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(11/13/09 5:59pm)
Alan Pelc’s understanding of Cam Holland’s position didn’t begin by walking a mile in his shoes — just stepping in when Holland lost one.“I played one snap at center against UConn,” Pelc, a left guard, said. “My first snap at center.” But Pelc’s education has only accelerated since injuries forced him to fill in at center. In UNC’s 19-6 win against Duke, Pelc took 40 snaps at right and left guard and 40 at center.Freshmen Travis Bond and Brennan Williams took 40 snaps at right guard and 26 at right tackle, respectively.“It really is unique to see a bunch of guys all over the place,” Pelc said. “Especially to look over and see freshmen next to me.”Coach Butch Davis had a slightly different choice description.“It truly was musical chairs,” he said. “At week nine or 10, it’s not as tough … We’d like five guys who play the whole game, but you’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt.” And the linemen have heard enough grievances to accompany their injury reports this year.In the last drive of UNC’s loss to Florida State, quarterback T.J. Yates was almost immediately sacked by a three-man front.“We’ve definitely heard the feedback,” lineman Kyle Jolly said. “It was tough. You are trying to keep all the linemen’s heads up.”Coming into the season, the unit already posed questions with just three returning starters. Then injuries left just two players with experience prior to this year — who quickly assumed mentoring roles.“Definitely having a couple freshman next to you, you have to be more vocal,” Pelc said. “You step them through it, point out linebackers. Help them read the defense.”Davis has also sought to alleviate any problems of inexperience by allotting 75 percent of snaps in practice for starters and the remaining for backups.Come gameday, everyone is expected to be ready to play.“The past three weeks have shown a lot of improvement,” Pelc said. “People were doubting us for a bit, but adversity has helped us.”Even despite injuries, the line has allowed just 21 sacks in nine games, which makes for the fifth best protection in the ACC.In UNC’s win against Virginia Tech boasted the original starting line for the first time since the season opener. The front five helped UNC gain 181 rushing yards and gave up just two sacks.The reunion was characteristically short-lived due to illnesses and ailments. But Bond said the offensive line remains confident.That’s because blocking techniques are not all that the freshman has learned from Pelc.“You never know what’s going to happen,” Bond said. “You just have to be ready to step in.”
(11/13/09 5:41pm)
The history between Miami and North Carolina runs deep, thanks to Butch Davis’ coaching resume.And for UNC, it also appears to run like clockwork. North Carolina holds a 3-0 record when hosting the Hurricanes that stretches back to 1963.Last season, UNC stole a memorable 28-24 win that was decided when Trimane Goddard intercepted a pass in the end zone on the game’s final play.In 2004, North Carolina upset the No. 4-ranked Hurricanes on a 42-yard field goal that sealed a 31-28 victory.UNC will look to continue its unbeaten streak against Miami, who dominated Virginia in a 52-17 rout last week.With the win, the Hurricanes leapt up four spots in the AP Poll to No. 12.But history is not all that is at stake.With only three games remaining, the Tar Heels still need to record another win to secure bowl eligibility.The team’s final opponent at home will boast the conference’s third-ranked scoring offense, a unit anchored by quarterback Jacory Harris.North Carolina’s scoring offense ranks second to last in the ACC, but UNC will look to benefit from the nation’s fifth-ranked total defense and No. 11 scoring defense, which is giving up 15.3 points per game. The defense will turn its focus to containing Harris, who tops the ACC in pass efficiency but has also thrown more interceptions than any other conference quarterback.In Miami’s win against UVa., he totaled 232 yards on 18-for-31 passing.He also utilized a versatile offense that showcased touchdowns by six different scorers — the second time that has happened this season.Running backs Graig Cooper and Damien Berry displayed their effective dual ground attack against the Cavaliers. Cooper ran for a career-high 152, which included a 70-yard burst.UNC’s ground attack will be without leading rusher Shaun Draughn, who is out for the season with a fractured left shoulder. But Ryan Houston proved to be a capable replacement in UNC’s win against Duke.If history serves as any indication, the final home game for the Tar Heels could be ripe for a staple of previous matchups — an upset.
(11/12/09 7:32am)
CARY — Following a 4-1 penalty shootout loss against N.C. State in the ACC tournament, North Carolina coach Elmar Bolowich conjured only one comparison for the opposing goalkeeper.“PKs come down to level of confidence,” Bolowich said. “The goalie was like an albatross in there. He has a wingspan of 8 to 9 feet.” The comparison might be more apt than Bolowich intended.The albatross is considered a symbol of good fortune. And for N.C. State, the bird lived up to the billing.N.C. State goalie Christopher Widman, with his arms outstretched, effectively signaled the end of UNC’s ACC tournament run.The conference rivals went to penalty kicks in an ACC quarterfinal for the second time in the last seven seasons and the first time since 2003.With a score knotted at one in the shootout, North Carolina midfielder Kirk Urso took a penalty kick that Widman blocked to his right. “You’re trying to hit the target,” Urso said. “You’re picking a good spot, and you want to put a lot of pace on it. Fortunately for them, the keeper guessed the right way. I felt like I hit a good PK, and unfortunately he got a save on it.” On UNC’s next kick, Billy Schuler hurled a shot to the left. Widman dove, saved and delivered. Widman’s acrobatics in goal gave N.C. State’s a win against UNC — a rare occurrence in recent seasons.It was only then that members of N.C State finally stood up — and raised their arms to the crowd.Prior to the matchup, UNC had lost just once to the Wolfpack since 1997 and owned a 5-0-1 mark in tournament play against N.C. State.“It was obviously a tough, tough game for us,” Bolowich said. “I cannot fault our players for anything. They gave their best effort and faced a very, very strong and well-organized opponent today that made life difficult for us.”Overtime followed a tension-filled final minute of regulation, including Enzo Martinez’s open chip from about 20 yards out that sailed just over the crossbar.North Carolina struggled to establish an offensive rhythm and recorded just 10 shot attempts in regulation. Of those 10, only three came in the second half. Bolowich said the Tar Heels failed to apply pressure in the second half, though conditions were not conducive to do so. He attributed the team’s cautious play to weather conditions, which included a slick field, wind and a steady downpour of rain throughout the game.And though the Tar Heels managed to pull out a close win in similar conditions earlier this year against East Tennessee, North Carolina’s conference rivals capitalized on the opportunities Wednesday.“Tonight I thought both teams played hard and it could have gone either way,” UNC goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty said. “I thought we could pull it out, but it just didn’t happen.”North Carolina saw few scoring opportunities as the seconds wound down Wednesday night.“In conditions like that, it is hard to find a rhythm to play,” Bolowich said. “It came down to a battle of grinding it out and not making mistakes. As a player that’s first and foremost on your mind, rather than playing free and normally what you do under better conditions.“I think we were just concerned with not messing up rather than making opportunities.” Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/06/09 6:52pm)
When quarterback T.J. Yates steps on the field at Kenan Stadium on Tuesdays, he is expected to start anew.He hears the coach’s reminders to leave all other Saturdays — or Thursdays — behind. “When we come out to practice, we don’t know if we won or lost,” offensive coordinator John Shoop said. “The best way is to tear off the rearview mirrors and start thinking about the next game.” But for Yates, a season of disappointments and redemptions has left landmarks and scars. That includes last Thursday, when the quarterback led a 20-17 win over Virginia Tech, which had been in the national championship hunt just 12 days earlier. He doesn’t mind recalling the subsequent pandemonium in the locker room — where the only regularity was the smiles on everybody’s faces. “It’s kind of hard not to take more time with this win and savor it a little bit,” he said. But the victory came in stark contrast to his previous exit off a field — when he was hit by a coin hurled from the stands following a 30-27 loss to Florida State in UNC’s first Thursday night game. After leading the team to its best start since 1997, the quarterback’s performance had later come under intense scrutiny. And ripping off the rearview mirror proves nearly impossible when the quarterback remains under a magnifying glass. And he, of all people, knows it. “The lowest point was after Georgia Tech and Virginia,” Yates said. “We were hitting the low spot in our offense, and our defense was doing all they could do. And we weren’t helping them out at all.” In a 24-7 loss against the Yellow Jackets, Yates completed a mere 11 of 26 attempts for 137 yards with two interceptions and a missed shotgun snap that accounted for another turnover.UNC was able to convert on only one of 11 third downs and retained possession for a paltry 17:54 minutes of game time. The next week, the Tar Heels dropped a 16-3 contest to ACC bottom-feeder Virginia, and Yates threw two more interceptions and converted 20 of 36 attempts. And as much as he hears the coach’s reminders to forget, he heard the criticism of those who don’t. He even heard it from his own teammates. “It’s very frustrating when they’re going three and out and we’re back on the field or they’re turning the ball over and we’re back on the field,” defensive end Robert Quinn said in a postgame interview. This season, Yates has thrown for a season-high two touchdown passes three times. He has thrown nine interceptions and has only two games without an interception. “Sometimes if you have a bad team, you know you have a bad team and you’re overmatched,” Yates said. “But that wasn’t the case with us. It frustrates you when you know you can do better, but there’s always something that’s kind of holding you back from that.” Running back Shaun Draughn attributed a slew of injuries on the offensive line to Yates’ struggles. “A lot of people say that it’s the decisions he’s making,” Draughn said. “Sit back there and get sacked a couple times. That can mess with someone.” Wide receiver Erik Highsmith said the offense remains confident in its quarterback. But still, it may prove impossible to tear off the rearview mirrors just yet.But with four games left in the season, Shoop hopes Yates can make everybody forget about the passing game’s woes to this point.“There’s still some football to be played this year,” Shoop said. “We are going to write the script. He’s going to write the script.”
(11/06/09 6:49pm)
Many words could be used to describe North Carolina’s linebackers. But Kennedy Tinsley’s choice word came as a surprise.“Monday and Tuesday, we look ugly,” he said.Early in the week, the linebackers look far from the polished product exhibited on game day.That’s because linebackers coach Art Kaufman has been implementing multiple shifts within the unit.“We are trying rotate guys around,” coach Butch Davis said. “It keeps guys fresh and gets other guys some playing experience.”The first shift came against Florida State, when middle linebacker Quan Sturdivant returned to his old position at weak side.Since then, freshman Kevin Reddick has recorded his first two starts at middle linebacker, where he has recorded 10 tackles and split time with Tinsley.But none expects to stay too comfortable.“We try to have guys play multiple positions,” Kaufman said. “Any time you can bring more talent to the table, you give yourselves chances to make more plays.”Sturdivant knew the temporary shift would not prove problematic though it would pose differences. The junior garnered a wealth of experience and a nation-leading 87 unassisted tackles at outside linebacker in 2008.“Inside, you want to stop the run between the tackles,” he said. “Outside, you need the speed to catch the ball and guard the end.”As a result, outside linebackers have the responsibility of covering more ground, while middle linebackers watch the field and see the play develop. “We can put a lot of backs on special teams,” he said. “We can put them everywhere, and everyone knows how to play.”UNC is also no stranger to injuries. Now if a linebacker gets hurt, Kaufman knows his backup will be no stranger to the position, either.“What we want to know is, if the next guy goes in, what’s he going to be able to do?” he said. “I know he’ll be able to play.”But the shifts have not simply provided insurance. They have allowed for strategic grouping.“When we want substitution defenses, we have specific roles where we want certain body types and athletic types,” Kaufman said.Against Virginia Tech, Kaufman anticipated a physical team. So he called upon Tinsley, who provides more power than speed. “The big thing we try to do is get guys in the game in situations that fit them,” he said.Sturdivant said that the unit’s versatility has provided more depth and better plays on the field.“Last year we played so many snaps we never got a break,” he said. “Now we get breathers so it helps us stay fresh throughout every game.”Tinsley said the linebackers feel prepared for any mix of players called upon to take the field. The epiphany came with a word more often associated with the unit.“Now I know,” he said. “By Saturday, we look good.”
(11/06/09 6:46pm)
Tim Crothers co-authored “Hard Work: A Life On and Off the Court,” the autobiography of North Carolina men’s basketball coach Roy Williams.Assistant SportSaturday Editor Anna Kim sat down with Crothers to discuss some of the book’s content and Williams’ feelings on it.Anna Kim: So how did this book come about?Tim Crothers: For many years I have thought that Coach Williams should do a book. I was aware of how good a backstory he had, how interesting his childhood was … So we spent a total of 64 hours together this summer doing interviews, collaborating, piecing it together.AK: You mentioned he had reservations about writing this book when you first approached him about it. Did he still have reservations?TC: He still has reservations to this day. I think he’s anxious to see what the reaction is going to be. I’m anxious to see what the reaction is going to be. Any one of us could understand how nervous he might be about sharing the intimate details of your life with the world for the first time.AK: Were you surprised by the intimate details he shared for the book?TC: One thing that I’ve learned is he doesn’t do anything halfway. The big issue for him, was that he knew if he did it, he wanted a fullblown no-secrets kind of book. And he told me right up front, if we are going to do this, we are going to do it. I’m going to tell everything I can tell.AK: Coach Williams goes in depth about his tumultuous relationship with his father. Was that difficult for him to share?TC: I think the key for him was he wanted to tell the full story of his father for the first time. There have been a few stories along the way that have told about the fact that his father was an alcoholic. The fact that there was some abuse in his family. His father comes off in a really negative way. What he wanted to do in this book was to make his father a real person for the first time.AK: What’s something you were surprised to learn about Coach?TC: I think one of the things I found so interesting is one of the things he did learn from his father. Toward the end his father and he had a discussion, and his father said, “I could have taught you so many more things.” And he said, “Well Dad, you did teach me a lot of things. I watched you and whatever you did, I did the opposite.” That extends to the fact that Roy Williams does not drink. So whenever everyone else is celebrating this national championship with champagne, he’s celebrating with a Coke or Sprite Zero.AK: You covered sports here as a student, and now you teach here. Could you ever have imagined you might be back here years later helping to write a book about the UNC basketball coach?TC: Absolutely not. It’s really interesting that when he started, he was here as an assistant coach. I distinctly remember interviewing him at a high school gym in Raleigh about a recruit in the mid-80s. At that time we were both very young and at the beginning of our careers. I remember just being struck at the time by how nice and accommodating he was to a young reporter that he could have easily told to buzz off. I never forgot that. So yes, to have us then meet up again more than 20 years later and for me to help him write his autobiography is absolutely surreal.
(11/06/09 6:41pm)
Duke coach David Cutcliffe didn’t put quarterback Thaddeus Lewis among a group that included Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Heath Shuler and Tee Martin. For one game, he placed Lewis above them. After a 49-28 victory in which Lewis readily handled the Wolfpack for 502 yards on total offense and 13 of 19 conversions on third-down attempts, the coach needed to make one statement. “It has to be the best game I’ve ever had a quarterback have in college,” Cutcliffe said to .The early October game was only one of the impressive victories that the fourth-year starter has orchestrated en route to the team’s 5-3 record. A three-game streak that began with the win over N.C. State marks an accomplishment that has not been reached by Duke since 1989.With it, the Blue Devils have risen to the top of the ACC standings, tied in the loss column with Georgia Tech. It remains an unexpected but not unbelievable feat — with credit to Lewis. The athletic quarterback has showcased his strong arm in the conference’s top-ranked pass offense that averages 325.1 yards per game and ranks fifth in the NCAA. In eight games, Lewis boasts a 63.5 completion percentage with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions. The quarterback ranks second in passing average per game behind Florida State’s Christian Ponder. “He can extend plays,” coach Butch Davis said. “When protection breaks down, or by design, they can use him in quarterback draws. He can get them outside the pocket. He can run. He’s throwing the ball well, and he’s very dangerous.”Davis compared the multidimensionality of Lewis’ game to that of Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who faced the Tar Heels in the team’s victory in Blacksburg.Safety Deunta Williams shared a similar scouting report on the rival quarterback.“He has enough athletic ability that when the play breaks down, he can make plays,” Williams said. “He’s always looking downfield to throw the deep bombs.”But in addition to Lewis’ offensive capabilities, the veteran quarterback has proven to rarely make mistakes. Lewis has thrown only four interceptions this season despite leading the conference in attempts. During his junior season, he held the school record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception with 206, and most pass attempts in a game without an interception with 52. Despite Lewis’ high success in the passing game, the Blue Devils’ total offense only ranks forth in the ACC. While anchored by premiere quarterback play, the Blue Devils have proved to be weighed down by the conference’s worst rushing offense that averages a meager 75.2 yards per game on the ground. As a result, Lewis’ passing performances have accounted for much of the team’s unforeseen success. But it came as no surprise to North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates. Yates is well acquainted with the Duke quarterback both on and off the field, beginning with the Manning camp held in the summer. “He’s an extremely smart guy,” Yates said. “He’s been around a long, long time. I was watching some of his games and he seems to have it all together.”At camp, Yates said they discussed football — along with a few interjections made by the UNC quarterback.“Yeah I haven’t seen the victory bell in their possession,” he said. “We’d like to keep it that way.”
(11/02/09 4:48am)
A month ago, the North Carolina varsity swimming and diving team had no written or formal alcohol policy. Five alcohol-related player suspensions later, that approach is a thing of the past.“When we had some abuses, we began to sanction people,” coach Rich DeSelm said. “For some people that was enough. For others it wasn’t.”The result is a zero-tolerance policy for drinking violations that carries a threat of suspension, giving the swimming and diving team one of UNC’s strictest policies. “My job is to develop student-athletes,” DeSelm said. “But given the circumstances, I’m being vigilant and proactive.”Larry Gallo, the senior associate athletic director, said DeSelm is one of many UNC coaches who opts to enforce more stringent alcohol policies than the one set out by the athletic department.“It’s important that a coach has his or her own autonomy in terms of discipline,” he said. “Many people will find that coaches are tougher on their players than we are.” The department’s code of conduct specifies that “all team members will conduct themselves in a responsible and respectful manner at all times.” The only provision that specifically mentions alcohol states that a student-athlete cannot consume alcohol on any “team trip or team-related function.”Violations are dealt with on a case-by-case basis that can result in anything from reprimand to dismissal from the team, Gallo said. In the past, players with drinking infractions have usually been required to take alcohol assessment classes through Campus Health Services. But there are often more sanctions that follow.“On many occasions, coaches have suspended their players from a number of games,” Gallo said.Chris Kennedy, the senior associate director of athletics for Duke, said Duke’s athletics department follows a similar protocol.“The department as a whole doesn’t get between a coach and his or her players in disciplinary matters,” Kennedy said. “In practice, our sanctions tend to be more strict than the university as a whole.”UNC field hockey coach Karen Shelton mandates a dry season during which players are to abstain from alcohol consumption.The women’s basketball handbook distributed by coach Sylvia Hatchell states that athletes “must not smoke or consume alcohol. If you smell of smoke or alcohol we will treat this as if you have smoked or consumed alcohol.”Volleyball coach Joe Sagula said he highly recommends his players keep a dry season. Although he said he has not had any indication of noncompliance, he remains realistic about adherence to the no-drinking policy.“Do I think 100 percent do? Of course I would like to say everyone does,” he said. “Realistically, I know that’s an individual decision.”Women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance said he encourages his players to abide by core values rather than listing rules and offenses.“We’re not a collection of saints,” he said. “But we have some girls who are extraordinary examples of the core values. We allow peer pressure to drive good behavior.“We address girls on a regular basis. The worst way to address it is after it becomes an issue.”DeSelm, on the other hand, said the new policy puts the team in a better place to move forward. “Given what we’ve gone through, we’re not talking about whether or not we can drink,” he said. “We’re talking about being great students, great athletes and great citizens.”Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/29/09 4:13am)
In a matchup against the Stetson Hatters, sophomore midfielder Kirk Urso identified only one hat-trick hero: Alex Dixon.“He took his chances well, and he put them away,” Urso said.The sophomore forward recorded three goals in the 7-0 win for the North Carolina men’s soccer team, the first player to achieve the feat since midfielder Scott Campbell recorded a hat trick on Nov. 5, 2005, in the team’s regular season finale at Fetzer Field.Coincidentally, the hat trick bolstered the Tar Heels to an 11-2-2 record in their own final home game of the season.On a night that honored five seniors in pregame ceremonies, the game also showcased five scorers en route to UNC’s most prolific win of the season. But for three consecutive goals, the game seemed only to feature the sophomore from Humble, Texas.“We always felt like Alex could be a guy who can score more than one goal in a game,” coach Elmar Bolowich said. “We knew he can be a guy that we go to when we need that, and tonight, he showed it.”Prior to Wednesday’s matchup, Dixon had recorded two goals and one assist on the season. Last season, he provided a spark off the bench with five goals as a freshman.But definitely no hat tricks.“It was good to finally get a goal, but getting three is great,” Dixon said. “I’ve been in a little slump, so to get out of that is really good. I just hope I can keep it going.”Urso provided assists on Dixon’s first two goals of the game, the first of which came with five minutes remaining in the half.Urso received the ball from Dustin McCarty in midfield. He passed the ball wide to Dixon, who ran through and hit the ball across from the left side of the net. The ball glanced off the fingertips of outstretched goalie Logan Potter and into the goal.With less than a minute remaining in the half, a throw-in by Urso found Dixon in an opportune spot near the goal. Dixon deftly delivered the close-range header into the net.“We’ve been working on that corner in practice,” Dixon said. “Kirk put it in a good spot, and I just got a flick on it.”But if Dixon was quick to praise the two assists from Urso, his teammate was even quicker to return them.“If I happen to play the ball, and he tucks it away, that’s good for the whole team,” Urso said. “He was really sharp tonight, and every chance he got, he took well.”The two goals lifted the Tar Heels to a 3-0 lead going into the half, a break that did not seem to quell Dixon’s momentum. Coming into the second half, Dixon’s hat trick was signed, sealed and all but delivered.Less than two minutes into the second half, he completed the feat. When a Stetson defender misplayed a clear, Dixon secured the ball and delivered an unassisted goal into the lower left of the goal. “It was very memorable,” Dixon said. “I don’t even know. Maybe I’ll put it on a calendar or something.”Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/23/09 5:06pm)
Virginia Searcy is the reason for the No. 21 across Da’Norris Searcy’s back and a cross tattooed on his right arm. “She was a real inspiration to me,” Da’Norris said. “She always told me to never give up. Never let anyone turn you away. Just keep pushing.”Virginia Searcy was born in 1921, the inspiration for his number. She raised 15 children — one of whom was Da’Norris’ father. And until she passed away in 2001, she was also one of her grandson’s best friends. “That’s a bond that nobody can break,” his mother Tracy said.When his grandmother’s health began to falter, she moved in with the Searcys. There Da’Norris began his favorite childhood tradition. “We had our special date, our Monday date,” he said. “The only day of the week I could stay up. We watched Monday Night Football together.” When asked who he would most like to have dinner with, Searcy answered Walter Payton, God, Sean Taylor and his grandmother. “I feel like I put a little inspiration in his life, but his grandmother is really who influenced him,” his father, Donald, said. “My mom raised 15 kids by herself. He saw adversity. Sometimes they had to go without. He just admired the woman.” When Virginia died in 2001, Da’Norris was in eighth grade. “It was difficult coming home and not hearing her voice,” he said.So he acquired a tattoo to remind him of the woman who came to every one of his baseball games — but never saw him play the game they loved. “She couldn’t come to football games because it was too cold,” he said. “But I know she’s watching me now.” Gridiron beginningsSearcy might have grown up in Decatur, Ga., but he was raised on the football field. He spent his childhood glued to his father’s side, a former high school All-America and semi-professional football player. Except on one occasion.When Da’Norris was 3 years old, his father awoke in a panic. During his nap between his night shift and day practice, his toddler had escaped. “‘Norris? Norris?’ I was calling his name,” he said. “I looked across the street, and he was with the football team.” At Towers High School, Searcy emerged as a standout at defensive back and running back. In eight games his senior year, he rushed for 1,607 yards and 16 touchdowns. When his team’s quarterback quit at halftime, Searcy suited up and threw for 199 yards and rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown.What can this kid not do, Searcy’s father was asked. His answer? Stop. He recalled his son’s reaction to a knee injury. “I kicked him out of the game for two weeks,” Donald said. “He cried. He fussed. Because if he ain’t playing, he’s crazy.” ‘Never give up’At UNC, crazy takes on a slightly different form for Searcy. “You know, we’ll be chilling in the living room somewhere and he’ll go missing,” cornerback Kendric Burney said. “You’ll go look and realize that he done took all the sheets off the bed, all the pillow cases off the bed, he done threw pretty much everything on the floor.”But times at UNC were not always so upbeat for Searcy. Before this season, Searcy played primarily on special teams and as a reserve safety behind the departed second-team All-America Trimane Goddard.“Him being such a big superstar in high school, it was a big change,” his father said. “He would call me, feeling down. I’d say, ‘Look man. You can’t. There’s a plan in front of you.’” That’s when he remembered to never give up. Just keep pushing.In the last game of the season, he received his chance.Searcy started in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, recording a career-high 10 tackles and two sacks. This season, Searcy starts as a safety and the team’s leading punt returner. He ranks third in the ACC for punt return average.“I’m very excited,” Searcy said. “I’ve proven to the coaches I can do more. Coming into training camp, I wanted to get the coaches to trust me. Now they trust that I can do it.” Family matters Da’Monta is just one of Da’Norris’ three younger siblings.He talks to his big brother on the phone every day — and Da’Monta knows there is no question as to why he is calling.“Grades.” Da’Norris’ concern for his younger brother came as no surprise to his father.“I told him, ‘You might be the one to take this family on,’” Donald said. “He believes it in his heart.”Da’Norris credits a strong sense of familial obligation to his grandmother, who also made sure all family members were accounted for at Christmas dinner.“She always told me, you act like a man and you’ll be treated like one,” he said.Before Searcy left Georgia, his father left him with one final piece of advice.“You’ve got to make a statement for yourself,” his father said.Da’Norris Searcy has already chosen that statement. That’s why he bears it on his jersey. It reminds him to never give up, to never let anyone turn him away. Just keep pushing.
(10/23/09 4:53pm)
Cornerback Kendric Burney has never failed to provide personality on the field. Anna Kim set out to find out what he’s like off of it.Anna Kim: What’s something that people might be surprised to find out about you?Kendric Burney: That I’m a Valentine’s Day baby. A lot of people get to see my nasty side on the field, but I was actually born on Valentine’s Day. They don’t get to see that I’m a Valentine’s Day sweetheart.AK: What’s the best Valentine’s Day you’ve ever had?KB: I’d probably say last year. My friends came up and we had a good time. AK: So how does it work when you have a girlfriend? Do you get her a present and then wait for yours?KB: Honestly? In 21 years of living life, I have never had a girlfriend on my birthday. I mean, I’ve gone to dinners. But I’ve never had a girlfriend. I guess it worked out. I’ve gotten lucky with that.AK: I heard you saying you don’t watch scary movies.KB: Oh no, definitely not. I don’t watch scary movies. Never been my favorite type. Don’t like to be scared.AK: Da’Norris Searcy likes to play pranks and mess up people’s beds. Do you play any pranks yourself?KB: I actually just did the same thing to him two weeks ago, when we played Georgia Southern. I knocked on his door, ran in when he was in bed and pulled all the sheets and covers and threw them on the floor and took off. AK: A lot of people have talked about the personality of the D-line. What’s the personality of the secondary like?KB: The secondary likes to think it’s bigger than the defensive line. We feel like we can go play D-line. Well, even though realistically we probably can’t. We’ll punch them and run away — even though they would kill us if they ever got their hands on us.
(10/20/09 4:13am)
Will Graves keeps his national championship ring within arm’s reach of his pillow. It also reminds him of the opportunity he allowed to slip through his hands. “From a fan’s perspective, I’m in the best position ever because I don’t think any other fan in the world has a ring,” Graves said. “And then from a player perspective, it’s humbling. I would have loved to have been out there on the floor to earn it.” Last February, the backup guard received a suspension from the team after violating an undisclosed team rule. Coach Roy Williams issued a statement citing that Graves “did not maintain the standards we expect of a Carolina basketball player.” When asked about the specifics of the violation, Graves declined to offer any more details. “I did some things that a Carolina basketball player is not supposed to do,” he said. So he missed out on what North Carolina players very occasionally get to do — play for and win a national title. “I was there with the team in spirit,” he said. “But I wasn’t able to be on the court with the team.” While continuing to practice with the team, Graves spent the final 18 games of the season on the bench. Prior to his suspension, Graves had a meager impact on the team, averaging 4 points and 2.6 rebounds a game. But this season, Graves is in position to step up as an integral player on the perimeter in the absence of Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, Ty Lawson and Bobby Frasor. Graves added that he would also like to focus on maturing into a defensive stopper to aid senior Marcus Ginyard on the other end of the court. “I’ve been playing basketball since I was 4,” he said. “I just go out there and try to live for the moment. And it sounds like a great opportunity for Carolina basketball to need a shooter.” As a redshirt junior, Graves’ experience has the potential to be an otherwise scarce asset on the young team. That is, Ginyard said, depending on what comes from Graves’ experience off of it. “I just hope that he learned when you’re a part of a team like this, even your individual choices and your individual actions have effects on other people,” Ginyard said.“And for this team to be able to do what we want to do, everybody’s got to be on the same page.”Graves assured his teammates that he had turned a page and recommitted himself to a new ending. Forward Deon Thompson could understand why. “Having to sit on the sidelines and watch us win a national championship, things like that can maybe light a fire in him to want to help this team this year,” Thompson said. “I definitely hope he learns from that experience and just doesn’t go back down that road he went down.” Graves’ suspension never seemed to muffle his vocal presence around the team. For expectant fans at the Smith Center, Graves’ hoots, barks and cries of, “Here we go,” often heralded the team’s arrival at every home game. The same upbeat attitude, he said, is one that will persist as he seeks to earn the trust of a new team by playing and by leading. “I always try to come out with a smile on my face and move forward,” he said. “Learn from my mistakes.” Ginyard said that Graves is still earning back the trust of his teammates. Thompson said he could not imagine being in Graves’ situation. “I don’t think anybody from the outside looking in could put themselves in his shoes,” he said. But just as nobody can place themselves in Graves’ shoes, nobody can walk in them for him either. Or take him where he wants to go. “It added fuel to the fire to come out here and lead a young team to another national championship,” Graves said.With his suspension behind him, he knows there is only one way there.
(10/09/09 7:26pm)
The last image of Zack Pianalto in uniform captured him being wheeled away on a cart with his head down and arm raised. An initial diagnosis ranged from four weeks out to an entire season. But the tight end left his own prognosis on the field.“I’ll be back,” he said.Pianalto anticipates the forthcoming question about injuries — and laughs. The gator ride from endzone to locker room is by no means a well- beaten path or a joking matter.But it is familiar. In the past four years, the junior has enjoyed one injury-free season. He has broken a collarbone, a left fibula, sprained an ankle and, most recently, dislocated his right foot. He has missed 10 games in two years, even more in the past four. But the most difficult, he said, has been his absence this season.“This is the first time I’ve seen him get down a little bit,” mother Sherri Pianalto said. “He’d worked so hard to get where he was.”Prior to the injury, Pianalto reemerged as a key passing option with seven receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown in UNC’s 12-10 win over Connecticut. After scoring the game-tying touchdown with 2:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, Pianalto jumped into the air. When he came down, he landed awkwardly on a defender’s foot and crumbled to the field.Doctors approached the junior to pop the dislocated foot back into place on the field. They needed to do it without anesthesia — so they did it without warning. Pianalto didn’t need one. “Right when I knew something was wrong, that’s what popped in my head,” he said. “Really, again? I have to do this again?”What does a slew of injuries mean to a superstitious player?As a junior at Springdale High School, Pianalto did his part to sustain an undefeated season by visiting bowling alleys every Thursday.The following year, Pianalto caught the ball in the end zone in Hoover, Ala., where he broke his collarbone and missed all but two games his senior season. Before every game at UNC, Pianalto listens to the Al Pacino speech from Any Given Sunday.His first career touchdown pass against Georgia Tech was followed by a fractured left fibula. So what does it all mean? He doesn’t know. But when an MRI confirmed a subtalar dislocation of his right foot this year, it told him the only thing that mattered.He’ll be back.“I’ve been on this side of the fence before,” he said. “But I get to finish the season.”Pianalto has set no definite timetable, but his mother said she hopes to see him on the field against Florida State Oct. 22. “I pray that my injuries are behind me,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot. But you never know. There’s a plan for everyone, and I don’t know what mine is. ”Nearly a month ago, all he recalled was scoring a touchdown and turning to jog down the field. On Sunday, Pianalto finally got to take that run. “He knows what he wants,” Sherri said. “So even if he has to do it again, he will. He is going to do it, even if he has to start over.”
(10/09/09 7:25pm)
If brevity is the soul of wit, a handful of players have proved themselves masters of the craft.A number of North Carolina players have recruited the services of Twitter, a social networking tool that allows users to post status updates in 140 characters or less. “Not everybody on this team has a chance to tell their story,” said Kevin Best, deputy director for athletic communications. “This is a way for them to get their personality out there, to have a voice.”The team has never proved to lack voice or personality on the field. And in less than 140 characters, UNC boasts some off of it.A cursory scan of the team’s tweets showcase a variety of sayings, sentiments and nonsense.Tweets range from the everyday, such as the following posted by defensive end Aleric Mullins:“God was on our side this morning was able to walk out my first accident by his blessing.”Also available are cornerback Kendric Burney’s thoughts on football:“sum1 gon ask me KB do you have faith in ur QB? I look at the man and said child please TJ is the quarterback and we stand by him ENOUGH said.”And of course, the transient thoughts of Marvin Austin:“Misssssssss merry mat,mat,mat all dressed in black, black wit silver button, buttons all down her back back back….”While almost a fifth of the UNC depth chart graces Twitter, the charge is led in large part by the North Carolina defense.Proving himself both a veteran on the field and on cutting edge technology, defensive end E.J. Wilson delved into the world of Twitter this summer.While he also holds the record for UNC defensive ends for squats at 670 lbs., he is quickly gaining recognition as the team’s most prolific tweeter. He is also the team’s most enthusiastic recruiter.“Nah, I don’t think its embarrassing,” he said. “I’m trying to get everybody on the bandwagon.”Defensive tackle Cam Thomas was the first to succumb to Wilson and Austin’s dual pressure. He identified Wilson and Serena Williams as his favorite to follow.“Everybody says that a lot of interesting stuff happens to me,” Wilson said. “I’m a very random person. And now I know how random I really am.”Mullins discovered a different perk on Twitter.A potential job.“One day I had a 9 o’clock class, and I tweeted, ‘Man, I don’t feel like going to class.’ This one guy tweeted me and said, Google is hiring people to work from home. You don’t have to go to class at all.That’s networking.”Social media has permeated the world of sports, initiating its share of controversy and conversation.In September, Texas Tech coach Mike Leach became the first NCAA football coach to ban Twitter from his program. But North Carolina football administrators have maintained that tweeting is not out of bounds.“There is no official team policy on Twitter,” Best said. “But we have talked to them at length about social media.“We caution them that this is free for the public and the media to use.”While Wilson admitted he has never tweeted during gametime, fans should remain wary — and on the lookout .“I was joking that I was going to give one the equipment managers my phone and give live updates throughout the game,” he said.Wilson said that the tool has offered the players a means of connecting with fans. It also helped eliminate preconceived notions about athletes.“Fans get to see me not just as a football player, but a person,” he said. “Out of the uniform. Outside of the field. We have a life. “We have feelings. We worry about the same things like they do.”Enough said.
(10/09/09 7:13pm)
Quarterback Lee Chapple will look to sustain his own success and bolster Georgia Southern’s season in his team’s matchup against North Carolina.With Chapple at the helm, the Eagles have garnered a 3-2 record in the Football Championship Subdivision’s Southern Conference.They will also seek to capitalize off the momentum from one of the best passing performances in the football program’s history.In a 26-21 win at Wofford, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound quarterback displayed both his size and a capable arm.The sophomore completed his first 17 pass attempts, tying for the second-longest streak in Southern Conference history.He finished the game completing 25-of-28 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown without committing a turnover.Chapple ranks fifth in the FCS for pass completions but a mere 68th in total offense.Contention is unlikely and a victory even less so, but he will look to continue making history as he travels to Chapel Hill to face the lone Division I team on the team’s schedule.The last time Georgia Southern beat an FBS opponent came in 2004, when the Eagles handed Florida International a loss away from home.With Chapple at the reigns, the Eagles received one first-place vote and was picked to finish fifth in a preseason poll by the Southern Conference head coaches.Chapple arrives armed with experience as a second-year starter, after a year of redshirting his freshman year.During the 2008 season, the quarterback led Georgia Southern to an impressive 17-10 win at No. 14 Furman, passing for 323 yards and securing the fourth-highest yardage total in program history. He also completed 39-of-56 passes and threw for two touchdowns.Chapple has only continued to improve in his sophomore campaign, adding 124 completions in 184 attempts to round out a 67.4 completion percentage.He has also found a capable receiver in Jamere Valentine, who needed only five games to earn him a spot in the GSU season Top 10 leaders. With four touchdown receptions, Valentine moved into a tie for ninth among the annual leaders.Despite relative inexperience at the position, the sophomore exhibited maturity at the position during a close 29-26 victory against Albany earlier this season.The quarterback went 12-for-12 in the fourth quarter and led a game-winning drive that was concluded with a field goal. He finished the game 30-for-43 for 259 yards and two touchdowns.With six touchdowns and 991 yards on the season, Chapple has already surpassed his 2008 statistics in both passing yardage and touchdowns in five games this season.However the quarterback will face a tough North Carolina pass defense, which ranks an impressive fourth in the NCAA.In five games, the defense has allowed 79 completions in 134 attempts, which yields a 59 completion percentage.Aside from quarterbacking responsibilities, Chapple shares another similarity with North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates.The sophomore grew up in Alpharetta Ga., just 19 miles away from Marietta Ga., the hometown of Yates.And though odds appear stacked against the young quarterback, Chapple will seek to come away with another similarity with UNC’s quarterback — a win in Chapel Hill.
(10/05/09 4:21am)
With his team struggling to score against Virginia, the ACC’s toughest defense, coach Elmar Bolowich had one piece of advice: Keep playing.“We were like, ‘We can’t break ‘em down. We can’t break ‘em down,’” junior midfielder Cameron Brown said. “Coach Elmar was telling us, ‘It’s our game, we’re going to get it.’”It took almost 109 minutes and two overtimes, but Bolowich kept the faith, and the North Carolina men’s soccer team kept its promise. With 1:39 remaining in double overtime, Zach Loyd launched a throw-in from the right side, which was flicked to Brown by Jordan Graye.Brown delivered a header from eight yards out for his career-best fourth goal of the season.As No. 5 UNC rushed the crowd with the 1-0 win, the Tar Heels (7-1-1, 3-1-0) reclaimed its spot atop the conference standings.“It’s like these ACC matches when you just need to find a way to win it,” Bolowich said. “It took us longer than we were wishing and hoping for. Nevertheless, we had a great play at the end that made a difference.”Late game heroics have become a staple of Brown’s repertoire. The shot marked his third game-winner for UNC this season and ties him as the team’s leading scorer along with junior midfielder Michael Farfan.And though the match pitted the Tar Heels, the conference’s leader in goals, against the least offensively prolific team in the league — there was no doubt that defense was the focus of the game.“It was one of the those tough games, where two great defensive teams, and they’ve proven so far by their record, are not allowing a whole lot of goals against them,” Bolowich said.No. 12 Virginia, which leads the league in shutouts, also ranks first in the conference in goals allowed with 0.5 goals per game.UVa.’s defense held North Carolina to their second-lowest shot production of the season with a total of 11 shots, three of which came after regulation.“I think what they’re trying to do is play out of strong defense,” Bolowich said. “I was a little bit surprised that they were so deep.”Bolowich attributed the Cavaliers’ 4-5-1 defense to a condensed midfield that limited gaps and scoring opportunities for UNC. “We had the majority of the play, and it was really hard to get behind them because there was very little room to play balls behind them or to make tackling runs behind the back line,” he said. “That was really our issue the whole game.”Still, North Carolina managed to create offensive opportunities, outshooting the Cavaliers by an 11-5 margin.On one such occasion, with less than three minutes remaining in the second half, sophomore Kirk Urso took a pass from Graye just outside the 18-yard-box.Right as the ball came to Urso, the midfielder backheeled the ball into space for Graye, who was continuing his run. The defender one-timed a shot just above the crossbar.The Cavaliers offense wasn’t as productive. UNC’s defense held UVa. to one shot during the two overtime periods.“Offense is going to come and go,” Loyd said. “As long as they keep producing opportunities, eventually they’re going to keep falling.”The Tar Heels will look to build upon their best league start since the 2001 national championship season Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Liberty at Fetzer Field.Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/02/09 10:40pm)
As far as coach Butch Davis can see, Robert Quinn doesn’t have any discernible gear but his first.“The first thing you know about Robert Quinn is that he goes a hundred miles an hour on every snap,” Davis said.In reality, the figure might be closer to 18.14 mph.Quinn first opened eyes with his ascent from third-string defensive end to starter.Jaws dropped when he broke Julius Peppers’ record in the 40-yard dash for defensive ends — clocking in at 4.51 seconds. But where he’s really captured attention is when players didn’t expect see him at all. “We’ll be watching film and be like, Rob, dag, you stole my tackle,” E.J. Wilson said. “He’ll be running from the other side and be right there when you think you’re about to make a tackle.”Quinn, a sophomore, has emerged as one of the key pieces in UNC’s highly touted defense.After four games, Quinn ranks fourth in the ACC for sacks and second for tackles for loss.“He has that unique speed and size,” said defensive line coach John Blake. “Sometimes God makes us with a lot of gifts. He’s taking advantage of those gifts.” But his God-given gifts aren’t what continue to push Quinn in his first gear. It’s what was taken away.“I almost lost football,” he said. “Now I have the opportunity to go play, and I’m trying to make the best of it.” In 2007, Quinn received emergency brain surgery for a tumor.Despite worries he might not live, Quinn survived. And despite cautions that he might not ever play football again, he starts. “In the back of our mind, we’re like, ‘Wow, this guy is coming out here and working hard,’” Wilson said. “This guy almost lost his life. Not only football. His life.”“It’s a lot bigger than what’s going on between the sidelines. He’s coming out and playing everyday, why can’t we do the same?” Quinn said he hasn’t been surprised by his own speed— just where he has ended up.“My freshman year I was third string,” Quinn said. “All of sudden I was starting. It was unbelievable. I’m doing the most I can with it.”In three games, Quinn’s already proved to do just that. In UNC’s win against the East Carolina, Quinn delivered two sacks for a loss of 17 yards.And in a near loss to Connecticut, Quinn’s rush to the quarterback resulted in a holding call, the subsequent safety and a UNC victory.All that remains to be seen is if Quinn can reach his goal of 13 sacks on the season. But despite all his successes, Quinn admitted his surgery never escapes his consciousness.“It’s a tumor in my head,” he said. “I’m always thinking about it.”But he’s proved to be moving forward, and in record time at that.“I don’t want to regret anything. I just try to go full speed.”
(10/02/09 10:24pm)
TV/Radio: TV coverage will be on Raycom. Radio coverage will be provided by WCHL 1360 AM, WRDU 106.1. When it comes to the Cavaliers, history has been unkind to the Tar Heels. Most recently, UNC suffered a 16-13 overtime loss in Charlottesville after leading 10-3 with 2:18 remaining in regulation.It marked North Carolina’s 14th straight loss at Scott Stadium and its ninth loss in its last eleven matchups against the Cavaliers. But unfortunately for UVa., the present remains cruel. Virginia (0-3) is one of six teams still seeking its first win of the season, and it is the only winless team in the ACC. A loss against UNC would contribute to an eight-game skid, which is UVa’s longest since the Cavaliers dropped the final three games of the 1981 season under Dick Bestwick, then the first five games of the George Welsh era. Coach Al Groh’s job security appears to remain under harsh scrutiny unless the Cavaliers can turn around its fortunes. UVa. opened its season with a 26-14 loss against FCS opponent William and Mary — its first loss to a lower-division team in 23 years. During the game, Jameel Sewell, Marc Verica and Vic Hall all spent time in the pocket during a bevy of quarterback substitutions implemented throughout the game. Sewell became a starter in the team’s subsequent losses against then-No. 16 TCU and Southern Mississippi. In three games, Sewell has completed 41 of 81 attempts for 512 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. As an offense, the Cavaliers rank last in the conference in scoring offense, rushing offense and total offense. After the losses of the three of the team’s primary receivers — Maurice Covington, Cary Koch and Kevin Ogletree — the Cavaliers have struggled to solidify its receiving corps. All four receivers on the depth chart are underclassmen, and five Cavalier freshman have recorded catches.Last season, Groh’s team rebounded from its misfortunes to go undefeated in the month of October, including its last minute victory over the Tar Heels. North Carolina will look to rebound from its own disappointing 24-7 loss against Georgia Tech, and prevent history from repeating itself.
(09/21/09 5:01am)
The day before Leslie Hughbaker traveled to Chapel Hill, she decided to sew a new pillow.It was not to adorn the beds at UNC Children’s Hospital, which have occupied so much of her past three weeks, or because her lung surgery might keep her there two weeks longer. It was because even as doctors were finalizing her surgical procedure Friday, she was handing a football-print pillow to UNC running back Shaun Draughn. “That’s all she’s talked about,” her mother, Tonia Hughbaker, said. “She made that pillow so she could get the football players to sign it.”
(09/21/09 4:32am)
With the score 1-0 against No. 11 Duke, midfielder Cameron Brown booted a shot headed over the goal.Dip, dip, dip, he commanded.It did, the scoreboard lit up and the crowds cheered. The only problem?The ball hadn’t gone in the goal.“I knew it was over and high, and that’s why I was dropping straight back,” he said. “It guess it was a little tough for everyone else to see up there.”No goal, no problem. Minutes later, he netted the game-winning goal for a 2-1 victory and UNC’s (4-0-1) fourth straight victory over Duke.His goal delivered a blow to Duke’s unbeaten streak and secured an addition to UNC’s record books.“It’s unbelievable,” Brown said. “Feeling like the basketball team, you know?”North Carolina maintained its unbeaten streak en route to winning its first two ACC matches for the first time since 1987 and fourth straight against Duke for the first time since the 1954-1955 seasons.It came against a Blue Devils team that entered the contest with a 4-0 record.“We knew it was going to be a close game,” coach Elmar Bolowich said. “Duke, defensively, is very strong. It was a true test run in this game, and our boys did extremely well.”The Blue Devils’ defensive reputation may have preceded them, but North Carolina’s unit proved to be more successful.UNC held Duke without a score — or a shot — in the first half. North Carolina’s defense allowed the Blue Devils’ only goal with 12 minutes remaining in the second half.But the pressure didn’t start with the team’s defenders, Bolowich said. “It starts with our forwards,” he said. “We were putting so much pressure on (Duke), it was hard for them to get into any kind of rhythm.”Offensively, the North Carolina forwards capitalized off a tentative Duke defense, outshooting the Blue Devils 17-5.“For whatever reason, Duke was dropping off and backing up and letting us play,” Brown said. “Right away, guys like myself and Zach Loyd and Billy Schuler were saying, ‘Let’s keep the ball right in front of their defense.’”The strategy proved to be successful.Schuler buried the team’s first strike midway through the first half.From 20 yards out, he took a left-footed shot that glanced off the left post and past the Duke goalkeeper.Schuler also helped engineer the game-winning goal when he found Alex Walters at the top of the penalty box with 22 minutes remaining in the game.Walters sent the pass between two defenders to give Brown the open shot.“I saw the keeper slide to the near post,” Brown said. “I hit it as hard as I could to the back post.“For a while there it got interesting. We’re just happy to hold them off and continue to be unbeaten.”