University of North Carolina Athletics
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: Tar Heels Scrimmage on Saturday
August 16, 2003 | Football
Aug. 16, 2003
Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- The University of North Carolina football team held its first scrimmage of fall training camp on Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium. Following the scrimmage, Carolina held it's annual "Meet The Heels Day" from 7-8:30 p.m.
In sweltering heat, Carolina warmed up for the two-hour scrimmage with a brief 45-minute practice session, working specifically on individual drills. Once the scrimmage began, the Tar Heels concentrated on establishing the running game. Willie Parker started with the first team, but both Jacque Lewis and Chad Scott split time with the first team. Freshman Ronnie McGill did not participate in the scrimmage because of cramps.
"We'll have at least three more scrimmages where we can work on passing a little more, but today we wanted to pound the ball," said head coach John Bunting. "I'll have to look at the tape, but Chad Scott probably played the best."
All five quarterbacks - Darian Durant, C.J. Stephens, Matt Baker, Roger Heinz and Nick Cangelosi - saw playing time. Durant played just two series and attempted just nine passes before giving way to the others. Matt Baker saw the most extensive playing time, but C.J. Stephens was sharp, completing seven straight passes at one point.
One of the interesting position battles of the preseason is at strong safety where the Tar Heels are looking for someone to play alongside All-ACC free safety Dexter Reid. Tommy Richardson started with the first team, but shared time with Michael Harris and Mahlon Carey.
"I thought the safeties really stood out to me," said Bunting. "They made plays in space. I thought the defense played with energy and tackled, for the most part, really well."
The only players held out of the scrimmage because of injury were fullback James Gibson (shoulder), wide receiver Daunte Fields (shoulder), wide receiver Adarius Bowman (shoulder), McGill (cramps), defensive end Tommy Davis (hamstring) and Bryan Bethea (concussion).
Carolina returns to the practice field on Sunday evening.
