2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Butch Davis.
2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football | |
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Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
Coastal Division | |
2007 record | 4–8 (3–5 ACC) |
Head coach | Butch Davis (1st season) |
Offensive coordinator | John Shoop (1st season) |
Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
Defensive coordinator | Chuck Pagano (1st season) |
Base defense | 4–3 |
Home stadium | Kenan Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 60,000) |
2007 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Atlantic Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 10 Boston College x | 6 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 21 Clemson | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wake Forest | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida State | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maryland | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NC State | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coastal Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 9 Virginia Tech x$ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia Tech | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Carolina | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miami | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duke | 0 | – | 8 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Previous season
The 2006 North Carolina football team began with the Tar Heels unranked in the AP and coaches' preseason polls. Despite the fact that they were receiving little national attention, there was much optimism in the state of North Carolina. The team got off to a shaky start losing six out of their first seven games. Just days after playing their seventh game of the season, a 23–0 loss to Virginia in Charlottesville, the University of North Carolina announced that head coach John Bunting would be relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the season."[1] After the announcement of Bunting's firing the team arguably became much more competitive and won their last two games of the season, 23–9 against North Carolina State and 45-44 against Duke.
Preseason
Immediately after Bunting's firing on October 22, 2006 there was much speculation over who UNC would name their new football coach. Rumors immediately started to circulate that former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and Miami Hurricanes, Butch Davis, was highly interested in the position."[2] Athletic director Dick Baddour confirmed the accuracy of the rumors when he announced on November 13, 2006 that Butch Davis had agreed to become the new head football coach."[3] Soon after his hiring, Butch Davis began to assemble his coaching staff. He was able to lure Offensive Coordinator John Shoop and Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano from the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, and Defensive Line Coach John Blake from Nebraska. Blake is regarded by many to be one of the best recruiters in all of college football."[4]
As of March 2007 many publications began releasing preseason rankings for the upcoming football season. Although UNC still ranked in the lower tier of the Atlantic Coast Conference, many publications were impressed with the Tar Heels' hiring of Butch Davis and their top ranked recruiting class."[5]
Recruiting
The Tar Heels received 20 letters of intent on National Signing Day, February 7, 2007. Three student athletes had already enrolled before National Signing Day making this class relatively large with 23 commitments.
US college sports recruiting information for recruits | ||||||
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Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
Marvin Austin DT |
Washington, DC | Ballou HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | 4.68 | Feb 7, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Charles Brown WR |
Maple Heights, OH | Maple Heights Senior HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.47 | Jan 29, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Kevin Bryant OT |
Lauderdale Lakes, FL | Boyd H. Anderson HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 375 lb (170 kg) | 5.87 | Feb 7, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Albert Craddock LB |
High Point, NC | Southwest Guilford HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.45 | Mar 4, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Mike Dykes OG |
Pittsburgh, PA | Woodland Hills HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | 5.20 | Jan 24, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Linwan Euwell DE |
Tarboro, NC | Southwest Edgecombe HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.65 | Feb 2, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
LaCount Fantroy CB |
New Berlin, NY | Milford Academy | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 4.50 | Jun 17, 2005 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Carl Gaskins OT |
Melbourne, FL | Palm Bay Senior HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 255 lb (116 kg) | NA | Feb 4, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Brian Gupton WR |
Nashville, TN | Pearl-Cohn HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.50 | Feb 4, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Cameron Holland OG |
Pittsburgh, PA | Perry Traditional Academy | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | 4.95 | Jan 24, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Ryan Houston RB |
Matthews, NC | David W Butler HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | 4.58 | Jan 21, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Dwight Jones WR |
Burlington, NC | Hugh M Cummings HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.61 | Feb 7, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Greg Little WR |
Durham, NC | Hillside HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.55 | Feb 7, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Rashad Mason WR |
Nashville, TN | Pearl-Cohn HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.50 | Feb 4, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Matt Merletti CB |
Cleveland, OH | St. Ignatius HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.48 | Dec 12, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Mike Paulus QB |
Syracuse, NY | Christian Brothers Academy | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.90 | Apr 28, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Zach Pianalto TE |
Springdale, AR | Springdale HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.63 | Jan 2, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Tydreke Powell DT |
Ahoskie, NC | Hertford County HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | 4.90 | Jan 21, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Devon Ramsay RB |
Red Bank, NJ | Lawrenceville Prep | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 242 lb (110 kg) | 4.60 | Jan 7, 2007 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Da'Norris Searcy LB |
Decatur, GA | Towers HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.50 | Dec 10, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Jonathan Smith LB |
Durham, NC | Hillside HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.6 | Apr 11, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Quantavius Sturdivant LB |
Oakboro, NC | West Stanly HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 227 lb (103 kg) | 4.55 | Nov 16, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Jay Wooten K |
Laurinburg, NC | Scotland HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.8 | May 19, 2006 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 15 Rivals: 16 | ||||||
Sources:
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Coaching staff
Name | Position[6] | Seasons in Position |
---|---|---|
Butch Davis | Head Coach | 1st |
John Blake | Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator / Defensive Line | 1st |
Ken Browning | Running Backs | 14th |
Jeff Connors | Strength and Conditioning Coordinator | 7th |
Steve Hagen | Tight Ends | 1st |
John Lovett | Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Assistant | 1st |
Chuck Pagano | Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs | 1st |
Sam Pittman | Offensive Line | 1st |
John Shoop | Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks | 1st |
Tommy Thigpen | Linebackers | 3rd |
Charlie Williams | Wide Receivers | 1st |
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | James Madison* | ESPN360 | W 37–14 | 58,500 | |
September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | at East Carolina* | CSTV | L 31–34 | 43,387 | |
September 15 | 12:00 p.m. | Virginia |
| Raycom/LFS | L 20–22 | 58,000 |
September 22 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 23 South Florida* | ESPN | L 10–37 | 37,693 | |
September 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 17 Virginia Tech | Raycom/LFS | L 10–17 | 66,233 | |
October 6 | 12:00 p.m. | Miami |
| ESPN2 | W 33–27 | 59,000 |
October 13 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 7 South Carolina* |
| ABC | L 15–21 | 61,000 |
October 27 | 12:00 p.m. | at Wake Forest |
| Raycom/LFS | L 10–37 | 33,023 |
November 3 | 3:45 p.m. | Maryland![]() |
| ESPNU | W 16–13 | 56,000 |
November 10 | 12:00 p.m. | at North Carolina State | Raycom/LFS | L 27–31 | 57,583 | |
November 17 | 12:00 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | Raycom/LFS | L 25–27 | 45,490 | |
November 24 | 3:30 p.m. | Duke |
| ESPNU | W 20–14 OT | 52,000 |
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Did not play: Boston College, Clemson, and Florida State.
Team statistics
Passing Leader | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int |
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T. J. Yates | 218 | 365 | 2655 | 14 | 18 |
Rushing Leaders | Car | Yds | Long | TD |
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Johnny White | 95 | 399 | 39 | 0 |
Anthony Elzy | 92 | 321 | 39 | 5 |
Greg Little | 59 | 300 | 38 | 2 |
Ryan Houston | 44 | 145 | 10 | 1 |
Brandon Tate | 12 | 131 | 54 | 1 |
Receiving Leaders | Rec | Yds | Long | TD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hakeem Nicks | 74 | 958 | 53 | 5 |
Brandon Tate | 25 | 479 | 51 | 5 |
Brooks Foster | 29 | 417 | 65 | 2 |
Kicking | XPM | XPA | FGM | FGM | Long | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Connor Barth | 21 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 51 | 78 |
References
- "Pickeral, Robbi (October 22, 2006). "UNC's Bunting Out at End of Season". The News & Observer. Raleigh. Archived from the original on November 18, 2006. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
- "Butch Davis jumps to top of list for North Carolina job." ESPN.com. Retrieved on March 4, 2007.
- "Butch Davis hired to coach at UNC Archived 2007-10-02 at the Wayback Machine." sportingnews.com. Retrieved on March 4, 2007.
- "John Blake Hired As North Carolina Assistant Football Coach." tarheelblue.com. Retrieved on March 4, 2007.
- "Inside Spring Drills: ACC Preview." rivals.com. Retrieved on March 4, 2007.
- "North Carolina Coaching Staff Archived 2007-12-14 at the Wayback Machine." tarheelblue.com. Retrieved on March 4, 2007.