Ten — the number of days until the North Carolina football team opens up its season on the road against South Carolina.
If the countdown hadn’t already begun, it should start now.
The Tar Heels have closed camp and will begin classes tomorrow. But the ever-growing anticipation of the first game of the season will remain with UNC until its players take the field on Aug. 29.
In terms of preparation, coach Larry Fedora said all the starting positions are solidified with the exception of one — right tackle.
But he isn’t worried.
“We’re right about where we want to be ten days out,” Fedora said.
With just over a week left, the Tar Heels will specifically get ready for their matchup with South Carolina instead of preparing for the season as a whole — how the team approached the entirety of training camp.
“At this point, it’s installing a game plan,” Fedora said. “It’s learning it mentally, and it’s getting yourself fresh by taking care of your body.”
Morris likely to start over Blue
Throughout training camp, senior running back A.J. Blue frequently missed practices due to injuries, which gave sophomore Romar Morris an opportunity to step up and show he’s deserving of the starting role.
Fedora commended Morris for having a solid camp and said there is a high probability he will start against the Gamecocks.
Defensive “zoo”So far in training camp, various injuries, nicks and bruises turned the Tar Heel secondary into a carousel of uncertainty the likes of which is only topped by the questions surrounding who will start at the right tackle position.
Though UNC’s defensive back corps has returned starters such as senior safety Tre Boston and brought in highly touted freshmen like Brian Walker, health issues have threatened coach Vic Koenning’s plans for the secondary.
“It’s been a zoo,” Koenning said. “It’s been an absolute zoo, and hopefully we can get some guys back.”
With the inconsistency in personnel, Koenning has been moving and adding players to the secondary, further complicating the Tar Heels’ preparation for an already difficult season opener against the Gamecocks.
“How would you like to try to teach a (new) guy (a position) every other day,” Koenning said. “That’s not the easiest thing on them or us.”
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