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Heels prepare to go to Atlanta
UNC will take on Georgia Tech and its unusual offense
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Published: September 22, 2009
CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina will begin its ACC season on Saturday at Georgia Tech, and will have an opportunity to put an end to two long losing streaks in one game.
UNC hasn't beaten Georgia Tech in Atlanta since the 1997 season and has lost its last five games at Bobby Dodd Stadium. UNC also has lost its last eight ACC openers, a run that started in the 2001 season.
"It's just more motivation for the team," Da'Norris Searcy, a safety, said. "We're very, very ready and confident.
"Our confidence grew last weekend."
Game week began on Sunday, a day after UNC beat East Carolina 31-17 to improve to 3-0, but preparation for Georgia Tech and its deceptive triple-option offense began at least somewhat during spring practice.
Coach Butch Davis used the spring to prepare his team for any unusual offenses or defenses that it might face this season. Davis recalled then that an extra week of preparation last season because of an open date helped UNC defeat Georgia Tech 28-7 at Kenan Stadium.
Georgia Tech will have two extra days of practice to prepare for UNC, after playing at Miami last Thursday and suffering its first loss of the season in a 33-17 decision.
"This year they've got the extra time," Davis said. "They've got 10 days to get ready. We've got to really push to try and catch up this week."
Searcy said that UNC devoted more detailed attention to Georgia Tech since the start of training camp while also getting ready for its first three opponents. Searcy said that the defense practiced against the triple option about every other day for at least 10-15 minutes.
A.J. Blue, a freshman, has run the scout team playing the role of Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech's quarterback. Bobby Rome, a former high-school quarterback, and Mywan Jackson, a freshman who was an option quarterback in high school, have taken turns running the scout team.
"This time, not having a bye week, we had to get a quick jump on it," Searcy said. "It helps a lot. Now when we go to practice it's nothing new to us. We just get right back into it."
Two receivers who have not played this season because of injuries, Ryan Taylor and Dwight Jones, could return to play at Georgia Tech. Jones is expected to practice today.
Taylor, a senior H-back who played at Mount Tabor, is recovering from a sprained right knee suffered in training camp. Davis said that Taylor is close to returning to practice and is running almost normally, but he is concerned that Taylor has not been hit in almost a month.
Davis would consider playing Taylor at tight end until Zack Pianalto, the starter, can return from a dislocated foot. Taylor has played tight end previously. UNC did not throw a pass against East Carolina to Ed Barham, who replaced Pianalto at tight end.
"No question, he'd be a good addition if and when he can come back at a level that would help us," Davis said.
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