UNC football puts past behind, eyes redemption at ECU

They can’t avoid the questions.

What do you remember from last season’s loss? Have you followed East Carolina   this season ? How long have you been looking forward to this game?

The North Carolina football team’s players and coaches have heard it all this week as they’ve prepared for Saturday’s road game against East Carolina (2-1, 0-0 AA AA C).

In 2013, the Pirates torched UNC, 55-31, at Kenan Stadium — ECU’s first win against UNC since 2007.

Since then, the Tar Heels (2-0, 0-0 ACC) have tried to forget the loss. But as the questions are rattled off, their memories come rushing back from the 2013 game — ECU’s 101 offensive plays, 603 total yards and a series-high 55 points.

“They whooped our butt in every phase of the game,” said redshirt junior linebacker Jeff Schoettmer. “That can’t happen again.”

As North Carolina attempts to make last season a distant memory, and avoid losing back-to-back games in a row to the Pirates for the first time in the 42-year series history, the team can’t overlook ECU’s strong start to the 2014 season.

The Pirates are coming off a 28-21 upset of the against then No. 17 Virginia Tech last Saturday.

Senior quarterback Shane Carden leads ECU’s uptempo, spread offense, which ranks seventh in the nation in passing total yards a game.

Coach Larry Fedora said he’s been following ECU since his time coaching at Southern Mississippi, and there’s no doubt in his mind about one thing.

“This is the best team that I’ve seen at East Carolina,” he said.

Fedora has never led UNC into Greenvil l e. The last time the Tar Heels traveled there to face the Pirates was in 2011 — a 35-20 UNC win.

Senior defensive tackle Ethan Farmer ’s , a v eteran leader on the team  this season , played in that game. He’s quick to share his most vivid memory of the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

“It’s so loud down there,” he said.

He also remembers the 2013 loss and how long he’s been waiting to face ECU again.

“Ever since Dec. 28 after the bowl game,” Farmer said.

Senior defensive back Tim Scott doesn’t like to talk about 2013.

Do you remember how the team felt after that loss?

“No, I have short-term memory loss,” he said.

Scott has a universal answer for another set of questions.

Can UNC put last year behind them? Can they play a full game after mounting second-half comebacks against Liberty and San Diego State? Can they clean up the defense, which missed 34 tackles against SDSU?

“I just know we’ll be ready to play,” Scott said.

Farmer is certain of that, too.

“This game has been on our mind,” he said. “It’s going to be a big turnaround for us.”

sports@dailytarheel.com