RACHEL ULLRICH

Sports

Bowls' exposure priceless

By RACHEL ULLRICH | October 27

The win against Boston College meant more than a .500 ACC record and a way back into the AP Poll for North Carolina. The Tar Heels' sixth win also means UNC should head to a bowl this year for only the second time this decade. Not only do bowl participants get invaluable publicity and airtime but the ACC also provides each school in a bowl with expenses up to $1.6 million for the BCS game.

Sports

UNC faces 'explosive' Cowboys

By RACHEL ULLRICH | August 29

Butch Davis faced the McNeese State Cowboys once before. While Davis was at Miami, he coached the Hurricanes to a win - a 61-14 win, to be exact. But he doesn't expect the same from this year's McNeese State - a team that outscored its opponents by more than 200 points last season and has on its resume a 76-0 victory from 2006. "McNeese is a very explosive, fast football team; historically they've always been that way," Davis said at this week's press conference.

Sports

Davis finalizing UNC depth chart

By RACHEL ULLRICH | August 26

Left guard: Bryon Bishop OR Alan Pelc. Center: Aaron Stahl OR Lowell Dyer. Place-kicker: Jay Wooten OR Casey Barth. Less than a week before the North Carolina football team's season opener, much of the depth chart is set. But nine "ORs" remain among the 27 positions: spots not yet claimed by a definite starter. "We're probably pretty close on most of the starters," coach Butch Davis said. "And anytime you see an 'or,' it probably means whoever that 'or' is, as in the case of Bryon Bishop and Alan Pelc, you're going to see both of those guys play."

Sports

Davis: We're ready for season

By RACHEL ULLRICH | August 26

Butch Davis entered the Kenan Stadium press room, made his way to the podium and framed his body behind it, a hand on each edge. "All right, let's get this started." Davis meant the press conference, but he might have a slightly bigger beginning on his mind, too. "Today's gonna signify the start of a good football season for us," he said to open his statement. "I am no different than probably every football coach in the country - I think everybody's anxious to get the year started."

Sports

The Baltimore Bullet won medals - and my heart

By RACHEL ULLRICH | August 20

I wanted to hate Michael Phelps. I really did. First off, I usually try to pick awkward and unattractive athletes to support. Kind of 'cause they're funny looking. Kind of 'cause people tend to believe you more if you say you support Peter Crouch of Liverpool F.C. than if you say you support his teammate Fernando Torres. (Crouchie going to Portsmouth has totally blown that one for me, though.) Also, I really, really hate that commercial about him where the girl has the "Phelps Phan" T-shirt on and she talks about Phelps' love of Chinese food.

Sports

UNC soccer focused on success

By RACHEL ULLRICH | August 19

At a pause in Saturday's scrimmage, the North Carolina men's soccer team hurried off the field to a rack of water bottles near the goal. As the 20-something athletes drank thirstily, only a few remained on the field. One was Ryan Adeleye, a senior defensive back. "Come on, guys, let's get back. "Get a drink, then come back. Let's go. Ten more minutes to go." Adeleye's calls to his teammates showed what he, coach Elmar Bolowich and captain Mike Callahan pointed to as the motivation in this summer's trainings: focus.

News

New charges for Carson suspects

By RACHEL ULLRICH | July 10

The suspects in Eve Carson's death were indicted July 7 on several more charges in the case, but at least one will have to wait longer than originally planned to hear his fate, as Demario James Atwater's Rule 24 hearing was delayed until next month. Atwater, 22, and Lawrence Alvin Lovette, 17, both now face at least four other counts in addition to the first-degree murder charges issued March 31 in response to the March 5 shooting of then-Student Body President Carson. The new indictments include armed robbery, first-degree kidnapping, larceny and possession of stolen goods.

Sports

Breschi named UNC lacrosse coach

By RACHEL ULLRICH | June 26

Two years ago, John Haus was the man who weathered the North Carolina men's lacrosse team through a full turnaround. Guiding the team from a 4-10 season in 2004 to a 10-6 record and NCAA quarter-finals appearance in 2006, Haus was widely lauded for the progress he made with the UNC program. Now Haus is unemployed. And his successor, former Ohio State coach Joe Breschi, has quite the workload in front of him. UNC hasn't won a conference game since 2004, in Haus' heyday. And UNC officials are making no secret of the fact that the goal next year is conference success.

Sports

Tar Heels back for the big one

By RACHEL ULLRICH | June 19

Statements released by the University athletic department on the UNC men's basketball trio's return to Chapel Hill had one thing in common: These guys want the championship. "I am looking forward to working toward our goal of winning a national championship," junior Wayne Ellington said. Sixth-man Danny Green's release contained much of the same, and Ty Lawson, too, "looks forward to trying to . win a national championship."

Sports

Men's basketball: Draft deadline looming for UNC hoopsters

By RACHEL ULLRICH | June 12

With the June 16 entrance deadline for the NBA Draft coming up fast, the Tar Heel trio "testing the waters" still haven't jumped in. Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green all attended the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando and have worked out with numerous NBA teams in the past several weeks. But none has been guaranteed a pick yet, and the question still remains in Chapel Hill: Will they, or won't they?