Carolina Football
Coach Butch Davis wants North Carolina to avoid repeating a mistake that it made last season when it closes what he calls a meat grinder of a second half the next two weeks.
UNC secured bowl eligibility last week for the second consecutive season. Last season, starting two weekends after qualifying for postseason play, UNC slumped and suffered consecutive losses that damaged its 7-2 record.
Heels say they won't relax
The Winston-Salem Journal
North Carolina cornerback Kendric Burney tried to avoid saying, "I told you so." But with a few close friends, he couldn't resist.
"A couple of people thought [after UNC's Oct. 22 loss to Florida State], 'You all might be in trouble,' and I just laughed and said, 'We're going to be all right,' " the junior recalled Monday, smiling. "They definitely lost some bets with that, and they've had to take me out to eat a couple of times."
More important than free food, though, Burney and his UNC teammates have won the right to play in a bowl - something that looked pretty bleak about three weeks ago after they blew an 18-point lead to the Seminoles and fell to 0-3 in the ACC.
Heels riding a wave
The News and Observer
Four weeks ago, after blowing an 18-point third quarter lead to fall Florida State, it looked like North Carolina's postseason hopes were in jeopardy.
The Tar Heels were sitting at 4-3, with all three losses to ACC teams, and needed to win at least three of their remaining five games against a tough conference schedule to become bowl eligible.
But three straight victories later, the Tar Heels have turned their season around.
Tar Heels hope to improve status
The Durham Herald-Sun
North Carolina is going to a bowl game, but that doesn’t mean the Tar Heels have reached the finish line.
“It’s something we can’t get complacent with,” Tar Heels tight end Zack Pianalto said Monday. “There’s more out there. A chance to win (another game) for the team and get to a better bowl. We’ve still got a lot to prove.”
Taking those next steps starts Saturday afternoon when the Tar Heels (7-3 overall, 3-3
Atlantic Coast Conference) visit Boston College (7-3, 4-2).
Tar Heels aim for more than bowl eligibility
The Burlington Times-News
North Carolina went from looking battered, beaten and confused midway through the season to clinching bowl eligibility in its final home game.
Now, the Tar Heels are hoping for a strong finish on the road.
Surging Tar Heels hit the road to close season
The Associated Press