2010 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
Encyclopedia
The 2010 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
in the 2010 college football season
. The team was led by fourth year coach Butch Davis
and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. They are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference
in the Coastal Division. They finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in ACC play and were ivited to the Music City Bowl
where they defeated Tennessee
30–27 in two overtimes.
reported that players at the University of North Carolina
were being investigated and interviewed by the NCAA for possible rules violations concerning sports agents and improper gifts. The next day, it was confirmed that certain members of the football team
were thought to have received improper gifts from agents, which is not allowed by NCAA rules. Marvin Austin
, one of the players suspected in the probe, had made numerous Twitter
posts with questionable content, which the NCAA investigated, and he was the first UNC player to be indefinitely suspended, though for violation of team rules, and not the NCAA probe. Butch Davis
, the head coach
, did not say much about the probe, as he, and many others, expected a quick resolution to the investigation, and he was known for running a clean program. Soon after though, the NCAA began to look at defensive line coach John Blake
, his relationship with certain agents, and whether or not he had received money from them. He later resigned. Also, former UNC lineman Kentwan Balmer admitted that he had paid for a trip to California for two current players. It soon became apparent that things would be much worse, and 13 players were suspended for the opening game. Furthermore, the university launched its own probe, and found academic misconduct within the football team.
!colspan=8| Spring Game
|-
!colspan=8| Regular Season
|-
!colspan=8| Bowl Game
ACC opponents not played: Boston College
, Maryland
, and Wake Forest
.
NFL Draft
12 Tar Heels were invited to the NFL combine
, more than any other university in the nation. 19 players participated in the annual university pro day, which attracted nearly 100 scouts and coaches from the NFL . Many of the players participating, however, missed either part or all of the games played this season due to the above mentioned investigation. Because of this, it has led many fans and observers to wonder how good this team could have been had all of the talent been available for the entire season. With 9 players selected in the draft, the Tar Heels were tied with USC
as having the most players selected from a single school in this draft.
* did not play in the 2010 season due to investigation
† missed part of the 2010 season due to investigation
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 2010 college football season
2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on Thursday, September 2, 2010. The season progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 10, 2011.-Rule changes for...
. The team was led by fourth 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...
and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. They are members 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...
in the Coastal Division. They finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in ACC play and were ivited to the Music City Bowl
2010 Music City Bowl
The 2010 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl was the 13th edition of the college football bowl game and was played at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. The game was played on Thursday, December 30, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. CST and telecast on ESPN...
where they defeated Tennessee
2010 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 2010 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2010 college football season. The team was coached by Derek Dooley who is in his first season as the 22nd coach in UT football history. The Vols played their home games at Neyland Stadium and competed in the...
30–27 in two overtimes.
NCAA investigations
On July 15, 2010, ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
reported that players at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
were being investigated and interviewed by the NCAA for possible rules violations concerning sports agents and improper gifts. The next day, it was confirmed that certain members of the football team
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
were thought to have received improper gifts from agents, which is not allowed by NCAA rules. Marvin Austin
Marvin Austin
Marvin Austin is an American football defensive tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina.-Early years:Austin attended Ballou High School in Washington, D.C.,...
, one of the players suspected in the probe, had made numerous Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
posts with questionable content, which the NCAA investigated, and he was the first UNC player to be indefinitely suspended, though for violation of team rules, and not the NCAA probe. 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...
, the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
, did not say much about the probe, as he, and many others, expected a quick resolution to the investigation, and he was known for running a clean program. Soon after though, the NCAA began to look at defensive line coach John Blake
John Blake (American football)
-External links:...
, his relationship with certain agents, and whether or not he had received money from them. He later resigned. Also, former UNC lineman Kentwan Balmer admitted that he had paid for a trip to California for two current players. It soon became apparent that things would be much worse, and 13 players were suspended for the opening game. Furthermore, the university launched its own probe, and found academic misconduct within the football team.
Schedule
|-!colspan=8| Spring Game
|-
!colspan=8| Regular Season
|-
!colspan=8| Bowl Game
ACC opponents not played: Boston College
Boston 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...
, Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, and Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
.
NFL Draft2011 NFL DraftThe 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
12 Tar Heels were invited to the NFL combineNFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
, more than any other university in the nation. 19 players participated in the annual university pro day, which attracted nearly 100 scouts and coaches from the NFL . Many of the players participating, however, missed either part or all of the games played this season due to the above mentioned investigation. Because of this, it has led many fans and observers to wonder how good this team could have been had all of the talent been available for the entire season. With 9 players selected in the draft, the Tar Heels were tied with USC
2010 USC Trojans football team
The 2010 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Trojans were led by head coach Lane Kiffin, who was in his 1st season...
as having the most players selected from a single school in this draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
| 1 | 14 | Robert Quinn Robert Quinn (American football) Robert Quinn is an American football defensive end for the St. Louis Rams.-Early years:Quinn attended Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston, South Carolina. As a senior his season was shortened after undergoing brain surgery for a benign tumor. Quinn made a full recovery and will be able... * |
DE Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
St. Louis Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
| 2 | 40 | Bruce Carter | OLB Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
| 2 | 52 | Marvin Austin Marvin Austin Marvin Austin is an American football defensive tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina.-Early years:Austin attended Ballou High School in Washington, D.C.,... * |
DT | New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| 2 | 59 | Greg Little Greg Little (American football) Greg Little is an American football wide receiver. He played college football and college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and currently plays for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League.-College career:... * |
WR Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Cleveland Browns Cleveland 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... |
| 4 | 100 | Da'Norris Searcy Da'Norris Searcy Da'Norris Searcy is an American football safety for the Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Bills in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He signed a 4 year contract with the Buffalo Bills on July 29, 2011. He played college football for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.-References:... † |
SS | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| 5 | 133 | Johnny White Johnny White (American football) Johnny White is an American football running back for the Buffalo Bills. White played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Johnny White was converted to running back for the Tar Heels 2010 season... |
RB Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| 5 | 152 | T. J. Yates T. J. Yates Taylor Jonathan Yates is a quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League.-High school and college career:... |
QB Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Houston Texans Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| 5 | 171 | Quan Sturdivant Quan Sturdivant Quan Sturdivant is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. He played as a middle linebacker for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. He was considered one of the top linebackers in the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
ILB Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| 7 | 218 | Ryan Taylor Ryan Taylor (American football) Ryan Lawrence Taylor is an American football tight end for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers out of University of North Carolina in the seventh round in the 2011 NFL Draft.-Green Bay Packers:Taylor was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the... |
TE Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
† missed part of the 2010 season due to investigation