2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

The 2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by second-year head coach Butch Davis, the Tar Heels played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina finished the season 8–5 overall and 4–4 in ACC play to tie for third in the Coastal Division. The Tar Heels lost to West Virginia in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. In 2011, North Carolina vacated all its wins from the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football
Meineke Car Care Bowl, L 30–31 vs. West Virginia
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Coastal
Record	0–5, 8 wins vacated (0–4 ACC, 4 wins vacated)
Head coach	Butch Davis (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	John Shoop (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Everett Withers (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Captain	Ryan Taylor, Matt Merletti, Garrett Reynolds, Hakeem Nicks, Trimane Goddard, Mark Paschal
Home stadium	Kenan Memorial Stadium

2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
Boston College xy		5	–	3					9	–	5
No. 21 Florida State x		5	–	3					9	–	4
Maryland		4	–	4					8	–	5
Wake Forest		4	–	4					8	–	5
Clemson		4	–	4					7	–	6
NC State		4	–	4					6	–	7
Coastal Division
No. 15 Virginia Tech xy$		5	–	3					10	–	4
No. 22 Georgia Tech x		5	–	3					9	–	4
North Carolina		0	–	4					0	–	5
Miami (FL)		4	–	4					7	–	6
Virginia		3	–	5					5	–	7
Duke		1	–	7					4	–	8
Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 12
$ – BCS representative as conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant North Carolina vacated 8 wins, including 4 ACC wins Rankings from AP Poll

Recruiting

The Tar Heels received 16 letters of intent on National Signing Day, February 6, 2008. One student athlete had already enrolled before National Signing Day and one signed several days later, making this class smaller and less-heralded than the previous year's class.

College recruiting information
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
A. J. Blue QB	Dallas, North Carolina	North Gaston HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	208 lb (94 kg)	4.6	Jan 18, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Zach Brown LB	Columbia, Maryland	Hargrave Military Academy	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	213 lb (97 kg)	4.42	Jan 20, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Jonathan Cooper OG	Wilmington, North Carolina	John T. Hoggard HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	296 lb (134 kg)	5.1	Jan 25, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Quinton Coples DE	Kinston, North Carolina	Hargrave Military Academy	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	237 lb (108 kg)	4.65	Feb 6, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Herman Davidson S	Long Beach, California	Polytechnic HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	4.5	Feb 6, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 40
Dion Guy LB	Washington, D.C.	Woodson HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	219 lb (99 kg)	4.61	Feb 4, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 40
Braden Hanson QB	Charlotte, North Carolina	Charlotte Latin HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	197 lb (89 kg)	NA	Jul 10, 2007
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Todd Harrelson WR	Chesapeake, Virginia	Oscar F. Smith HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	188 lb (85 kg)	4.53	Jun 28, 2007
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Kenneth Harris LB	Decatur, Georgia	Columbia HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	206 lb (93 kg)	4.60	Feb 3, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 40
Dwight Jones WR	Burlington, North Carolina	Cummings HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	4.61	Jan 26, 2007
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Michael McAdoo DE	Antioch, Tennessee	Antioch HS	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	228 lb (103 kg)	4.75	Jan 31, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Ebele Okakpu LB	Roswell, Georgia	Roswell HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	208 lb (94 kg)	4.50	Aug 4, 2007
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Robert Quinn DE	North Charleston, South Carolina	Fort Dorchester HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	250 lb (110 kg)	4.72	Feb 6, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Kevin Reddick LB	New Bern, North Carolina	New Bern HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	4.57	Jan 13, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Joseph Townsend DT	San Jose, California	Foothill College	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	4.87	Feb 9, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NA
Randy White TE	Bristol, Virginia	Virginia HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	234 lb (106 kg)	4.79	Jun 15, 2007
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 73
Melvin Williams S	Lebanon, Tennessee	Coffeyville CC	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	203 lb (92 kg)	4.55	Oct 23, 2007
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: NA
Christian Wilson TE	McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania	Montour HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	4.60	Feb 6, 2008
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Jamal Womble RB	Sierra Vista, Arizona	Buena HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	221 lb (100 kg)	4.41	Dec 5, 2007
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 15   Rivals: 16
‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2007 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 4, 2008.

Coaching staff

After signing a contract extension at the end of the 2007 season, Butch Davis enters his second season as head coach. Chuck Pagano resigned as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach to become an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. He was replaced by Minnesota assistant Everett Withers.

Name	Position	Seasons in Position
Butch Davis	Head coach	2nd
John Blake	Associate head coach / recruiting coordinator / defensive line	2nd
Ken Browning	Running backs	15th
Jeff Connors	Strength and conditioning coordinator	8th
Steve Hagen	Tight Ends	2nd
John Lovett	Special teams coordinator / Defensive Assistant	2nd
Sam Pittman	Offensive Line	2nd
John Shoop	Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks	2nd
Tommy Thigpen	Linebackers	4th
Charlie Williams	Wide Receivers	2nd
Everett Withers	Defensive coordinator / defensive backs	1st

• Brad Davis (graduate assistant)

Roster

Wide Receiver 1 Brooks Foster – Senior 2 Cooter Arnold – Senior 3 Kenton Thornton – Junior 15 Anthony Parker-Boyd – Sophomore 19 Josh Washburn – Junior 23 Quentin Plair – Sophomore 34 Brett Long – Senior 82 Todd Harrelson – Freshman 83 Dwight Jones – Freshman 85 Rashad Mason – Freshman 87 Brandon Tate – Senior 88 Hakeem Nicks – Junior Offensive lineman 60 Zack Handerson – Sophomore 64 Jonathan Cooper – Freshman 65 Cam Holland – Freshman 66 Mike Ingersoll – Sophomore 67 Morgan Randall – Sophomore 68 Mike Dykes – Freshman 69 Lowell Dyer – Junior 70 Alan Pelc – Sophomore 71 Carl Gaskins – Freshman 72 Kyle Jolly – Junior 73 Aaron Stahl – Junior 74 Sam Ellis – Sophomore 75 Garrett Reynolds – Senior 76 Bryon Bishop – Senior 77 Kevin Bryant – Freshman 79 Calvin Darity – Senior Half-back 17 Zack Pianalto – Sophomore 33 Christian Wilson – Freshman Tight End 80 Ed Barham – Sophomore 81 B.J. Phillips – Sophomore 86 Randy White – Freshman 89 Richard Quinn – Senior		Quarterback 7 Mike Paulus – Freshman 11 Cameron Sexton – Junior 13 T. J. Yates – Sophomore 14 Braden Hanson – Freshman Running Back 5 Jamal Womble – Freshman 8 Greg Little – Sophomore 20 Shaun Draughn – Sophomore 30 Carter Brown – Sophomore 32 Ryan Houston – Sophomore 45 Devon Ramsay – Freshman Fullback 4 Bobby Rome – Junior 6 Anthony Elzy – Sophomore 43 Curtis Byrd – Sophomore Defensive tackle 9 Marvin Austin – Sophomore 91 Tydreke Powell – Freshman 93 Cam Thomas – Junior 94 Brian White – Junior 96 Tavares Brown – Junior 97 Aleric Mullins – Junior Defensive End 40 Darius Powell – Sophomore 42 Robert Quinn – Freshman 84 Vince Jacobs – Sophomore 90 Quinton Coples – Freshman 92 E. J. Wilson – Junior 94 Michael McAdoo – Freshman 95 Greg Elleby – Sophomore 98 Darrius Massenburg – Sophomore Cornerback 12 Charles Brown – Sophomore 16 Kendric Burney – Sophomore 23 Jordan Hemby – Junior 24 Tavorris Jolly – Sophomore 26 Richie Rich – Junior 29 Brian Gupton – Freshman 34 Johnny White – Sophomore 37 LaCount Fantroy – Freshman		Linebacker 35 Herman Davidson – Freshman 36 Kennedy Tinsley – Junior 41 Mark Paschal – Senior 44 Chase Rice – Senior 45 Alex Crisp – Sophomore 47 Zach Brown – Freshman 49 Ryan Taylor – Junior 52 Quan Sturdivant – Sophomore 53 Kenneth Harris – Freshman 54 Bruce Carter – Sophomore 55 Linwan Euwell – Freshman 57 Dion Guy – Freshman 57 Hayden Hunter – Sophomore 58 Ebele Okakpu – Freshman Safety 7 Josh Stewart – Sophomore 10 Melvin Williams – Junior 21 Da'Norris Searcy – Sophomore 25 Matt Merletti – Sophomore 27 Deunta Williams – Sophomore 28 Jonathan Smith – Sophomore 31 Trimane Goddard – Senior 32 Tyler Caldwell – Junior 32 Jeff Everett – Freshman 43 Jabir Jones – Senior Long Snapper 51 Trevor Stuart – Sophomore 58 Mark House – Sophomore Punter / Place Kicker 11 Casey Barth – Freshman 16 Trase Jones – Sophomore 17 Grant Schallock – Sophomore 18 Jay Wooten – Freshman 19 Terrence Brown – Senior 29 Reid Phillips – Sophomore

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	6:05 p.m.	McNeese State*		Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC	ESPN360	W 35–27 (vacated)	58,000
September 11	7:45 p.m.	at Rutgers*		Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ	ESPN	W 44–12 (vacated)	42,502
September 20	3:30 p.m.	Virginia Tech		Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC	ABC/ESPN	L 17–20	59,800
September 27	12:00 p.m.	at Miami (FL)		Dolphin Stadium Miami Gardens, FL	ESPN2	W 28–24 (vacated)	35,830
October 4	7:00 p.m.	No. 23 Connecticut*		Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC	ESPN2	W 38–12 (vacated)	59,500
October 11	3:30 p.m.	Notre Dame*	No. 22	Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC (rivalry)	ABC/ESPN	W 29–24 (vacated)	60,000
October 18	3:30 p.m.	at Virginia	No. 18	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA (South's Oldest Rivalry)	ABC/ESPN2	L 13–16 OT	52,342
October 25	12:00 p.m.	Boston College		Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC	Raycom	W 45–24 (vacated)	48,000
November 8	12:00 p.m.	No. 20 Georgia Tech	No. 19	Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC	Raycom	W 28–7 (vacated)	59,000
November 15	3:30 p.m.	at Maryland	No. 17	Byrd Stadium College Park, MD	ABC/ESPN	L 15–17	46,113
November 22	12:00 p.m.	North Carolina State		Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC (rivalry)	Raycom	L 10–41	60,000
November 29	3:30 p.m.	at Duke		Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC (Victory Bell)	ESPNU	W 28–20 (vacated)	30,322
December 27	1:00 p.m.	vs. West Virginia*		Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC (Meineke Car Care Bowl)	ESPN	L 30–31	73,712
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

McNeese State

	1	2	3	4	Total
McNeese State	0	14	6	7	27
North Carolina	7	7	7	14	35

Brandon Tate put on a dazzling one-man show, scoring on an 82-yard punt return and putting North Carolina ahead for good with a 57-yard touchdown catch to help the Tar Heels hold off McNeese State 35-27. Tate finished with a school-record 397 all-purpose yards for the Tar Heels, who showed little else in an unimpressive start to their second season under Butch Davis. In a game suspended nearly two hours due to weather, they blew a 14-0 first-half lead and had to rally from a third-quarter deficit against Football Championship Subdivision McNeese State, who outplayed the Heels much of the way. T. J. Yates had 221 passing yards and 2 touchdowns.

Rutgers

See also: 2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
North Carolina	0	17	21	6	44
Rutgers	3	3	0	6	12

T. J. Yates threw three touchdown passes and the Tar Heels won for the first time outside North Carolina since 2002, beating error-prone Rutgers 44-12 in a nationally televised game that pitted Butch Davis against his former pupil, Greg Schiano. Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate combined for 10 catches, 204 receiving yards, and three touchdowns as the Heels offense rolled over Rutgers. Carolina's defense generated 4 Rutgers turnovers (3 INTs and a fumble) and scored off of a 66-yard interception return by Bruce Carter.