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Tar Heels say they're confident
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Published: October 20, 2009
CHAPEL HILL - After a week of self-examination, North Carolina is ready to resume its football season and make a stab at notching its first ACC win.
Last week's open date allowed Coach Butch Davis and his assistants to examine every facet of play after the season's first six games. UNC (4-2, 0-2) will play struggling Florida State (2-4, 0-3) on Thursday night at Kenan Stadium, and the players are confident that a strong run can be generated in the last six games.
Quarterback T.J. Yates said that a win against FSU would be huge for the program and would provide a significant boost to team morale.
"It could kind of jump-start our second half of the season," Yates said. "It would get us going. We know we have an ACC schedule the rest of the way out and that's going to be tough every single week.
"This would just kind of leap-frog us into the second half of the season, and kind of turn over a new leaf."
UNC will be without two offensive reserves for the rest of the season after they suffered injuries on Oct. 10 in a 42-12 win against Georgia Southern.
A.J. Blue, a freshman quarterback and tailback, had surgery last Friday on his left knee to reconstruct his anterior-cruciate ligament and posterior-cruciate ligament, and to repair the medial-collateral ligament. He will not be able to practice in the spring.
Jamal Womble, a redshirt freshman tailback, had surgery on Friday also to repair a broken right wrist.
Much of the self-examination was done on the offense, which has been beset by injuries across the line, which in turn has hampered the running game. Davis held out any offensive lineman in last week's practices who was at least slightly injured.
The injured players returned Sunday for a full practice. Jonathan Cooper, a guard who is overcoming a sprained ankle, said he is improving and feels close to 100 percent healthy, although he will wear an ankle support when playing.
"People are beginning to come back, and now we're beginning to look like a real offensive unit," Cooper said. "We're looking pretty good. It was a great time for the bye week."
Zack Pianalto, a tight end, might be able to play against Florida State. He was listed as the No. 2 tight end on yesterday's depth chart. He injured a foot in a win at Connecticut on Sept. 12 and hasn't played since.
E.J. Wilson, a defensive end, and Davis thought that Sunday's practice was one of the best of the season for the offense. Yates thought the break refreshed aching bodies and revitalized minds tired after almost two months of pounding practices.
"I think everybody was anxious on Sunday when they came in," Yates said. "We were ready to get back to work. The enthusiasm and the execution the offense had Sunday, I think it was by far one of the best practices the offense has had this season.
"It should give us a lot of confidence."
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