2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

The 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels played in the Coastal Division of the conference. The Tar Heels finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in ACC play and lost in the Meineke Car Care Bowl 19–17 against Pittsburgh. However, in 2011, North Carolina vacated all its wins from both the 2008 season and 2009 season.[1]

2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal
2009 record0–5, 8[1] wins vacated (0–4 ACC, 4 wins vacated)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJohn Shoop (3rd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorEverett Withers (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumKenan Memorial Stadium
(Capacity: 60,000)
2009 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Atlantic Division
No. 24 Clemson x  6 –2     9 –5  
Boston College  5 –3     8 –5  
Florida State  4 –4     7 –6  
Wake Forest  3 –5     5 –7  
NC State  2 –6     5 –7  
Maryland  1 –7     2 –10  
Coastal Division
No. 13 Georgia Tech * x$  7 –1     11 –3  
No. 10 Virginia Tech  6 –2     10 –3  
No. 19 Miami  5 –3     9 –4  
North Carolina *  0 –4     0 –5  
Duke  3 –5     5 –7  
Virginia  2 –6     3 –9  
Championship: Georgia Tech 39, Clemson 34
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • North Carolina vacated 8 wins, including 4 ACC wins.
Rankings from AP Poll

Preseason

Key Losses

On January 5, 2009 starting wide-receiver Hakeem Nicks announced that he would forgo his senior year in order to enter the 2009 NFL Draft. In just three years Nicks had set 14 school records, including career receptions (181), career receiving yards (2,580), and career touchdowns (21). In his senior season, Nicks was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after catching 68 passes for 1,222 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was the only player in UNC history with more than 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

The following are some of the other key players who will no longer play for North Carolina in the 2009 season:

Key Returns

For 2009, the Tar Heels are likely to return numerous starters from the previous season. The following players will maintain their playing eligibility and in all likelihood will return for the season:

Special Teams:

  • Casey Barth (K), returning leader in field goals made (10)
  • Jay Wooten (K), returning leader in kick-offs (71)

Recruiting

As of February 6, 2009, Scout.com rated North Carolina's 2009 recruiting class as 5th in the nation, Rivals.com ranked North Carolina's recruiting class as 6th, and ESPN ranked 12th. Joshua Adams (WR) and Kevin Reddick (LB) plan to enroll in January 2009 and do not count against the limit of 25 recruits per year. The other following players have offered North Carolina non-binding verbal commitments. These pledges can become binding when recruits sign their National Letters of Intent on February 4, 2009.

Coaching staff
Name Position[2] Seasons in Position
Butch Davis Head Coach 3rd
John Blake Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator / Defensive Line 3rd
Ken Browning Running Backs 16th
Jeff Connors Strength and Conditioning Coordinator 9th
Steve Hagen Tight Ends 3rd
John Lovett Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Assistant 3rd
Sam Pittman Offensive Line 3rd
John Shoop Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks 3rd
Tommy Thigpen Linebackers 5th
Charlie Williams Wide Receivers 3rd
Everett Withers Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs 2nd

Roster
Wide Receiver
  • 3 Joshua Adams – Freshman
  • 8 Greg Little – Junior
  • 11 Joshua McKie – Freshman
  • 34 Johnny White – Junior
  • 25 Lee Browne – Freshman
  • 81 Quentin Plair – Junior
  • 82 Todd Harrelson – Freshman
  • 83 Dwight Jones – Sophomore
  • 85 Rashad Mason – Sophomore
  • 87 Jheranie Boyd – Freshman
  • 88 Erik Highsmith – Freshman
  • 1 Mar'vese Lanier – Junior
Offensive Lineman
  • 55 Trey Strickland – Sophomore
  • 62 David Collins – Freshman
  • 64 Jonathan Cooper – Freshman
  • 65 Cam Holland – Sophomore
  • 66 Mike Ingersoll – Junior
  • 67 Greg Elleby – Junior
  • 69 Lowell Dyer – Senior
  • 70 Alan Pelc – Junior
  • 71 Carl Gaskins – Sophomore
  • 72 Kyle Jolly – Senior
  • 74 Sam Ellis – Junior
  • 76 Travis Bond – Freshman
  • 78 Kevin Bryant – Sophomore
  • 79 Brennan Williams – Freshman
H-back
  • 33 Christian Wilson – Sophomore
Tight End
  • 17 Zack Pianalto- Junior
  • 80 Ed Barham – Junior
  • 84 Vince Jacobs – Junior
  • 86 Randy White – Freshman
  • 95 Nelson Hurst – Sophomore
  
Quarterback
  • 2 Bryn Renner – Freshman
  • 7 Mike Paulus – Sophomore
  • 13 T. J. Yates – Sophomore
  • 14 Braden Hanson – Freshman
Running Back
  • 5 Jamal Womble – Freshman
  • 23 Steven Hatley – Sophomore
  • 30 Carter Brown Sophomore
  • 40 Hunter Furr – Freshman
  • 45 Devon Ramsay – Sophomore
Tailback
  • 6 Anthony Elzy – Junior
  • 20 Shaun Draughn – Junior
  • 32 Ryan Houston – Junior
Fullback
  • 4 Bobby Rome – Senior
  • 43 Curtis Byrd – Junior
Defensive tackle
  • 9 Marvin Austin – Junior
  • 91 Tydreke Powell – Sophomore
  • 93 Cam Thomas – Senior
  • 96 Tavares Brown – Senior
  • 97 Aleric Mullins – Senior
Defensive End
Cornerback
  • 10 Melvin Williams – Senior
  • 12 Charles Brown – Junior
  • 16 Kendric Burney – Junior
  • 23 Jordan Hemby – Senior
  • 29 Brian Gupton – Sophomore
  • 37 LeCount Fantroy – Sophomore
  
Linebacker
  • 33 Hayden Hunter – Junior
  • 35 Herman Davidson – Sophomore
  • 36 Kennedy Tinsley – Senior
  • 45 Josh Bridges – Sophomore
  • 47 Zach Brown – Sophomore
  • 48 Kevin Reddick – Freshman
  • 49 Ryan Taylor – Senior
  • 51 Brian Roberts – Sophomore
  • 52 Quan Sturdivant – Junior
  • 53 Hawatha Bell – Freshman
  • 54 Bruce Carter – Junior
  • 55 Linwan Euwell – Sophomore
  • 57 Dion Guy – Freshman
  • 58 Ebele Okakpu – Sophomore
Safety
  • 7 Josh Stewart – Junior
  • 21 Da'Norris Searcy – Junior
  • 25 Matt Merletti – Junior
  • 27 Deunta Williams – Junior
  • 28 Jonathan Smith – Junior
  • 32 Tyler Caldwell – Senior
Deep Snapper
  • 51 Trevor Stuart – Junior
  • 61 Mark House – Junior
Punter / Place Kicker
  • 11 Casey Barth – Sophomore
  • 30 C.J. Feagles – Freshman
  • 39 Grant Schallock – Junior
  • 44 Trase Jones – Junior


Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 56:00 p.m.The Citadel*No. 21
ESPN360W 40–6 (vacated)58,500[3]
September 1212:00 p.m.at Connecticut*No. 19
ESPNUW 12–10 (vacated)38,087[4]
September 1912:00 p.m.East Carolina*No. 24
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ESPN2W 31–17 (vacated)58,000[5]
September 2612:00 p.m.at Georgia TechNo. 22
RaycomL 7–2450,114[6]
October 312:00 p.m.Virginia
RaycomL 3–1657,500[7]
October 103:30 p.m.Georgia Southern*
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ESPN360W 42–12 (vacated)47,000[8]
October 228:00 p.m.Florida State
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ESPNL 27–3058,000[9]
October 297:30 p.m.at No. 14 Virginia Tech
ESPNW 20–17 (vacated)66,233[10]
November 73:30 p.m.Duke
ESPNUW 19–6 (vacated)59,750[11]
November 143:30 p.m.No. 12 Miami (FL)
  • Kenan Memorial Stadium
  • Chapel Hill, NC
ABC/ESPNW 33–24 (vacated)57,500[12]
November 2112:00 p.m.at Boston College
ESPN2W 31–13 (vacated)41,272[13]
November 2812:00 p.m.at NC StateNo. 23
ESPN2L 27–2857,583[14]
December 264:30 p.m.vs. No. 17 Pittsburgh*
ESPNL 17–1950,389[15]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Did not play: Clemson, Maryland, and Wake Forest.

Game summaries

The Citadel
1 2 3 4 Total
The Citadel 0 0 0 6 6
#20 North Carolina 0 23 7 10 40

North Carolina had its best rushing game under coach Butch Davis with 260 total rushing yards (its most since 2004), and Shaun Draughn rushing for 118 yards, his fourth 100-yard rushing game. T. J. Yates threw two touchdown passes and threw for 114 yards.[16]

UConn
See also: 2009 Connecticut Huskies football team
1 2 3 4 Total
#19 North Carolina 0 0 0 12 12
UConn 0 3 7 0 10

North Carolina managed to come back by scoring 12 points against Connecticut in the fourth quarter to win the game. North Carolina gained its final two points when Connecticut's senior tackle Dan Ryan was flagged for holding North Carolina's end Robert Quinn in the end zone, which gave North Carolina a safety, with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter.[17]

ECU
See also: 2009 East Carolina Pirates football team
1 2 3 4 Total
East Carolina 7 7 0 3 17
#19 North Carolina 7 14 3 7 31

Georgia Tech
See also: 2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
1 2 3 4 Total
#18 North Carolina 0 0 0 7 7
Georgia Tech 7 3 0 14 24

Virginia
See also: 2009 Virginia Cavaliers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Virginia 0 6 3 7 16
North Carolina 0 0 3 0 3

Georgia Southern
1 2 3 4 Total
Georgia Southern 7 0 3 2 12
North Carolina 14 28 0 0 42

Florida State
See also: 2009 Florida State Seminoles football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Florida State 3 3 14 10 30
North Carolina 14 3 7 3 27

Virginia Tech
See also: 2009 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
1 2 3 4 Total
North Carolina 0 7 7 6 20
#14 Virginia Tech 0 0 7 10 17

Duke
See also: 2009 Duke Blue Devils football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Duke 3 3 0 0 6
North Carolina 3 3 3 10 19

Miami
See also: 2009 Miami Hurricanes football team
1 2 3 4 Total
#14 Miami 0 7 10 7 24
North Carolina 0 20 3 10 33

Miami and North Carolina last met at Miami on September 27, 2008 in a game won by UNC 28–24. Miami is 5–7 all time versus UNC.

Boston College
See also: 2009 Boston College Eagles football team
1 2 3 4 Total
North Carolina 21 0 0 10 31
Boston College 3 10 0 0 13

The Tar Heels defeated a Boston College team that was playing for an outside shot at a trip to the ACC Championship Game. The UNC defense stifled the Eagles offense for much of the game, holding them to 0 conversions on 13 3rd down attempts. Freshman Boston College quarterback David Shinskie threw for more yards to the Tar Heels defenders than to his own team. His four interceptions were returned for a total of 133 yards, while his twelve completions gained only 101 yards. Tar Heels DB Kendric Burney's interception return for a touchdown was his second in as many games. Cam Thomas added another defensive touchdown on a fumble return. UNC's offense had four turnovers of their own (3 T. J. Yates interceptions, 1 fumble by Erik Highsmith), and struggled to move the ball for much of the game. The UNC running attack was slowed due to a lower extremity injury to Ryan Houston who was sidelined for most of the second half. However, he did return for a 1-yard touchdown run. UNC's stout defense once again came up with big plays in the Tar Heel's fourth straight win.

North Carolina State
See also: 2009 North Carolina State Wolfpack football team
1 2 3 4 Total
North Carolina 3 21 3 0 27
North Carolina State 0 14 7 7 28

Pittsburgh–Meineke Car Care Bowl
See also: 2009 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Pittsburgh 0 13 3 3 19
North Carolina 7 3 7 0 17

Rankings
See also: 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP 21 19 24 22 RV NR NR NR NR NR NR RV 23 RV RV NR 
Coaches 20 19 19 18 RV NR RV RV NR RV RV 25 24 RV RV NR 
Harris Not released RV NR NR NR NR RV RV RV RV RV RV Not released 
BCS Not released NR NR NR NR NR 24 NR NR Not released

References
  1. North Carolina has vacated all wins from the 2008 and 2009 football seasons: "North Carolina Response to Notice of NCAA Allegations" (PDF). September 19, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  2. "North Carolina Coaching Staff Archived December 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine." tarheelblue.com. Retrieved on January 28, 2008.
  3. "Citadel Bulldogs vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN. September 5, 2009. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  4. "North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Connecticut Huskies Box Score". ESPN. September 12, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  5. "East Carolina Pirates vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN. September 19, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  6. "North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Box Score". ESPN. September 26, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  7. "Virginia Cavaliers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN. October 3, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  8. "Georgia Southern Eagles vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN. October 10, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  9. "Florida State Seminoles vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN. October 22, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  10. "North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Virginia Tech Hokies Box Score". ESPN. October 29, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  11. "Duke Blue Devils vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN. November 7, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  12. "Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN. November 14, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  13. "North Carolina vs. Boston College". USA Today. November 21, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  14. "North Carolina Tar Heels vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Box Score". ESPN. November 28, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  15. "Pittsburgh Panthers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN. December 26, 2009. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  16. "UNC Blasts The Citadel Behind 375 Yards Total Offense". ESPN. September 5, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  17. "Late Holding Call Dooms UConn's Upset Bid Over UNC". ESPN. September 12, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
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