All spring and summer, the North Carolina football team learned a hefty playbook, ran through reps and studied assignments.
Thursday, they stopped preparing for the season and began getting ready for a game.
"We're trying to zero in and hone in on the things now . (and) kind of cut back to things that we would probably have a chance to execute and use, certainly this first ball game but probably even in the first month," head coach Butch Davis said.
The Tar Heels will use the extra-long practice week to scout a brand new opponent, McNeese State.
They'll also use what Davis called a mock-game Saturday, in which the team will split in half and play a modified scrimmage. Everything will mirror a real game environment - game-day operations, coaches in the press box, halftime adjustments and a full officiating crew - except for full-speed hitting.
UNC will avoid that live contact to prevent any final bumps and bruises in what has been a largely injury-free offseason. It won't be the first time the coaching staff has taken measures to keep players healthy.
"One practice, (Davis) told us to take off our shoulder pads because we're just fired up," tailback Ryan Houston said. "We're ready to hit somebody."
Place kicker still uncertain
A position battle is still raging at place kicker. Jay Wooten and Casey Barth added another 10 full-speed kicks to their preseason totals, which amount to more than 75 apiece.
