Post by aggierattler on Sept 11, 2015 11:27:53 GMT -5
From the Greensboro-Record: www.greensboro.com/sports/accxtra/tar-heels-hunting-an-in-state-win-against-a-t/article_1a39bb5e-cb1a-5ce3-96bc-684c8ab4e4ce.html
Tar Heels hunting an in-state win against A&T
Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2015 5:54 pm
By Powell Latimer powell.latimer@greensboro.com
CHAPEL HILL — The text went to T.J. Logan’s phone early this week: a single fist emoji, with a short note: We’re watching you.
Logan, a Greensboro native and North Carolina running back, is well-connected with several players for UNC’s opponent on Saturday, N.C. A&T. The Aggies’ roster includes a couple of his high school teammates from Northern Guilford, including the sender of that playful text message, defensive lineman Malik Hampton-Prioleau, and a few other Greensboro players.
“It’s a lot of talk,” Logan said. “A lot of guys I played with. ... It’s all love until we get out there, and we’ll see how that goes.”
It’s not a surprise that A&T players and fans would be hyped to play UNC — it is, after all, a chance for A&T to pull off a massive upset.
The question is why UNC would open itself to the risk of losing to A&T. The Aggies are favored to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and return the conference’s most explosive running back, Tarik Cohen.
“It’s good, for one, to play within the state of North Carolina,” UNC head coach Larry Fedora said. “It’s good for the state of North Carolina, so why not?”
An upset is a long shot — UNC is a power-conference opponent and is larger, stronger and faster at almost every position. But the potential for a program-defining upset (see: Appalachian State at Michigan, 2007) appears on paper to far outweigh the benefits of one easy win against an in-state school.
“A&T has everything to gain,” UNC linebacker and Charlotte native Cayson Collins said. “They have nothing to lose, and we do.”
But UNC continues to schedule games against in-state programs. The game against A&T is UNC’s first against the Aggies. UNC frequently schedules East Carolina, and this week UNC announced a series against new Football Bowl Subdivision program Charlotte in 2024 and 2025.
Other power-five conference programs choose not to play other in-state programs — Alabama famously hasn’t played another in-state program since the end of World War II.
UNC’s status is nowhere near as secure. The Tar Heels still see many of the best prospects in North Carolina flee to other, more high-profile teams. They haven’t won more than eight games in a season since 1997.
The Tar Heels have long been prideful of their perceived status as the flagship program in North Carolina, but recent stumbles have eroded that ideal. A long-running NCAA investigation weakens UNC’s status, as does a recent string of losses to in-state ACC rivals N.C. State and Duke.
Losses to East Carolina, especially last year’s 70-41 trouncing in Greenville in which the Pirates amassed almost a half-mile of offense, can be more troubling.
“No, we’re not on top,” said Nazair Jones, who is a UNC defensive tackle and Roanoke Rapids native. “If we’re on top, we’d win every game we played in the state of North Carolina. So, losing to ECU, getting 70 put on our defense, losing to Duke two years in a row before last year, that doesn’t put us on top.”
Therein lies one of the possible benefits of the game. A&T coach Rod Broadway is a former UNC player and coach, and his ties are important. Bolstering recruiting ties in a major population center of North Carolina is also a big factor. But UNC also wants to rebuild its image in the state, starting with a win against A&T.
“Any game in the state,” Collins said, “no matter what the division is, it’s a big opportunity to prove a point that you are the dominant school.”
Contact Powell Latimer at (336) 373-7008, and follow @powelllatimernr on Twitter.
Tar Heels hunting an in-state win against A&T
Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2015 5:54 pm
By Powell Latimer powell.latimer@greensboro.com
CHAPEL HILL — The text went to T.J. Logan’s phone early this week: a single fist emoji, with a short note: We’re watching you.
Logan, a Greensboro native and North Carolina running back, is well-connected with several players for UNC’s opponent on Saturday, N.C. A&T. The Aggies’ roster includes a couple of his high school teammates from Northern Guilford, including the sender of that playful text message, defensive lineman Malik Hampton-Prioleau, and a few other Greensboro players.
“It’s a lot of talk,” Logan said. “A lot of guys I played with. ... It’s all love until we get out there, and we’ll see how that goes.”
It’s not a surprise that A&T players and fans would be hyped to play UNC — it is, after all, a chance for A&T to pull off a massive upset.
The question is why UNC would open itself to the risk of losing to A&T. The Aggies are favored to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and return the conference’s most explosive running back, Tarik Cohen.
“It’s good, for one, to play within the state of North Carolina,” UNC head coach Larry Fedora said. “It’s good for the state of North Carolina, so why not?”
An upset is a long shot — UNC is a power-conference opponent and is larger, stronger and faster at almost every position. But the potential for a program-defining upset (see: Appalachian State at Michigan, 2007) appears on paper to far outweigh the benefits of one easy win against an in-state school.
“A&T has everything to gain,” UNC linebacker and Charlotte native Cayson Collins said. “They have nothing to lose, and we do.”
But UNC continues to schedule games against in-state programs. The game against A&T is UNC’s first against the Aggies. UNC frequently schedules East Carolina, and this week UNC announced a series against new Football Bowl Subdivision program Charlotte in 2024 and 2025.
Other power-five conference programs choose not to play other in-state programs — Alabama famously hasn’t played another in-state program since the end of World War II.
UNC’s status is nowhere near as secure. The Tar Heels still see many of the best prospects in North Carolina flee to other, more high-profile teams. They haven’t won more than eight games in a season since 1997.
The Tar Heels have long been prideful of their perceived status as the flagship program in North Carolina, but recent stumbles have eroded that ideal. A long-running NCAA investigation weakens UNC’s status, as does a recent string of losses to in-state ACC rivals N.C. State and Duke.
Losses to East Carolina, especially last year’s 70-41 trouncing in Greenville in which the Pirates amassed almost a half-mile of offense, can be more troubling.
“No, we’re not on top,” said Nazair Jones, who is a UNC defensive tackle and Roanoke Rapids native. “If we’re on top, we’d win every game we played in the state of North Carolina. So, losing to ECU, getting 70 put on our defense, losing to Duke two years in a row before last year, that doesn’t put us on top.”
Therein lies one of the possible benefits of the game. A&T coach Rod Broadway is a former UNC player and coach, and his ties are important. Bolstering recruiting ties in a major population center of North Carolina is also a big factor. But UNC also wants to rebuild its image in the state, starting with a win against A&T.
“Any game in the state,” Collins said, “no matter what the division is, it’s a big opportunity to prove a point that you are the dominant school.”
Contact Powell Latimer at (336) 373-7008, and follow @powelllatimernr on Twitter.