How did UNC football prepare for Syracuse during a bye week? Tar Heels had a ‘study plan’

North Carolina did not have a football game last Saturday, but the players had a little football homework.

UNC coach Mack Brown said Monday the players were instructed to closely watch the Syracuse-Clemson game on television, and take notes while doing it.

“We gave them things to do, things to look for in the game and write down like a review, like a study plan for your test,” Brown said.

The No. 14 Tar Heels, off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1997, host the Orange on Saturday at Kenan Stadium coming off an open date. Syracuse also won its first four games before being undone by turnovers and other mistakes Saturday in a 31-14 loss to the Tigers at the Orange’s JMA Wireless Dome.

The Heels worked in three practices last week that Brown called energetic and productive while the staff analyzed all facets of their play in the first four games.

“You start over,” Brown said. “I told the coaches to act like they’re 0-4. Be really hard on yourself. It’s obvious what we’re doing good. What are we not doing well? And what do we need to fix and how do we fix it?

“A problem in our business (is) people start bragging on you and you think things are good, and sometimes perception is not reality. There are things we need to fix. If you get comfortable in this business, you get complacent.”

Brown said he was able to sit down individually with each player last week to discuss “where he is and what he’s looking at.” After one discussion, a decision was made to allow running back George Pettaway to redshirt.

The sophomore played in 11 games as a freshman in 2022, but Brown noted he has not gotten many meaningful snaps this season.

A chance for Walker to play

Tez Walker could play for the Heels this season, after all.

Brown said Monday that Walker will have finished a full academic year — the transfer wide receiver enrolled at UNC in January — at the end of the fall semester. Should the Heels play in a bowl game or the College Football Playoff, Brown said Walker would be eligible to play. And would play, he added.

The NCAA has ruled Walker, who played the past two years at Kent State, ineligible this season as a two-time undergraduate transfer. UNC asked for a waiver, citing Walker had played college football only for Kent State, but it has been denied.

The NCAA recently granted a waiver and instant eligibility to Minnesota defensive back Craig McDonald, a two-time transfer. UNC’s appeals for Walker have failed.

Brown said he didn’t have information about the McDonald ruling and did not comment on it.

“I know we’ve got some really smart people that care a lot about Tez that are looking at all his options,” Brown said. “That’s not going to change.”

The sound of silence

The last time the Heels and Orange faced off in football, Brown called it the “weirdest” game of his career.

The two ACC teams opened the 2020 season at Kenan Stadium. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, fans were not allowed into the stadium as UNC won 31-6.

“There were 25 people in the stands,” Brown said. “The doctors and trainers wouldn’t let us have our pregame in the locker room or our postgame. SInce nobody was there, we had our pregame out on the field for the pregame speech.”

Brown recalled Dazz Newsome making a terrific play on a punt return and there was no response.

“It was worse than a scrimmage,” he said. “I was mad at everybody on the sideline and they were looking at me like I’m crazy. Because it was so quiet in that stadium. Even the parents couldn’t be there.”

Brown said Saturday’s game at Kenan is a sellout.

BIg man on campus at QB

ACC defensive coordinators were already aware of the running ability of Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader. Then came the Orange’s 35-20 road win over Purdue on Sept 16.

Shrader finished with 195 yards on 25 carries and scored four times. The senior from Charlotte has 340 yards for the season, and six rushing TDs

“Definitely an eye-opening game, for sure,” UNC defensive coordinator Gene Chizik said Monday. “He’s just a big guy and he’s really, really athletic. The team goes, offensively, as he goes. He’s that good.”

Brown said Shrader isn’t the type inclined to slide when he’s running the ball and contact is coming.

“If you think he’s going to slide, at 6-4 and 225 pounds he will run right over you,” Brown said.

North Carolina (4-0, 1-0 ACC) vs Syracuse (4-1, 0-1)

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill.

TV: ESPN.

Betting odds: UNC is an 8.5-point favorite.