The First Win Of The Season

The North Carolina Tarheels defeated Liberty University 56-29 last night but it was much closer than the score indicated. The Tarheels were down 22-21 in the third quarter when the Tarheels put up 28 points in about a three minute time frame to put the game away. The Tarheels Defense forced six turnovers (2 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries) but the offense gave the ball up four times (3 intwerceptions and 1 fumble) so the Tarheels have their work cut out for them. After watching Division I newcomer Georgia Southern give ACC rival NC State all they could handle in a 24-23 loss, I will take the win no matter how it happens.

Versus Liberty

The North Carolina Tarheels open their 2014 Football season against the Liberty Flames tonight at Kenan Stadium. There is a little bit of a dark cloud hanging over the team as four defensive players, two of those players are starting defensive backs, and the two deep depth chart has already taken a hit going into the game. The biggest question marks going into the game is along the Offensive and Defensive lines where any game experience is almost non-existent. Center Lucas Crowley and Defensive Tackle Ethan Farmer have the most experience on those fronts. I am excited to see some of the highly heralded Redshirt and True Freshmen get their first game experience. Running Back Elijah Hood is listed as third or fourth on the Depth Chart but should see some snaps today and on the Defensive side of the ball, Redshirt Freshman Dajuan Drennon gets the start at Defensive End and Defensive Tackle Nazair Jones made the two deep and should see plenty of snaps as well. The Offensive backfield and Wide Receivers are in good shape as Quarterback Marquise Williams should get the start but Redshirt Freshman Mitch Trubisky should get some snaps in. I am really excited to see what he brings to the table because he was Larry Fedora's first real QB recruit. Fedora stole him out from under Ohio State's nose. The Running Backs go four deep with Romar Morris, T.J. Logan, Khris Francis, and Elijah Hood all being in the mix. The Receiving corps is solid if not spectacular and they will not wow you with track star speed but the combination of Quinshad Davis, Bug Howard, and Ryan Switzer and Tight End Jack Tabb are all capable of putting up big numbers in games. Most predictions I have seen have UNC putting up huge offensive numbers against Liberty with one being as hight as 70-20 in favor of UNC but I am going to scale it back some and my prediction is UNC 42 Liberty 21.

Disappointment

Just when the black cloud that has been hovering over the North Carolina Tarheels Football team started to dissapate, four young men made a bad decision and the black cloud darkened again. Sophomore Defensive Backs Des Lawrence and Brian Walker and Freshman Linebackers Donnie Miles and M.J. Stewart were suspended for the Tarheels home opener against Liberty. Lawrence and Walker are listed as starters. It is believed by the media that the players were involved in a hazing incident with Freshman Wide Receiver Jackson Boyer earlier in Training Camp. This news comes after the Tarheels are ranked #23 in one preseason poll. I am one disappointed Tarheel fan.