2007 UNC Football Recap: Heels a Young Squad On the Rise

2007 Record: 4-8

ACC Record: 3-5

Butch Davis's much anticipated first season as head coach at UNC is in the books. 

Almost exactly one year ago, Davis was installed as UNC's new coach, replacing UNC alum John Bunting.  Davis assembled a high profile coaching staff headlined by DL coach and highly regarded recruiter John Blake, Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano, and Offensive Coordinator John Shoop.  The staff cemented and augmented a stellar recruiting class headlined among many other by QB Mike Paulus, signing day switcheroo from Notre Dame (and contestant on ESPN's Summer House) Greg Little, and perhaps the nation's best defensive player Marvin Austin.  

One of the youngest teams in Division 1-A, North Carolina started out the season with rather low expectations from the media.  Through three games the team put up rather lofty offensive numbers led by redshirt freshman QB TJ Yates.  Suddenly a strong wave of optimism inflated expectations from die-hard fans.  

The theme for the 2007 Tar Heels was nail-biter outcomes.  With the exception of three games (solid win over James Madison, and two 37-10 defeats at South Florida and Wake Forest) every game was full of excitement and a close finish.  Their remaining 6 losses were by 3, 2, 7, 6, 4, and 2 points.  Inexperience led to pivotal plays both ways that cost the Heels close games.  However, these games, along with the new coaching staff and talent brought a new level of excitement to a team coming out of a plagued decade.  

The team showed promise and glimpses of future excellence.  Deunta Williams, a redshirt freshman safety, and Austin received Freshman All-American recognition.  

Since the end of the season, the University has offered Davis and his staff a controversial contract extension.  Supporters note the high-profile positions available, the new buzz around the program and the need to secure our "big name" coach for stability.  Naysayers cite only minor improvements in overall record as little justification for a pay raise.  It remains to be seen if Coach Davis will earn his paycheck in everyone's eyes next year. 

UNC looks to reel in another star-studded recruiting class for 2008.  At the top of the board is 5-star LB Arthur Brown from Wichita, KS.  UNC seems to have a very good shot as they remain in Brown's final 6 schools and he looks to announce in December.  UNC is recruiting many high-profile players and new names pop up every day.  Another nationally ranked class would do wonders for the national outlook of UNC football and the influx of talent should lead to on-field production.  

OVERVIEW:

The Good

-Many returning talented underclassmen now having seen experience

-Good redshirted talent looking to play next year along with incoming freshmen

-The young team gets older and loses only 10 scholarship seniors

-A year of Butch Davis Ball under their belts

-Greg Little emerged as a superstar RB in the last two games

 
The Not So Good

-Losing: Money placekicker Connor Barth, center Scott Lenahan, and defensive leaders Hilee Taylor, Kentwan Balmer, and Durrell Mapp 

-Very inconsistent play this season—will hopefully be corrected with experience

-Desperate need to establish an effective running game—Little's late emergence is promising but OL play must greatly improve