‘We’re getting closer to playing.’ UNC preps for a football season altered by coronavirus.
North Carolina coach Mack Brown said he’s more optimistic than ever that the games will go on, even while conceding football Saturdays will look nothing like what we’ve seen before.
Speaking on a Zoom call with reporters on Wednesday, Brown cited reasons like game officials receiving their assignments, game times for television being discussed and N.C. State moving its game with Virginia Tech as signs of progress. He was also giddy that the Tar Heels’ football team members all tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday.
“For our players and coaches, this is really the first time that everybody feels like we’re getting closer to playing and this is really going to happen,” Brown said.
The Tar Heels open their season Sept. 12 at home against Syracuse.
UNC held its first scrimmage of August camp on Tuesday, marking the first time since its Military Bowl win over Temple last December that the team competed in game-like conditions. Brown made sure the players noted the atmosphere for the scrimmage could very well be the new normal on game day in the fall:
No fans or very few fans.
Piped-in crowd noise and music.
Coaches and officials in masks.
Sideline benches replaced by individual chairs. And a mask and water bottle awaiting in said chairs. Brown even said they’ve begun to offer disposal masks that can be quickly adhered and discarded between series.
The players also had to get used to staying spaced out on the sidelines, which have stretched from 15-yard-line to 15-yard line to allow for more social distancing for players and coaches on the sideline.
“It was different, it was unique,” said Brown, who has another scrimmage planned for Saturday. “But at the same time, it’s still football.”
Ready for the unexpected amid coronavirus
Brown said the defense was better overall during the scrimmage and that both the offense and special teams were too inconsistent. Brown wouldn’t allow their failings offensively to be blamed on four days of no football when UNC shut down all athletic activities on Aug. 18 after several COVID-19 clusters sprouted up on campus.
“Distractions are going to be there this year, that’s the way it’s been in our lives since spring break in March,” Brown said. “So we’ve told our guys absolutely no excuses. You’ve got to handle it and you’ve got to play through it.”
The quick changing nature of what can happen during this pandemic has Brown constantly reminding his team to be ready to confront the unexpected. To that end, he’s harped on “cross-training,” or making sure players know more than one position in case they’re needed to fill in.
“We’re cross-training a lot, we’re playing a lot of guys together,” Brown said. “We’re not trying to have a first team right now. We’re trying to have guys who can play, then we’ll look at the numbers.”
Josh Ezeudu ‘playing everywhere’ on the O-line
Sophomore left guard Josh Ezeudu is a prime example of what Brown is talking about. Carolina’s offensive line might be the biggest question mark moving into the season. Brown said they only have six who are “ready to go.” His ideal number is 10, but he’d settle for just eight. While trying to see how that depth will play out, Ezeudu is someone Brown will likely use at every position on the line except center.
“The guy that’s doing the best on the offensive line is Josh Ezeudu,” Brown said. “E-Z is the starting left guard, the backup right guard and the backup right tackle – and really the backup left tackle. He’s playing everywhere because (sophomore Ed) Montilus has done a good job. When Ed steps in at left guard that lets EZ go rest somebody at all the other places.”
Brown also said left tackle Asim Richards was “doing a very good job” getting acclimated to the position. Brown said Richards weighed less than 300 as a freshman, but is now playing at 320 pounds. Although he has no experience at left tackle, Brown said he’s shown signs of improving footwork.
Additional coronavirus testing for football?
UNC players currently are just tested for the coronavirus once a week, but moving closer to the season that number may increase to three times.
“That’s something that will be decided here soon from the medical group from the ACC,” Brown said. “From what I hear there will be testing on Monday, testing on Wednesday and then an outside group testing you on Friday before the ballgame.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2020 at 4:50 PM with the headline "‘We’re getting closer to playing.’ UNC preps for a football season altered by coronavirus.."