University of North Carolina Athletics
GoHeels Exclusive: Football Notebook
April 9, 2019 | Football, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
With four days left until the spring game inside Kenan Stadium, the North Carolina football team practiced in full pads for the last time this spring on Tuesday. Afterward, Mack Brown told reporters about the spring game setup.
Because of a lack of depth, Brown said UNC won't play a traditional four-quarter game. The event won't include live kicking outside of extra points and field goals for the same reason.
"We'll go an hour and it will be about 70 plays, like our last two scrimmages," Brown said. "I've got to figure out exactly how that's going to work. Defense will be in white and offense in blue. We're going to have a game against each other and we'll have 'Carolina' in one end zone and 'Tar Heels' in the other and we'll keep those teams going the same way throughout the game."
Here are three other notes from Tuesday's media availability:
'The gift of consistency'
The Tar Heels held the third of four spring scrimmages this past Saturday. Brown called that scrimmage "by far the best we've had." Afterward, he said he shared a message with his team.
"I've told them now they need to give each other the gift of consistency," Brown said. "Play at a very high level like we did Saturday and do it every day because we're still too up and down. They'll come out one day and have too many penalties or not be quite as sharp, and we're not a team that can win unless we play with high energy and give it all we've got every day."
'A common purpose'
Asked about what has exceeded his expectations, Brown said he's been pleased with the team's makeup and how the players have bought in.
"I like the team. I like who they are," he said. "They've tried to do everything we've asked them to do. One of the toughest things is to build trust when you come in. We always say you've got to learn to communicate before you can get trust and respect. And then we've got a common purpose.
"I think all of that is pulling together, all that's working with this team really well. So I like where we are with the team. We don't have a split of old and young. We don't have guys who hate their coach. So I think for the first four months it's been about as good as it could be.
Morrison's continued development
After emerging as the Tar Heels' starting nickelback as a freshman last season, Trey Morrison has continued to impress this spring.
"Trey is very smart," Brown said. "He has excellent instincts and he's tough and he's passionate. He loves the game. He plays like an older guy. In fact, we have to hold him out of some things because he's not a big-body type and he's a hitter. So we have to make sure we keep him fresh because you'd like to have him out there every play.
"We'll have to look at how much he can play and where. But he is a good football player."
