University of North Carolina Athletics
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: Noting The Tar Heels
September 5, 2003 | Football
Sept. 5, 2003
North Carolina looks to rebound from last week's loss to Florida State when it faces Syracuse on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1:35 p.m. The game will not be televised.
Changes To The Starting Lineup
Following practice on Thursday, UNC head coach John Bunting announced a couple of lineup changes. Senior Michael Waddell will start at one cornerback position along with senior Derrick Johnson.
"That's a function of him and what he's done throughout training camp and what he's done in practice this week," said Bunting.
A native of Ellerbe, N.C., Waddell will be making his 34th career start for Carolina, but his first since the Clemson game last season on November 9. He broke his leg in that game and missed the final two games of the year. Waddell has 35 career pass break ups, just five shy of the school record set by Robert Williams (40) from 1995-97.
unting also said that Issac Mooring and Madison Hedgecock would most likely start at defensive end this week against the Orangment. Mooring, who moved to defensive tackle last spring, moved back to his original position at end earlier this week.
"I told (Issac) when I moved him in the spring that it would help him get better and tougher and that if we needed to do so, we could always move him back out," said Bunting. "It's an easy transition."
Hedgecock led Carolina's ends last week with three tackles and also recovered two fumbles. A converted fullback, Hedgecock will be making his first career start on defense. Last season, he started the first six games at fullback before switching to defense.
A.J. Alford To Attend Syracuse Game
A.J. Alford, a lifelong Tar Heel fan who was diagnosed with MELAS Syndrome when he was 13 years old will attend Saturday's game against Syracuse. Alford and UNC cornerback Michael Waddell are both from the same area in Richmond County and the two became close earlier this summer. Waddell visited with Alford on several occasions, often lifting Alford's spirts with Tar Heel memorabilia.
In August, Alford visited Chapel Hill to watch a football practice. This weekend, Alford will sit in head coach John Bunting's office and watch the game from west end zone.
