University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 21 Tar Heels Welcome SDSU Saturday Night
September 6, 2014 | Football
Carolina is coming off a 56-29 victory over FCS foe Liberty in the season opener last Saturday. The Tar Heels forced six turnovers, the most since 2009, and scored four times in a four-minute span in the third quarter to give Larry Fedora his 50th career win as a head coach.
Saturday's meeting with San Diego State of the Mountain West Conference is just the second game between the two schools. The only other meeting was Carolina's 20-13 victory in the 1998 Las Vegas Bowl.
SDSU opened the season last week with a 38-7 victory over FCS opponent Northern Arizona. The Aztecs have won six of their last seven games dating back to last season.
AT A GLANCE
Records: North Carolina 1-0, San Diego State 1-0
Rankings: Carolina is ranked No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. San Diego State is unranked.
TV: ESPNEWS (click to watch). Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst) have the call.
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (click to listen), a division of Learfield Communications. Jones Angell (play-by-play), Ethan Albright (analyst) and Lee Pace (sideline) have the call. | Affiliate List (PDF)
On The Web: GoHeels.com | UNC Notes | GoAztecs.com | SDSU Notes
Twitter: @TarHeelFootball, @CoachFedora | @GoAztecs, @CoachLongSDSU
Tickets/Fan Information: GoHeels.com | SDSU Fan Guide | Parking Information
QUICK HITS
• Carolina is ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press poll and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches' polls. It is the first time the Tar Heels have been ranked since 2010. That year, Carolina began the season No. 18 in the AP poll, but lost to No. 21 LSU in the season opener in Atlanta.
• Carolina recovered just seven fumbles a year ago and ranked 60th in turnovers gained and 48th in turnover margin. In the first game of 2014 vs. Liberty, the Tar Heels recovered four fumbles and forced six turnovers. That is the highest turnover total by a Carolina opponent since Boston College had six in 2009.
• Carolina is looking to start 2-0 for the first time under Larry Fedora and the first time since winning three straight to start the 2011 campaign. Dating back to last season, Carolina has now won seven of its last eight.
• The Tar Heels ran 93 offensive plays in the win over Liberty. The last time UNC ran 90 or more plays in a game was in 1994 when UNC ran 96 plays against Georgia Tech. The previous high under Fedora was 86 vs. NC State in 2012. Carolina's season high in 2013 was 79 plays on four occasions.
• A total of 67 players saw action in the win over Liberty, including eight true freshmen and six redshirt freshmen. The true freshmen were DB Allen Artis, WR Austin Proehl, LB Tyrell Tomlin, LB Cayson Collins, TB Elijah Hood, OG Jared Cohen, OT Bentley Spain and DT Tyler Powell. The redshirt freshmen were DE Dajaun Drennon, WR Jackson Boyer, QB Mitch Trubisky, OG Brad Henson, WR Jordan Fieulleteau and DT Nazair Jones.
• Nine different players made their first career start in the season opener against Liberty - OT John Ferranto, OG Will Dancy, WR Bug Howard and WR Ryan Switzer on offense; DE Dajaun Drennon, DT Justin Thomason, B Shakeel Rashad, R Ryan Mangum and CB T.J. Jiles on defense.
• Carolina scored 28 consecutive points in three minutes and 49 seconds against Liberty after falling behind 22-21. Carolina scored on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Marquise Williams to Mack Hollins, a 19-yard interception return by Jeff Schoettmer, a 15-yard run by Williams and a 4-yard pass from Mitch Trubisky to Jack Tabb to take a 49-22 lead.
• It's unlikely that many other programs are getting as much out of their walk-on program as Carolina. A total of 15 walk-ons, or former walk-ons, played in the Liberty game, including three starters on defense - LB Jeff Schoettmer, R Ryan Mangum and S Dominquie Green.
• Against FCS opponents under Fedora, Carolina is averaging 66.3 points per game (63 vs. Elon in 2012, 80 vs. Old Dominion in 2013, 56 vs. Liberty in 2014)
• The 85 combined points in the Liberty game are the most scored in Carolina's season opener since 2004 when the Tar Heels beat William and Mary, 49-38 (87 points).
• Ten different Tar Heels caught passes against Liberty. Ryan Switzer led with a career-high eight, Bug Howard had five, Quinshad Davis and Jack Tabb each had three.
Players Mentioned
