2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
Encyclopedia
The 2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina
in the 2007 college football season
. The team was led by first year coach Butch Davis
.
.
The team got off to a shaky start losing six out of their first seven games. Just days after playing their seventh game of the season, a 23-0 loss to Virginia
in Charlottesville, the University of North Carolina announced that head coach John Bunting would be relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the season." After the announcement of Bunting's firing the team arguably became much more competitive and won their last two games of the season, 23-9 against North Carolina State and 45-44 against Duke
.
and Miami
Butch Davis
was highly interested in the job vacancy." Athletic director Dick Baddour put the rumors to rest when he announced on November 13, 2006 that Butch Davis had agreed to become the new head football coach."
Soon after his hiring, Butch Davis began to assemble his coaching staff. He was able to lure Offensive Coordinator John Shoop
and Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano from the Oakland Raiders
of the NFL, and Defensive Line Coach John Blake
from Nebraska
. Blake is regarded by many to be one of the best recruiters in all of college football."
As of March 2007 many publications began releasing preseason rankings for the upcomingfootball season. Although UNC still ranked in the lower tier of the Atlantic Coast Conference
, many publications were impressed with the Tar Heels' hiring of Butch Davis and their top ranked recruiting class."
on National Signing Day
, February 7, 2007. Three student athletes had already enrolled before National Signing Day making this class relatively large with 23 commitments.
, Clemson
, and Florida State
.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in the 2007 college football season
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
. The team was led by first year coach Butch Davis
Butch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
.
Previous season
The 2006 North Carolina football team began with the Tar Heels unranked in the AP and coaches' preseason polls. Despite the fact that they were receiving little national attention, there was much optimism in the state of North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
The team got off to a shaky start losing six out of their first seven games. Just days after playing their seventh game of the season, a 23-0 loss to Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in Charlottesville, the University of North Carolina announced that head coach John Bunting would be relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the season." After the announcement of Bunting's firing the team arguably became much more competitive and won their last two games of the season, 23-9 against North Carolina State and 45-44 against Duke
Duke Blue Devils football
The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal...
.
Preseason
Immediately after Bunting's firing on October 22, 2006 there was much speculation over who UNC would name their new football coach. Rumors immediately started to circulate that former head coach of the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
Butch Davis
Butch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
was highly interested in the job vacancy." Athletic director Dick Baddour put the rumors to rest when he announced on November 13, 2006 that Butch Davis had agreed to become the new head football coach."
Soon after his hiring, Butch Davis began to assemble his coaching staff. He was able to lure Offensive Coordinator John Shoop
John Shoop
John Shoop is an American football coach who has coached in the National Football League and at the collegiate level...
and Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano from the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL, and Defensive Line Coach John Blake
John Blake (American football)
-External links:...
from Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
. Blake is regarded by many to be one of the best recruiters in all of college football."
As of March 2007 many publications began releasing preseason rankings for the upcomingfootball season. Although UNC still ranked in the lower tier of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
, many publications were impressed with the Tar Heels' hiring of Butch Davis and their top ranked recruiting class."
Recruiting
The Tar Heels received 20 letters of intentLetter of intent
A letter of intent is a document outlining an agreement between two or more parties before the agreement is finalized. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement...
on National Signing Day
National Signing Day
National Signing Day most commonly refers to a day in February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA, the main governing body for...
, February 7, 2007. Three student athletes had already enrolled before National Signing Day making this class relatively large with 23 commitments.
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Seasons in Position |
|---|---|---|
| Butch Davis Butch Davis Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early... |
Head Coach | 1st |
| John Blake John Blake (American football) -External links:... |
Associate Head Coach / Recruiting Coordinator / Defensive Line | 1st |
| Ken Browning | Running Backs | 14th |
| Jeff Connors | Strength and Conditioning Coordinator | 7th |
| Steve Hagen | Tight Ends | 1st |
| John Lovett | Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Assistant | 1st |
| Chuck Pagano Chuck Pagano Charles D. "Chuck" Pagano is currently the Defensive Coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.-Early career:Pagano's coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Southern California from 1984 to 1985 before a parallel move to Miami in 1986... |
Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs | 1st |
| Sam Pittman | Offensive Line | 1st |
| John Shoop John Shoop John Shoop is an American football coach who has coached in the National Football League and at the collegiate level... |
Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks | 1st |
| Tommy Thigpen | Linebackers | 3rd |
| Charlie Williams | Wide Receivers | 1st |
Schedule
Did not play: Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, and Florida State
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
.
Team Statistics
| Passing Leader | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T.J. Yates | 218 | 365 | 2655 | 14 | 18 |
| Rushing Leaders | Car | Yds | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnny White | 95 | 399 | 39 | 0 |
| Anthony Elzy | 92 | 321 | 39 | 5 |
| Greg Little | 59 | 300 | 38 | 2 |
| Ryan Houston | 44 | 145 | 10 | 1 |
| Brandon Tate | 12 | 131 | 54 | 1 |
| Receiving Leaders | Rec | Yds | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hakeem Nicks | 74 | 958 | 53 | 5 |
| Brandon Tate | 25 | 479 | 51 | 5 |
| Brooks Foster | 29 | 417 | 65 | 2 |
| Kicking | XPM | XPA | FGM | FGM | Long | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Barth | 21 | 23 | 19 | 22 | 51 | 78 |