Aaron Fitt

Sports

Felton Finds Shooting Touch in Win

By Aaron Fitt | January 15

A little more than a minute into Tuesday's win against Clemson, North Carolina's Raymond Felton cut along the right baseline and turned around just in time to receive an alley-oop from teammate Jawad Williams. The pass was a little lower than Felton expected, and he failed to convert the layup. "I should have knocked that down," Felton said afterward. That's about the only thing the Tar Heel point guard didn't knock down during the first 12 minutes, 9 seconds of the contest.

Sports

Win Against Duke Alleviates UNC's Disappointment

By Aaron Fitt | November 26

That six-game losing streak seems like little more than a distant and unpleasant memory now. That's not to say the pain has been erased completely; going winless at home for the first time in 50 years was a bitter pill for the North Carolina football team to swallow. But after beating Duke in their season finale Saturday, the Tar Heels discovered something that's been lacking for most of the season: optimism.

Sports

UNC Edges Duke for Treasured ACC Win

By Aaron Fitt | November 25

DURHAM -- It seemed somehow appropriate that, in the end, a kicker was the fastest player on the field, and the coach of a 3-9 football team happily received a Gatorade shower. After all, everything has been a little backwards for North Carolina this season.

Sports

Felton Finishes Strong After First-Half Funk

By Aaron Fitt | November 21

With just under 17 minutes to play in North Carolina's 71-67 win against Rutgers on Wednesday, Raymond Felton stopped at half court and twice slapped the Smith Center floor with both hands while a newly energized crowd roared. The Tar Heel point guard had just knotted the game at 40 with a nifty backdoor pass to center Sean May, who converted the easy layup. While this was hardly a decisive play in the contest, it did mark a distinct change from the first half, when an almost complacent Felton committed five turnovers and scored just two points.

Sports

Tar Heel Schedule Not Getting Easier

By Aaron Fitt | November 13

It's a good thing the North Carolina football team relishes challenges because its next game won't be any easier than its last 10. Losers of five straight, the Tar Heels will travel to Tallahassee this weekend to take on perennial ACC powerhouse Florida State, a team with revenge on its mind. There's little doubt the Seminoles could not have forgotten the 41-9 beating they suffered at Kenan Stadium a year ago.

Sports

Tar Heels' Struggles Worsen With Durant Still Sidelined

By Aaron Fitt | November 6

If there was any doubt earlier this season just how much Darian Durant meant to the North Carolina football team, it has been obliterated. Since a thumb injury ended Durant's season on Oct. 12 against Virginia, the Tar Heel offense has managed just 13 points in 10 quarters. Prior to Durant's injury, UNC had scored 161 points in 26 quarters.

Sports

Bowden Benches Rix, Will Start McPherson

By Aaron Fitt | October 31

What could drive Bobby Bowden to start a backup quarterback whom Bowden said has been "absolutely not productive" at times this season? Well, it's not an injury. Florida State's Chris Rix, who has started all the Seminoles' games this season, is in fine physical condition. And Bowden said the players who seemed to blame Saturday's loss against Notre Dame on Rix and call for a new starter did not factor into his decision-making. "One thing, I won't let them decide," Bowden said Sunday. "I know that. They will not decide. We will look at the film objectively."

Sports

Bunting Denounces Chop Blocks

By Aaron Fitt | October 30

North Carolina football coach John Bunting respects the design and efficiency of Wake Forest's offense. But he seems to feel differently about the tactics of the Deacon offensive line. Without specifically mentioning Wake Forest, Bunting angrily denounced the practice of chop blocking at his weekly press conference Tuesday. His comments came three days after the Demon Deacons were penalized three times for chop blocks in their 31-0 win against UNC.

Sports

Deacs' Air Attack Maligns Unprepared UNC Defense

By Aaron Fitt | October 28

WINSTON-SALEM -- The North Carolina football team keeps finding new and creative ways to lose. Rather than get beaten on the ground against the ACC's top rushing team, the Tar Heels managed to let the conference's worst passing team beat them through the air. Wake Forest doubled its season total of two passing touchdowns Saturday in a 31-0 shellacking of UNC at Groves Stadium.

Sports

Bunting, UNC Rally Around Untested QB

By Aaron Fitt | October 23

North Carolina football coach John Bunting has seen quarterbacks like C.J. Stephens before. One of them might be familiar to most football fans -- he once wore No. 3 for Notre Dame. "(Stephens is) very, very bright, very detailed, and his only problem he's had since I've been here is he's a little hard on himself," Bunting said. "I've been around those quarterbacks, like a Joe Montana, that get really mad, but the next moment he's ready to go." Is Stephens the next Joe Montana?