2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
Encyclopedia
The 2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team began their season on August 30 against McNeese State
at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The team originally went 4–4 in conference play and 8–5 overall, but in 2011, North Carolina vacated all its wins from the 2008 and 2009 seasons
.
on National Signing Day
, February 6, 2008. One student athlete had already enrolled before National Signing Day and one signed several days later, making this class smaller and less-heralded than the previous year’s class.
enters his second season as head coach. Chuck Pagano
resigned as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach to become an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens
in the NFL
. He was replaced by Minnesota
assistant Everett Withers.
, Florida State
, and Wake Forest
. The spring football game is on March 28, 2009.
put on a dazzling one-man show, scoring on an 82-yard punt return and putting North Carolina ahead for good with a 57-yard TD catch to help the Tar Heels hold off McNeese State 35-27. Tate finished with a school-record 397 all-purpose yards for the Tar Heels, who showed little else in an unimpressive start to their second season under Butch Davis. In a game suspended nearly two hours due to weather, they blew a 14-0 first-half lead and had to rally from a third-quarter deficit against Football Championship Subdivision McNeese State, who outplayed the Heels much of the way. T.J. Yates had 221 passing yards and 2 TDs.
against his former pupil, Greg Schiano
. Hakeem Nicks
and Brandon Tate
combined for 10 catches, 204 receiving yards, and 3 TDs as the Heels offense rolled over Rutgers. Carolina's defense generated 4 Rutgers turnovers (3 INTs and a fumble) and scored off of a 66 yard interception return by Bruce Carter.
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The team originally went 4–4 in conference play and 8–5 overall, but in 2011, North Carolina vacated all its wins from the 2008 and 2009 seasons
2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels played in the Coastal Division of the conference. The Tar Heels finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in ACC play and lost in the Meineke Car...
.
Recruiting
The Tar Heels received 16 letters of intentLetter of intent
A letter of intent is a document outlining an agreement between two or more parties before the agreement is finalized. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement...
on National Signing Day
National Signing Day
National Signing Day most commonly refers to a day in February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA, the main governing body for...
, February 6, 2008. One student athlete had already enrolled before National Signing Day and one signed several days later, making this class smaller and less-heralded than the previous year’s class.
Coaching staff
After signing a contract extension at the end of the 2007, Butch DavisButch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
enters his second season as head coach. Chuck Pagano
Chuck Pagano
Charles D. "Chuck" Pagano is currently the Defensive Coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.-Early career:Pagano's coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Southern California from 1984 to 1985 before a parallel move to Miami in 1986...
resigned as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach to become an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was replaced by Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
assistant Everett Withers.
| Name | Position | Seasons in Position |
|---|---|---|
| Butch Davis Butch Davis Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early... |
Head Coach | 2nd |
| John Blake John Blake (American football) -External links:... |
Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator / Defensive Line | 2nd |
| Ken Browning | Running Backs | 15th |
| Jeff Connors | Strength and Conditioning Coordinator | 8th |
| Steve Hagen | Tight Ends | 2nd |
| John Lovett | Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Assistant | 2nd |
| Sam Pittman | Offensive Line | 2nd |
| John Shoop John Shoop John Shoop is an American football coach who has coached in the National Football League and at the collegiate level... |
Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks | 2nd |
| Tommy Thigpen | Linebackers | 4th |
| Charlie Williams | Wide Receivers | 2nd |
| Everett Withers | Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs | 1st |
Roster
Wide Receiver
Offensive Lineman
Half-back
Tight End
|
Quarterback
Running Back
Fullback
Defensive tackle
Defensive End
Cornerback
|
Linebacker
Safety
Long Snapper
Punter / Place Kicker
|
Schedule
Did not play: ClemsonClemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, Florida State
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, and Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
. The spring football game is on March 28, 2009.
McNeese State
Brandon TateBrandon Tate
-2009 season:Tate was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. On July 16, he was signed to a four-year contract with a $755,000 signing bonus. He began the 2009 season on the non-football injury list, still recovering from his knee injury from the prior season. He was...
put on a dazzling one-man show, scoring on an 82-yard punt return and putting North Carolina ahead for good with a 57-yard TD catch to help the Tar Heels hold off McNeese State 35-27. Tate finished with a school-record 397 all-purpose yards for the Tar Heels, who showed little else in an unimpressive start to their second season under Butch Davis. In a game suspended nearly two hours due to weather, they blew a 14-0 first-half lead and had to rally from a third-quarter deficit against Football Championship Subdivision McNeese State, who outplayed the Heels much of the way. T.J. Yates had 221 passing yards and 2 TDs.
Rutgers
T.J. Yates threw three touchdown passes and the Tar Heels won for the first time outside North Carolina since 2002, beating error-prone Rutgers 44-12 in a nationally televised game that pitted Butch DavisButch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
against his former pupil, Greg Schiano
Greg Schiano
Gregory Edward Schiano is the head coach for the Rutgers University football team. He has held that position since 2001.-Early life and education:...
. Hakeem Nicks
Hakeem Nicks
-New York Giants:On August 1, 2009, Nicks signed a five-year, $12.54 million contract. The deal includes a $6.5 million signing bonus. During training camp, Nicks vied for a starting position with the Giants other receivers, most notably Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith.2009Nicks made his first career...
and Brandon Tate
Brandon Tate
-2009 season:Tate was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. On July 16, he was signed to a four-year contract with a $755,000 signing bonus. He began the 2009 season on the non-football injury list, still recovering from his knee injury from the prior season. He was...
combined for 10 catches, 204 receiving yards, and 3 TDs as the Heels offense rolled over Rutgers. Carolina's defense generated 4 Rutgers turnovers (3 INTs and a fumble) and scored off of a 66 yard interception return by Bruce Carter.