top quarterback recruit Russell Shepherd has moved full time to wide receiver after leading the team with a 6.2 yards-per-carry mark last year working out of the offensive backfield.

If the offense has been an unsettling variable in Baton Rouge, then defense has been the mighty constant. Second-year defensive coordinator John Chavis returns just four players off a squad that ranked 26th nationally in total defense (327.6 ypg) and 11th nationally in scoring defense (16.2 ppg), but middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard (110 tackles, 7.5 TFL) returns as the Tigers’ leading tackler and second-team All-SEC cornerback Patrick Peterson (52 tkl, 2 INT) anchors a solid defensive backfield along with strong safety Brandon Taylor (41 tkl, 2 INT).

Quotable: "I can tell you this -- it will only be a championship season, and that's the only point and direction of this program. That's where we're headed... I love guarantees. I think there's a uniqueness with every year. The uniqueness comes with the situations that the teams are confronted with, the personalities of the men that play, the competitiveness with which they play. I think that this team has as good a chance as any. I like my team. I like my team's attitude. I like us in every game. So, can't wait. The fall is here." -- Miles after his squad was picked fourth in the SEC West in the preseason media poll

Matchup to Watch: While North Carolina fans will anxiously be watching their own quarterback battle unfold between fifth-year senior T.J. Yates and red-shirt freshman Bryn Renner, the LSU crowd will likely be more concerned about Jefferson’s well being under center against the Tar Heels’ vaunted defensive line. The Tigers return three starters on the offensive line for the second straight season, but that positive failed to pay dividends last fall as Crowton’s front five allowed 2.85 sacks per game (T-105th nationally) and managed just 122.8 rushing yards per outing (90th) despite a pair of standout tailbacks.

Gone from that group is second-team All-America Ciron Black at left tackle, who offensive line coach Greg Studrawa assuredly wishes he had back for one more season to battle UNC’s All-America candidate in junior defensive end Robert Quinn. Add future first-round pick Marvin Austin into the mix at defensive tackle for the Tar Heels and the situation quickly becomes dangerous for LSU’s signal callers.

Remember Me? Sam Montgomery, the nation’s seventh-ranked defensive end prospect in the class of ’09, surprised most analysts on Signing Day when he selected LSU over North Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder earned national recognition by The Sporting News during spring ball for posting 23 tackles, five sacks and two tackles for loss in four scrimmages. That performance also delivered the Greenwood, S.C. product the top defensive player award in spring practice by the LSU coaching staff. With defensive tackle Lazarius Levingston serving as the Tigers’ lone returning starter on the line, Montgomery will be counted on to make an impact against the Tar Heels.

Duke Gets Hopes Up....Going to enjoy watching them suffer

2010-08-02T05:27:00.001-07:00

DURHAM – Football season ticket marketers at Duke University and at UNC-Chapel Hill are gaining on rival N.C. State, but the Wolfpack is still top dog at the box office despite a slide in sales so far this year.

NCSU has sold a little more than 36,000 season tickets this summer, about 1,000 more than UNC and many thousands ahead of Duke, although the Blue Devils are boasting impressive growth. That’s something the Wolfpack can’t claim: Its sales are about 2,000 behind a year ago.

It’s an unusual situation for Wolfpack officials, who consider 38,000 to be a season ticket sellout. NCSU has reached that figure for each of the past nine years, in large part due to a lifetime rights seating program in which fans pay for the right to buy tickets to specific seats. About 70 percent of season tickets are sold to lifetime rights holders.

This year fans have to pay $305 for a season ticket package, or nearly $51 per game on average.

Asked about the decline in sales, Dick Christy, NCSU associate athletics director for external operations, says of the 36,000 tickets sold, “That’s pretty strong in a 58,000-seat football stadium.”

Christy hopes that two- and three-game mini-packs of tickets, which can be combined to achieve season ticket equivalents, will help the school sell some of its remaining inventory.

The uncertain economy is a factor in the slower sales. And after years of hype and hope, some State fans may be tired of ponying up their cash only to watch the team fail to meet expectations. The Wolfpack finished 5-7 last season.

UNC, which finished 8-5 last year and earned a trip to a bowl game, has no such problem. “We have the potential to pack the stadium for all six home games,” says UNC Associate Athletic Director Clint Gwaltney. “The best marketing plan is winning.”

UNC has sold 35,100 season tickets so far – about 600 more than a year ago. A season ticket package costs $270 for six games, or an average of $45 per ticket. In addition to the optimism for the season, UNC has a schedule guaranteed to generate fan interest. The Tar Heels will host in-state rivals NCSU and East Carolina this year, as well as perennial national powerhouse Virginia Tech.

When it comes to big draws, Duke won the scheduling lottery this season. The Blue Devils, 5-7 a year ago, will host defending national champion Alabama on Sept. 18 in Wallace Wade Stadium.

In years past, the Blue Devils have “sold” home games against big-time opponents – a practice in which the home team moves a game to a neutral location or the opponent’s home field in exchange for a payment. And there were opportunities to do that again this year, including moving the Alabama game, but Duke made a statement by declining.

“We were courted. We were asked,” says Duke coach David Cutcliffe, whose arrival three years ago has revitalized what arguably was the nation’s worst football program. “This game belongs here.”

The Alabama game, along with Cutcliffe’s decision to remain as head coach at Duke instead of leaving for the orange pastures at Tennessee, have helped inspire Blue Devil fans to buy 14,500 season tickets. While that’s much fewer than NCSU and UNC, it’s a 45 percent increase over the 10,000 sold last year – and likely a school record. Senior Associate Athletics Director Boo Corrigan says he thinks the most season tickets the school has previously sold in a year was 12,000.

Season tickets at Duke cost $200 for seven games, or an average of less than $30 per ticket. “We’re still an awful good deal in the entertainment space,” says Corrigan.

NCSU’s Carter-Finley Stadium seats 58,250, while Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium has a capacity of 33,000. UNC’s Kenan Stadium is the area’s largest, at 60,000. In addition to the seats for sale through season tickets, the schools have seats for students, band members and fans of visiting teams.

UNC Football Predictions From Bleacher Report

2010-07-29T05:29:00.001-07:00

The North Carolina Tar Heels come off an eight-win season that ended in disappointment with a 19-17 loss to a good Pitt Panthers team in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

There was a feeling of unfinished business that left a bad taste with many of the players, so they decided to bring back a strong core for the 2010 season. Only three starters are gone as the Heels will be one of the most experienced teams in the ACC.

Anything short of a conference title will be considered a failure as lofty goals have been set in Chapel Hill this summer. Butch Davis will showcase his first recruiting class now as seniors as he enters his fourth year as coach.

The defense has received the headlines for North Carolina, and rightfully so. Putting points on the board consistently has been an issue for the Tar Heels in the past.

One of the major reasons for this is the 15 interceptions that QB TJ Yates threw last season. The coaching staff will not hesitate to give redshirt freshman Bryn Renner his chance leading up to the opener, but it is hard for me to see anyone other than Yates getting the nod.

RB Shaun Draughn will return to the backfield after missing the final four games of the 2009 campaign due to a leg injury. The senior forms a nice tandem with bruising runner Ryan Houston, as the two combined for over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2009.

Carolina has some nice talent at the receiver position, and that starts with Greg Little. The former running back has transitioned nicely to receiver, and he led the team with 62 catches and five touchdowns.

Many fans were optimistic that a few of the All-Conference performers on last year’s defense would return for their final season. They got much more than expected when six potential first round draft picks decided to give it one more go around as a Tar Heel.

This is a dominant unit that gave up just 17 ppg and held opponents to 270 total yards per contest. DT Marvin Austin is a two-gap tackle that teams with DE Robert Quinn to lead one of the best front fours in the country. Quinn tallied 11 sacks last season and was a first team All-ACC player.

There might not be two better linebackers in college football than Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter. Both possess outstanding speed that assisted in totaling 144 tackles with 16.5 for loss.

Don’t think about throwing against this defense either.

CB Kendric Burney always seems to be around the ball and has great instincts that will translate well to the next level. He has the luxury of taking chances with FS Deunta Williams behind him. Williams led the team with six interceptions a year ago and broke up eight pass attempts.

The Heels will play the 24th toughest schedule in college football, and it begins right away with matchups against LSU and Georgia Tech within the first three weeks. They have to travel twice to Florida to take on the Seminoles and Hurricanes, which will be no easy task.

A home game vs. Virginia Tech on 11/13 could have conference title implications. In all, I see UNC going 8-4 and reaching a New Year’s Day bowl.

Courtesy of http://bleacherreport.com/articles/426351-2010-north-carolina-college-football-predictions

No More Zellers...The Resistance Must Stand Firm

2010-07-28T10:13:00.001-07:00

After repeated stellar performances during the first half of the July evaluation period, it was hardly surprising to anyone that Cody Zeller drew a scholarship offer from North Carolina.

Quinn Has Heisman On Mind, But We Need His Head In The Game

2010-07-28T05:38:00.001-07:00

CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina coach Butch Davis has coached a lot of talented defensive linemen during his 30-year career, but junior Robert Quinn could be one of the best he's ever seen.

"I think he's got the potential, in the next two seasons, to be as good as anybody as we've ever coached," Davis said Monday during the ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro.

The 6-5, 270-pound defensive end had 52 tackles and 11 sacks in 2009 and already is being projected as a top-five draft pick.

"The one significant difference I see in Robert today than I did a year ago in spring practice is that he started to take the approach that he really kind of wanted to dominate every drill, to the point that, basically, in the spring game we were about to have to just tell him to take a knee," Davis said.

Quinn said he has gotten faster and stronger during the off-season and has set high expectations for himself.

When asked about his goals, Quinn replied: "27 sacks and a Heisman."

Davis did not laugh when he heard of Quinn's aspirations.

"God bless him," Davis said. "I hope he gets it."

Injury update
UNC was hit with a slew of injuries a year ago, with the weekly injury report usually listing at least 10 players The good news for the Tar Heels is that they will get some of those players back this year, as Davis said offensive lineman Carl Gaskins (knee), H-back Ryan Taylor (knee) and reserve safety Matt Merletti (knee) are all good to go.

However sophomore A.J. Blue, who was used mostly in the Wildcat formation, still is not 100 percent after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in the sixth game of 2009.

Davis said Blue, who did not participate in spring practice, has been doing some things in the off season conditioning program, but when he can actually start taking hits will be decided on a week-to-week basis.

"We want to go out and find out, practicing twice a day, is there going to be additional swelling with his knee," Davis said. "But he has made remarkable strides. ... I think every guy on our staff and in our program is pulling for him, because I don't know if I've seen any kid work any harder on a rehab program than what he's done to try and get himself back healthy."

Survivor shocker
Davis was surprised to learn Monday that Jimmy Johnson, his former boss who was the head coach for Miami and the Dallas Cowboys before becoming a broadcaster, is to be a contestant on the CBS reality show "Survivor: Nicaragua" this fall.

At first Davis did not believe Johnson, 67, actually was going to be on the show but finally offered up some advice: "Just compete."

Davis was Johnson's defensive line coach when Miami won the national championship in 1987 and when the Cowboys won the 1992 Super Bowl. Davis was the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys' Super Bowl victory in 1993.

"I know this -- they're not sending him to the Himalayan mountains," Davis said. "I can promise you it's going to be hot, it's going to be in the sun, it's going to be on a beach on some kind of island. ... It's not the Andes mountains, because he hates the cold."

Read more: The Herald-Sun - UNC junior has Heisman hopes for the coming season

Great Point About the Lebron Decision and The Changing NBA

2010-07-27T09:36:00.001-07:00

The players are partners, and their rival is management. I received a lot of mail from readers who questioned my reading of LeBron James' controversial move to play with his rival Dwyane Wade in Miami (see below). Both Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson have since declared they would not have considered turning rivals into teammates in their day.

But this is not their day anymore.

"There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,' " Jordan told NBC. "But ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing."

In Jordan's day, the players were rivals against one another. Jordan had his vicious rivalry with Isiah Thomas, which was preceded by the emotional triangle of Magic vs. Bird vs. Isiah.

The landscape is different now. Bird, Magic and Jordan didn't grow up playing AAU together. They didn't play together for USA Basketball summer after summer.

The best players today view themselves as partners. Chris Paul has recently joined LRMR, the marketing agency formed by James. Paul, James, Wade, Bosh and Carmelo Anthony are all represented by the same agency, CAA Sports. On the court they were competing against one another for the championship, of course, but in other crucial ways they are united against a common rival.

That rival is the NBA ownership.

The joining of LeBron, Wade and Bosh is entirely foreign to the stars of previous eras, and that's because Magic and Jordan weren't raised in the AAU system. Instead, they were raised on high school and college basketball, which was a system created on the strict authority of coaches and rules that could not be broken. You grew up playing for the high school coach in your town and he was your boss; you went to college for at least two years; you were drafted by an NBA team and if you were a star, that was your team for life. (Yes, I know that Jordan played two farewell seasons for the Wizards, but he did so as president of that team -- by then he was foremost an executive who hoped to improve his franchise by recruiting himself out of retirement.)

Players of Magic's and Jordan's era viewed themselves as employees who knew nothing else than to respect authority.

Players of LeBron's and Wade's era view themselves as entrepreneurs. They grew up forming their own AAU teams outside the authority of the high school coach. James and his boyhood friends took it one large step further by choosing as a group to attend the same private high school -- St. Vincent-St. Mary of Akron -- which is something that never would have occurred to Magic or Jordan either.

The lucrative market for players has changed everything. There are a few great players and a large number of coaches and executives trying to get their hands on those few players. The players grow up understanding the market, and no longer are they willing to be told where they are going to play or what they are going to do for the entirety of their careers.

As Jordan said, "Things are different."

People will complain that this difference will be the death of the NBA, but, of course, that isn't true. How many times have we heard similar complaints over the years about the changing business of pro sports? It used to be said that free agency was going to be the death of sports. Wrong. Then player strikes and owner lockouts were going to kill sports. Wrong again. The high price of tickets, the proliferation of games on pay-subscription TV channels, the best players skipping college or leaving early, performance-enhancing drugs, the sponsorships and naming rights for everything -- all of these incremental changes have been followed by larger audiences and more money for pro football, baseball and basketball.

Now we're entering a phase of player power in which the stars are exercising their rights in an unprecedented way. The real story isn't that these three players decided to play together for the same team. The important story is that they view themselves as entrepreneurial free agents at a time when their union is negotiating for a new collective bargaining agreement with the owners -- owners who want to view the players as employees in an old-school way. The owners want to turn back the clock and reduce salaries and make the contracts shorter and put themselves back in control of the NBA.

The league's best players want no part of that old world. So here is the key question: Will LeBron, Wade and Bosh be able to persuade the NBA's lesser players to join with them in an extended fight against the owners next year?

The conflict between owners who want to be boss and the players who want to be their own boss is the reason why so many league insiders are anticipating an extended lockout after next season. The resulting labor stoppage figures to be something that Magic and Jordan could not have imagined in their day either.

Heels Picked 4th in Coastal... BS

2010-07-27T05:59:00.001-07:00

Atlantic Division
1. Florida State 565 (78)
2. Clemson 479 (16)
3. Boston College 389 (4)
4. NC State 283
5. Wake Forest 203
6. Maryland 139

Coastal Division
1. Virginia Tech 532 (62)
2. Miami 444 (20)
3. Georgia Tech 408 (11)
4. North Carolina 379 (5)
5. Duke 169
6. Virginia 126

The Atlantic division sucks.

Agents The Problem, Not The Players

2010-07-26T08:46:00.001-07:00

ACC commissioner John Swofford spent nearly 15 minutes of his forum talking about the situation surrounding agent contact with student-athletes that has exploded since Inside Carolina reported last Thursday that the NCAA investigation of North Carolina’s football program centered on possible improper benefits provided to players coming from non-University influences.

During UNC head coach Butch Davis’s previous college coaching stop at Miami, agents were not allowed to contact players until their eligibility was exhausted. The rules have changed since then, however, as the NFL and NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement states that certified contract advisers are allowed to communicate with a player three years removed from his high school graduation after the conclusion of the player's last regular season or conference championship game or Dec. 1, whichever is later.

While Swofford suggested that it’s worth revisiting those guidelines, he’s not advocating making drastic changes to the rules in question.

“I don’t see us going back there because I think it’s unenforceable – I think you almost create even more problems,” Swofford told a record crowd of reporters at Grandover Resort.

One course of action that Swofford does encourage is for the NCAA and his college counterparts to “reach out” to the NFL, NBA and those organizations’ player associations to help in sanctioning agents and runners that don’t act appropriately.

“We as a collegiate community have no hammer with that group of people,” Swofford said.

While schools and players are often embarrassed and heavily criticized for improper contact with agents, Swofford indicated that, “by and large, with very few exceptions, the people that don’t pay a price for it are the agents and/or the runners that are instigating it.”

The problem with agent interaction has grown in recent years due to the ever-growing mounds of money involved at the professional level. One way to combat the issue is by resorting to the core principle that drives a university – education.

“Institutionally, what you have to do is provide the very best educational programs that you can provide, to the extent of bringing in agents that are known for their integrity in exposing the relatively few players that programs have that will be going to the next level,” Swofford said.

North Carolina, along with various other schools, has been proactive in this regard. UNC hosted its annual “Agent Day” on Apr. 10, an event designed to expose players and their families to a representative from the NFL, an agent and a financial adviser.

“It’s just an educational process to get everybody familiar with all of the stuff that goes on,” UNC quarterback T.J. Yates said on Sunday. “We had three or four agents that everybody went room-to-room and got familiar with. It’s an extremely good thing that our football program does to educate the guys that may be making that transition.”

Junior defensive end Robert Quinn was unable to participate in UNC’s “Agent Day” due to only being two years removed from his high school graduation, but the football program consistently educates all of its players to avoid the pitfalls that come with agent dealings.

“Our compliance staff meets with us periodically to talk about what we can and can’t do,” Quinn said. “I’m sure we all know what we can and cannot do, but they really let us know to be careful about this and that. They really educate us on how to approach these things.”

As expected, Yates and Quinn were prohibited from discussing the ongoing NCAA investigation that has blanketed Chapel Hill, but it’s questionable as to how much information that players or school officials might actually have on this review even if the NCAA had not placed an oversized muzzle on the entire program.

A UNC official confirmed on Sunday that the NCAA has prohibited North Carolina from conducting its own investigation into this matter. UNC officials were present for the NCAA interviews, but the school has not been able to interview players for its own purposes.

Davis told reporters on Thursday that the NCAA’s inquiry “came out of left field.”

When Yates was asked on Sunday if he was surprised by the investigation, he said, “Yeah, a little bit. Everybody was a little bit surprised by it.”

Senior defensive tackle Marvin Austin continues to draw national attention as a significant piece of a NCAA investigation that now stretches from Chapel Hill to Tuscaloosa, Ala to Gainesville, Fla. No decision has been announced yet as to his eligibility for the 2010 season.

“I’m going to prepare like he’s going to be there,” Quinn said with regard to Austin on Sunday. “That’s all I can do.”

ACC Preview- Sneak Peek at the Big Four- Fayetteville Observer

2010-07-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

North Carolina

The comparisons were inevitable, especially after the start Robert Quinn has had to his career at North Carolina.

Quinn is being referred to as "the next Julius Peppers'' in some UNC circles after collecting 25.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in his first two seasons. Peppers, of course, is the former Tar Heel All-American defensive end who left for the NFL following his junior season with 53 career tackles for loss and 30.5 sacks.

"In a way, I kind of like it,'' Quinn said Sunday at the ACC Football Kickoff. "But one day I'd like to hear people say, 'You're compared to Robert Quinn.' I think that would be cool.''

The 6-foot-5, 270-pounder still has some work to do to catch Peppers in the record books. Quinn realizes doing so may be even harder this season when UNC's opponents will be gearing their blocking schemes to slow him down.

"I started seeing the double teams and chip blocks last year,'' Quinn said. "I expect there will be even more of that this year. All I can do is work hard. If someone decides to double team me, then someone on my team is going to have a one-on-one block. So if I'm not free, another teammate will be.

"I'm not focused on catching up with Julius Peppers. It doesn't matter if I'm making the plays, as long as our team is winning.''

- Sammy Batten

N.C. State

N.C. State's first three seasons under Coach Tom O'Brien have been marred by injuries. During that time, players who were starters at one point in their careers missed a total of 180 games or an average of 60 games per season.

Senior receiver Owen Spencer said Sunday that the Wolfpack could be a much improved team in 2010, if they can avoid a similar fate with injuries.

"We have the players, we have the coaches, we have the athleticism to win the ACC,'' Spencer said. "But we just have to wait and see.''

Spencer pointed to the end of the 2008 season as an example of how well N.C. State can play when healthy. The Wolfpack beat Duke, Wake Forest, North Carolina and Miami at the end of regular season to earn a bid to the Papajohns.com Bowl.

"When we went on that winning streak to get to the bowl game, we had a bye the week before (Duke game),'' Spencer said. "That allowed us to get everyone healthy and that was very big for us. Hopefully, we can have the same luck, I guess, this year and we can take a big step forward.''

- Sammy Batten

Wake Forest

Running back Josh Adams and center Russell Nenon agreed that this calming presence is the aspect the team will miss most when Wake Forest takes the field without Riley Skinner this season.

A four-year starter for the Demon Deacons, Skinner played in 50 games for Wake Forest during his career, setting school marks for career passing yards and passing touchdowns and taking the program to new heights with 31 wins in his stay at the helm.

So it should come as no surprise that Skinner's absence has taken some getting used to.

"It's weird looking between my legs, and I don't see 11," center Russell Nenon said. "It's different."

Added Adams on the first huddle of spring practice: "There was just like a silence for a second."

Adams noted that the Deacons will miss Skinner's composure and pocket presence in 2010, when the Deacons will replace Skinner with one of three quarterbacks who has yet to attempt a pass at the college level.

But after heaping praise on the former signal caller, Adams also revealed a hidden chink in Skinner's armor.

"Whether you know it or not, he used to ask me the plays sometimes because he didn't know them," Adams said. "He would forget."

- Kevin Minogue

Duke

Asked how he managed to leave war-torn Rwanda as a young child, Chris Rwabukamba gives the abbreviated version: "By plane."

Rwabukamba was able to escape the African nation at the age of 3, but his journey to the United States was just the first in a long series of travels that now have him slated to start at cornerback for Duke this fall while pursuing a graduate degree from one of the top universities in his adopted homeland.

After landing in North Carolina, where his father studied at UNC-Greensboro, Rwabukamba moved to Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where he began playing football as an eighth grader.

His talents earned him scholarship offers from dozens of schools, but Rwabukamba eventually decided on Duke because of its academic rigor.

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 Canadian Football League draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the senior defensive back turned down the opportunity to play professionally in order to continue his studies at Duke.

Rwabukamba said he never wavered on his decision to return to the Durham campus, where he will work towards a graduate degree in Liberal Studies, having already obtained his undergraduate diploma in Public Policy.

"I definitely want to play in the CFL if the NFL doesn't present itself, but it wasn't a thought because I knew I was coming back, and I knew what I wanted to do," Rwabukamba said. "I wasn't done at Duke in terms of what I wanted to do in football and in terms of academic work."