University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday Practice Notes
August 10, 2007 | Football
Aug. 10, 2007
By Adam Lucas
Astute students of the new media guide have already noticed that the Tar Heels have some subtle changes to their game pants this year. There's also another difference. Carolina didn't own a pair of blue game pants last year. But the blues are back in stock for 2007. Although they won't be worn regularly, they're an occasional option...Five new flat-screen televisions are being installed in the recruiting room this week...
How serious is Charlie Williams about his "Finish" mantra? This serious: when Kenton Thornton caught an out route during Friday morning's practice and went out of bounds, he ended the play a good six yards out of bounds. "Go score!" Williams barked at him. Thornton dutifully came back in bounds and sprinted down the sideline...The Carolina offense already has their two-minute offense and the wristband system installed, which is a very, very speedy installation...Three new signs have been added to the practice field. Over a field of the ubiquitous helmet logos, each has a different key word: Tempo, Swarm, and Finish...
The quote of the day from Friday morning's session came from Larry Gallo. Observing Ken Browning coaching the running backs, the always eloquent Gallo said, "He could teach an otter to eat beef." After pondering this thought for a moment, he added, "Or spaghetti." It's as good a way as any of saying that Browning is one of the best teachers in football...The Tar Heels practiced in full pads Friday morning and will work out in shorts tonight in advance of Saturday's scrimmage...
What's planned for that scrimmage? Let's ask Butch Davis. "It'll be about an hour and 45 minute practice," he said. "The first half will be a little less emphasis on individual growth and more emphasis on situational things. We'll do some red zone, some short yardage, and some goal line. Then we'll spend some time on special teams and have somewhere in the neighborhood of 55 to as many as 80 scrimmage plays. I'd like to think that the first, second, and third groups will have somewhere around 15 to 18 scrimmage plays, and we may give the freshmen a little more than 15 to 18 to catch them up and give them an opportunity to grow."...
Tomorrow's scrimmage has long been a target date in the quarterback derby. But don't expect Davis to announce a starter tomorrow night. For the last couple of weeks, he has said he would like to narrow the field--which appears to be a three-horse race between T.J. Yates, Cameron Sexton, and Mike Paulus--to two this weekend. There is no practice on Sunday, so the staff will use that day to evaluate scrimmage film and then potentially trim the candidates that night or early next week...Davis changed into his Outrageous Clothing t-shirt for his post-practice press conference. The shirts are the latest brainchild of kicker Connor Barth.
Adam Lucas most recently collaborated on a behind-the-scenes look at Carolina Basketball with Wes Miller. The Road To Blue Heaven will be released on September 1. Lucas's other books on Carolina basketball include The Best Game Ever, which chronicles the 1957 national championship season, Going Home Again, which focuses on Roy Williams's return to Carolina, and Led By Their Dreams, a collaboration with Steve Kirschner and Matt Bowers on the 2005 championship team.
