Training Camp Notebook

North Carolina football officially kicked off the 2010 season on Friday with its first day of training camp.

After nearly a month of controversy surrounding the team following an NCAA investigation, the Tar Heels took to the field for the first time since the spring game to prepare for Sept. 4 when they face LSU in the season opener.

Here are a few sights from Friday:

• When his players did not clap in unison after an exercise, Coach Butch Davis made his Tar Heels repeat the drill until they clapped as a unit. He said the simultaneous clap is a sign of when the player react to the snap of the ball.

In UNC’s final game, a 19-17 loss to Pittsburgh in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the defense jumped offside in a fourth-down situation for the Panthers. The penalty gave Pittsburgh kicker an extra five yards to put the Big East school on top in the closing seconds of the game.

• Greg Little and Marvin Austin will not be available to speak to the media after practice today. The two have been reported to be linked to the ongoing NCAA investigation into improper deals with agents.

• A.J. Blue showed signs of a speedy recovery after tearing three ligaments in his knee last season. Listed as an athlete last year on the roster, Blue is now listed as a running back. He participated in both RB and QB drills during the first 45 minutes of practice.

• Backup punter C.J. Feagles, son of former NFL punter Jeff Feagles, slammed his right hand in a car door recently and was wearing a light cast. Feagles participated in all the drills and team spokesman Kevin Best said he should recover fully in the next week or two.

• Highly touted quarterback Bryn Renner had a tough go of it early in practice. While under center with the second team, his first two snaps didn’t go as planned. Renner handed the ball too low to Greg Little, who was coming from his slot position, on the first snap and, on the next snap, missed the hands of Ryan Houston.