Welcome to Camp

August 7, 2009 | Football

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Aug. 7, 2009

If you've stopped by Kenan Stadium lately, you may have noticed the construction going on in the west end of the facility. A fifth floor is being added to the Kenan Football Center. The new space will include offices for the coaching staff, a recruiting room and suites for game day. It's a reminder of the figurative - and literal - makeover that Butch Davis is giving the Carolina football program. A block away on Navy Field, a product continues to be refined. Training camp begins today. In the four weeks before the opening kick, a clear picture of the 2009 Tar Heels will emerge.

The third year of any coach's tenure can be a watershed one. Mack Brown had a pair of one-win seasons before winning six in 1990. Ten years prior to that, Dick Crum went from eight wins to 11 and an ACC Championship. In Davis' second season, he flipped 2007's 4-8 record on its head, winning eight games and appearing in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, only to lose to West Virginia by one point. Year three? To be determined.

Davis' first game at Carolina was a 37-14 win over James Madison. Seven true freshmen played in that game. Six of those players enter camp today atop the depth chart at their respective positions, and Da'Norris Searcy has a chance to be the seventh, at strong safety. Ideally, those young players might not have been forced to play extended snaps so early in their careers. Now, though, they enter camp as seasoned veterans on a team that returns 16 starters. That is ideal.

Sure, there are questions. Two major contributors must be replaced on defense, and they're important - second team All-America safety Trimane Goddard and middle linebacker Mark Paschal, the team's defensive MVP. Davis must find a punter to replace Terrence Brown, who averaged more than 40 yards per punt in two seasons. And by now you've heard that the receiving corps must be replenished. Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, Brooks Foster and Richard Quinn (at tight end) accounted for 17 of Carolina's 21 receiving touchdowns in 2008. All four will grace NFL rosters this fall.

But there is plenty of cause for optimism. A healthy T.J. Yates returns for his third season at quarterback. Shaun Draughn started just six games but rushed for 866 yards at tailback. He'll have a full camp as the starter this fall. Ryan Houston will again be counted on to punch it in from short-yardage situations. At wide receiver, Greg Little is back where he began his career. Dwight Jones and early enrollee Joshua Adams have a chance to impress as well.

On defense, Quan Sturdivant slides over to the middle linebacker position. Zach Brown, the fastest player on the team, will step on at the weak-side. Three talented juniors - Searcy, Matt Merletti and Jonathan Smith - will have the chance to inherit Goddard's position. The entire defensive line returns, including preseason All-ACC defensive tackle Marvin Austin. He, Cam Thomas and E.J. Wilson will be three-year starters. Sophomore Robert Quinn begins his second campaign at defensive end.

Four weeks from tomorrow, Carolina will kick off the season against The Citadel. It's a season that holds tremendous potential for this program. Home dates with in-state rivals East Carolina and Duke are exciting enough, but this year's schedule puts the Tar Heels in the national TV spotlight twice in eight days. On October 22, the Tar Heels will host a Thursday night game for the first time in school history when Bobby Bowden and Florida State visit Kenan. One week later, Carolina will travel to face the Virginia Tech Hokies, the media's choice to win the conference. Senior Day comes rather early this year, with Miami visiting on November 14. A trip to Boston College leads up to a season-closing match-up at N.C. State.

But that's a long way away. Between now and September 5, there are four weeks and 29 practices. It will be a grind, but among the heat and humidity, there's excitement in the air. It's a new year; a clean slate. Over at the Kenan Football Center, they're building a story. At Navy Field, they're beginning to write one.

Turner Walston is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly. Get real-time UNC sports updates from the THM staff on Twitter.