2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football
Meineke Car Care Bowl vs. West Virginia, L 30–31
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal
2008 record	0–5, 8[1] wins vacated (0–4 ACC, 4 wins vacated)
Head coach	Butch Davis
Offensive coordinator	John Shoop
Offensive scheme	Pro style
Defensive coordinator	Everett Withers
Base defense	4-3
Home stadium	Kenan Memorial Stadium
Seasons « 2007 2009 »

2008 ACC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic
Boston College xy		5	–	3					9	–	5
#21 Florida State x		5	–	3					9	–	4
Maryland		4	–	4					8	–	5
Wake Forest		4	–	4					8	–	5
Clemson		4	–	4					7	–	6
NC State		4	–	4					6	–	7
Coastal
#15 Virginia Tech xy†		5	–	3					10	–	4
#22 Georgia Tech x		5	–	3					9	–	4
North Carolina*		0	–	4					0	–	5
Miami		4	–	4					7	–	6
Virginia		3	–	5					5	–	7
Duke		1	–	7					4	–	8
Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 12
† – BCS representative as champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant North Carolina vacated 8 wins, including 4 ACC wins Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team began their season on August 30 against McNeese State at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The team originally went 4–4 in conference play and 8–5 overall, but in 2011, North Carolina vacated all its wins from the 2008 and 2009 seasons.^[1]

Contents 1 Recruiting 2 Coaching staff 3 Roster 4 Schedule 5 Game notes 5.1 McNeese State 5.2 Rutgers 6 References

Recruiting

The Tar Heels received 16 letters of intent on National Signing Day, February 6, 2008. One student athlete had already enrolled before National Signing Day and one signed several days later, making this class smaller and less-heralded than the previous year’s class.

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
A.J. Blue QB	Dallas, NC	North Gaston HS	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)	208 lb (94 kg)	4.6	Jan 18, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 75
Zach Brown LB	Columbia, MD	Hargrave Military Academy	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)	213 lb (97 kg)	4.42	Jan 20, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 79
Jonathan Cooper OG	Wilmington, NC	John T. Hoggard HS	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)	296 lb (134 kg)	5.1	Jan 25, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 78
Quinton Coples DE	Kinston, NC	Hargrave Military Academy	6 ft 6 in (198 cm)	237 lb (108 kg)	4.65	Feb 6, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 78
Herman Davidson S	Long Beach, CA	Polytechnic HS	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)	215 lb (98 kg)	4.5	Feb 6, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40
Dion Guy LB	Washington, DC	Woodson HS	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)	219 lb (99 kg)	4.61	Feb 4, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40
Braden Hanson QB	Charlotte, NC	Charlotte Latin HS	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)	197 lb (89 kg)	NA	Jul 10, 2007
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 73
Todd Harrelson WR	Chesapeake, VA	Oscar F. Smith HS	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)	188 lb (85 kg)	4.53	Jun 28, 2007
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 78
Kenneth Harris LB	Decatur, GA	Columbia HS	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)	206 lb (93 kg)	4.60	Feb 3, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 40
Dwight Jones WR	Burlington, NC	Cummings HS	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)	210 lb (95 kg)	4.61	Jan 26, 2007
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 81
Michael McAdoo DE	Antioch, TN	Antioch HS	6 ft 7 in (201 cm)	228 lb (103 kg)	4.75	Jan 31, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 77
Ebele Okakpu LB	Roswell, GA	Roswell HS	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)	208 lb (94 kg)	4.50	Aug 4, 2007
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 75
Robert Quinn DE	North Charleston, SC	Fort Dorchester HS	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)	250 lb (110 kg)	4.72	Feb 6, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 80
Kevin Reddick LB	New Bern, NC	New Bern HS	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)	220 lb (100 kg)	4.57	Jan 13, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 78
Joseph Townsend DT	San Jose, CA	Foothill College	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)	290 lb (130 kg)	4.87	Feb 9, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: NA
Randy White TE	Bristol, VA	Virginia HS	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)	234 lb (106 kg)	4.79	Jun 15, 2007
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 73
Melvin Williams S	Lebanon, TN	Coffeyville CC	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)	203 lb (92 kg)	4.55	Oct 23, 2007
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: NA
Christian Wilson TE	McKees Rocks, PA	Montour HS	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)	235 lb (107 kg)	4.60	Feb 6, 2008
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 81
Jamal Womble RB	Sierra Vista, AZ	Buena HS	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)	221 lb (100 kg)	4.41	Dec 5, 2007
	Scout:   Rivals:   ESPN grade: 78
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 15   Rivals: 16
‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout and Rivals may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, an average of the two was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2007 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. http://www.rivals.com/TeamRank.asp?type=0&sort=0&year=2007. Retrieved 2007-03-04.

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Coaching staff

After signing a contract extension at the end of the 2007, Butch Davis enters his second season as head coach. Chuck Pagano resigned as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach to become an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. He was replaced by Minnesota assistant Everett Withers.^[2][3]

Name	Position [4]	Seasons in Position
Butch Davis	Head Coach	2nd
John Blake	Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator / Defensive Line	2nd
Ken Browning	Running Backs	15th
Jeff Connors	Strength and Conditioning Coordinator	8th
Steve Hagen	Tight Ends	2nd
John Lovett	Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Assistant	2nd
Sam Pittman	Offensive Line	2nd
John Shoop	Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks	2nd
Tommy Thigpen	Linebackers	4th
Charlie Williams	Wide Receivers	2nd
Everett Withers	Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs	1st

Roster

Wide Receiver 1 Brooks Foster - Senior 2 Cooter Arnold - Senior 3 Kenton Thornton - Junior 15 Anthony Parker-Boyd - Sophomore 19 Josh Washburn - Junior 23 Quentin Plair - Sophomore 34 Brett Long - Senior 82 Todd Harrelson - Freshman 83 Dwight Jones - Freshman 85 Rashad Mason - Freshman 87 Brandon Tate - Senior 88 Hakeem Nicks - Junior Offensive Lineman 60 Zack Handerson - Sophomore 64 Jonathan Cooper - Freshman 65 Cam Holland - Freshman 66 Mike Ingersoll - Sophomore 67 Morgan Randall - Sophomore 68 Mike Dykes - Freshman 69 Lowell Dyer - Junior 70 Alan Pelc - Sophomore 71 Carl Gaskins - Freshman 72 Kyle Jolly - Junior 73 Aaron Stahl - Junior 74 Sam Ellis - Sophomore 75 Garrett Reynolds - Senior 76 Bryon Bishop - Senior 77 Kevin Bryant - Freshman 79 Calvin Darity - Senior Half-back 17 Zack Pianalto - Sophomore 33 Christian Wilson - Freshman Tight End 80 Ed Barham - Sophomore 81 B.J. Phillips - Sophomore 86 Randy White - Freshman 89 Richard Quinn - Senior		Quarterback 7 Mike Paulus - Freshman 11 Cameron Sexton - Junior 13 T.J. Yates - Sophomore 14 Braden Hanson - Freshman Running Back 5 Jamal Womble - Freshman 8 Greg Little - Sophomore 20 Shaun Draughn - Sophomore 30 Carter Brown - Sophomore 32 Ryan Houston - Sophomore 45 Devon Ramsay - Freshman Fullback 4 Bobby Rome - Junior 6 Anthony Elzy - Sophomore 43 Curtis Byrd - Sophomore Defensive tackle 9 Marvin Austin - Sophomore 91 Tydreke Powell - Freshman 93 Cam Thomas - Junior 94 Brian White - Junior 96 Tavares Brown - Junior 97 Aleric Mullins - Junior Defensive End 40 Darius Powell - Sophomore 42 Robert Quinn - Freshman 84 Vince Jacobs - Sophomore 90 Quinton Coples - Freshman 92 E. J. Wilson - Junior 94 Michael McAdoo - Freshman 95 Greg Elleby - Sophomore 98 Darrius Massenburg - Sophomore Cornerback 12 Charles Brown - Sophomore 16 Kendric Burney - Sophomore 23 Jordan Hemby - Junior 24 Tavorris Jolly - Sophomore 26 Richie Rich - Junior 29 Brian Gupton - Freshman 34 Johnny White - Sophomore 37 LaCount Fantroy - Freshman		Linebacker 35 Herman Davidson - Freshman 36 Kennedy Tinsley - Junior 41 Mark Paschal - Senior 44 Chase Rice - Senior 45 Alex Crisp - Sophomore 47 Zach Brown - Freshman 49 Ryan Taylor - Junior 52 Quan Sturdivant - Sophomore 53 Kenneth Harris - Freshman 54 Bruce Carter - Sophomore 55 Linwan Euwell - Freshman 57 Dion Guy - Freshman 57 Hayden Hunter - Sophomore 58 Ebele Okakpu - Freshman Safety 7 Josh Stewart - Sophomore 10 Melvin Williams - Junior 21 Da'Norris Searcy - Sophomore 25 Matt Merletti - Sophomore 27 Deunta Williams - Sophomore 28 Jonathan Smith - Sophomore 31 Trimane Goddard - Senior 32 Tyler Caldwell - Junior 43 Jabir Jones - Senior Long Snapper 51 Trevor Stuart - Sophomore 58 Mark House - Sophomore Punter / Place Kicker 11 Casey Barth - Freshman 16 Trase Jones - Sophomore 17 Grant Schallock - Sophomore 18 Jay Wooten - Freshman 19 Terrence Brown - Senior 29 Reid Phillips - Sophomore

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	6:05 p.m.	McNeese State*		Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	ESPN360	W 35–27  (vacated)	58,000
September 11	7:45 p.m.	at Rutgers*		Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ	ESPN	W 44–12  (vacated)	42,502
September 20	3:30 p.m.	Virginia Tech		Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	ABC/ESPN	L 17–20	59,800
September 27	12:00 p.m.	at Miami		Dolphin Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL	ESPN2	W 28–24  (vacated)	35,830
October 4	7:00 p.m.	#23 Connecticut*		Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	ESPN2	W 38–12  (vacated)	59,500
October 11	3:30 p.m.	Notre Dame*	#22	Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	ABC/ESPN	W 29–24  (vacated)	60,500
October 18	3:30 p.m.	at Virginia	#18	Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA (South's Oldest Rivalry)	ABC/ESPN2	L 13–16 OT	52,342
October 25	12:00 p.m.	Boston College		Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	Raycom/ESPN360	W 45–24  (vacated)	48,000
November 8	12:00 p.m.	#20 Georgia Tech	#19	Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	Raycom/ESPN360	W 28–7  (vacated)	59,000
November 15	3:30 p.m.	at Maryland	#17	Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD	ABC/ESPN	L 15–17	46,113
November 22	12:00 p.m.	North Carolina State		Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC	Raycom/ESPN360	L 10–41	60,000
November 29	3:30 p.m.	at Duke		Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC (Victory Bell Game)	ESPNU	W 28–20  (vacated)	30,322
December 27	1:00 p.m.	vs. West Virginia*		Bank of America Stadium • Charlotte, NC (Meineke Car Care Bowl)	ESPN	L 30–31	73,712
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.

Did not play: Clemson, Florida State, and Wake Forest.^[5] The spring football game is on March 28, 2009.^[6]

Game notes

McNeese State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Mcneese State	0	14	6	7	27
North Carolina	7	7	7	14	35

Brandon Tate put on a dazzling one-man show, scoring on an 82-yard punt return and putting North Carolina ahead for good with a 57-yard TD catch to help the Tar Heels hold off McNeese State 35-27. Tate finished with a school-record 397 all-purpose yards for the Tar Heels, who showed little else in an unimpressive start to their second season under Butch Davis. In a game suspended nearly two hours due to weather, they blew a 14-0 first-half lead and had to rally from a third-quarter deficit against Football Championship Subdivision McNeese State, who outplayed the Heels much of the way. T.J. Yates had 221 passing yards and 2 TDs. ^[7]

Rutgers

	1	2	3	4	Total
North Carolina	0	17	21	6	44
Rutgers	3	3	0	6	12

T.J. Yates threw three touchdown passes and the Tar Heels won for the first time outside North Carolina since 2002, beating error-prone Rutgers 44-12 in a nationally televised game that pitted Butch Davis against his former pupil, Greg Schiano. Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate combined for 10 catches, 204 receiving yards, and 3 TDs as the Heels offense rolled over Rutgers. Carolina's defense generated 4 Rutgers turnovers (3 INTs and a fumble) and scored off of a 66 yard interception return by Bruce Carter. ^[8]

References

North Carolina Tar Heels football Venues Emerson Field (1916–1926) Kenan Memorial Stadium (1927–present) Bowls & rivalries Bowl games NC State South's Oldest Rivalry (Virginia) Victory Bell (Duke) Culture & lore Rameses "I'm a Tar Heel Born" "Here Comes Carolina" The Marching Tar Heels People Head coaches Seasons 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011