University of North Carolina Athletics
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: Preparations Underway At Kenan
August 27, 2003 | Football
Aug. 27, 2003
CHANGES APLENTY AT KENAN
When Carolina fans arrive at Kenan Stadium on Saturday afternoon, they certainly will notice the brand new, state-of-the-art, 65-foot tall video scoreboard. However, many other upgrades and changes have been taking place over the last few months at the facility that might not be as visible.
Under the direction of Kenan Stadium manager Richie Grimsley and turf manager Kevin Robinson, field crews, painters, pressure washers and maintenance crews have been feverishly preparing one of the finest venues in the country in anticipation of Saturday evening's game against the Seminoles.
One of the major changes was the installation of a new playing field earlier this summer. The previous field had been in place for 5-7 years and needed to be replaced. Crews spent nearly a week replacing and resodding the new field, which is composed of lush Tif Bermuda grass harvested near Pinehurst, N.C. The turf also has benefited from a summer full of rain showers and is in ideal condition heading into the weekend.
While "CAROLINA" and "TAR HEELS" will still adorn the end zones, the two words will be written in traditional block letters similar to previous years. Last season's font will not be used. On Wednesday, UNC's Mark "Bear" Knowles and Butch Williams applied the first coat of paint to the new grassy surface. Weather permitting, a second and final coat will be added on Thursday.
Kenan Stadium crews also were spotted Wednesday trimming the field's hedges, adding new mulch to the shrubs and planting new flowers in the area behind the east end zone.
In addition to the upgrades that were taking place on the field, other crews were busy pressure washing the entire stadium, painting areas of the concourse, installing new carpet in the press box and hanging ceiling fans in all areas of the South Box.
These changes are just a few of the ways Carolina is working to ensure its fans continue to have a pleasant gameday experience at Kenan Stadium.
TICKETS
Tickets still remain for Saturday night's game against Florida State. To purchase tickets, call the UNC ticket office at (800) 722-4335 or (919) 962-2296. To see the location of your tickets, click on the interactive Kenan Stadium diagram on TarHeelBlue.com.
HEAT PUTS HEELS INSIDE
ecause of extremely hot conditions and temperatures that nearly reached 100 degrees, head coach John Bunting had his squad practice indoors for the first part of Tuesday and Wednesday practices.
Carolina worked out for the first 45 minutes each of the last two days at the Eddie Smith Indoor Fieldhouse, located directly behind the football practice fields. On Wednesday, Carolina practiced in shorts and shoulder pads and they continued to prepare for Florida State.
"It was a typical Wednesday practice," said Bunting. "There was some good, some bad. And, we continue to tinker with the game plan.
unting stressed that the Tar Heels must eliminate mistakes to have a chance against FSU.
"We can't have silly penalties, we can't turn the ball over and we can't make mental mistakes," he cautioned. "(FSU) is awfully talented. We don't need to help them any."
ROBERTS, WARREN EARN SCHOLARSHIPS
On Tuesday, head coach John Bunting announced that senior place-kicker Topher Roberts and junior deep snapper Greg Warren had been awarded scholarships.
Roberts, a native of Simpsonville, S.C. and a former member of the UNC soccer team, handles the Tar Heels' kickoffs. He has been battling incumbent Dan Orner for the field goal job this season and has been consistent from over 45 yards in practice.
"I came here over four years ago thinking I was going to get a soccer scholarship, but I ended up getting one a little later in another sport," said Roberts.
Warren, a native of Mt. Olive, N.C., is entering his third season as the Tar Heels' deep snapper. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
NEW PLAYERS ARRIVE ON CAMPUS
On Tuesday, the first day of classes at North Carolina, 18 new players reported to the football team. Some of those included players who were with the team last season, such as DB John DeShields, DB Justin Boaz, QB Jared Hall, DB Mark McTamney, QB Rob Nelson, DB Michael Norton, QB Tom O'Leary, OL Neil Ridge, P Paul Roberts, LB Thomas Sperring and WR Lance Williams.
Others, such as TE Landon Carter, TE Ian Cox, LB Jonathan Lane, DB Shaun Lipscomb, DL Dean Mason, DS Michael Murphy and LB Michael Raabe, are true newcomers to the Tar Heel football program.
Despite arriving nearly a month after preseason practice began, all 18 players must go through the NCAA-mandated, 5-day acclimation period.
PRESEASON SHOW ON WTVD
On Friday evening from 8-9 p.m., WTVD-ABC will host a one-hour television show live from Kenan Stadium. Host Drew Smith will preview the upcoming North Carolina-FSU game and discuss the ACC football season.
