University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina To Open 2010 Season In Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game
September 16, 2009 | Football
Sept. 16, 2009
Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- North Carolina will open its 2010 football season against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta. The game will be played Sept. 4, 2010 in the Georgia Dome and will be televised nationally by ESPN in prime time.
"While our focus is on our 2009 season, being selected to participate in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against LSU is a wonderful honor," said North Carolina head coach Butch Davis. "This game is recognized throughout college football as the premier event of college football's opening weekend and it offers an exciting opportunity for our team, staff, and fans. We are honored to represent the Atlantic Coast Conference in what will surely be an exciting atmosphere in the Georgia Dome."
"North Carolina is honored to represent the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game," said Dick Baddour, UNC Director of Athletics. "This game is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our football program and compete against one of the top teams in the SEC. Atlanta has always been a great city for Carolina fans and the atmosphere will be electric in the Georgia Dome."
This will be the seventh meeting between LSU and North Carolina with the Tigers holding a 5-1 advantage. The two teams have not met since 1986. Carolina's lone win in the series was a 34-7 decision in the first meeting in 1948. The Tigers and Tar Heels are currently ranked No. 9 and No. 19, respectively, in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 poll.
To accommodate the 2010 LSU contest, next year's game vs. William & Mary, which was originally scheduled for Sept. 4, has been moved to Oct. 30. In addition, North Carolina and South Carolina have mutually agreed to move next season's game, which was originally scheduled for Sept. 18 in Columbia, to the opening Thursday night (Aug. 29) of the 2013 season. That game also will be televised by ESPN.
