2012 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
American college football season
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The 2012 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 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by first-year head coach Larry Fedora and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The Tar Heels finished the season 8–4 overall and 5–3 in ACC play to tie for first in the Coastal Division with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Miami Hurricanes. Due to NCAA sanctions imposed in the wake of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football scandal, North Carolina was ineligible for the conference title and banned for postseason play for the 2012 season.
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Coastal Division
Record8–4 (5–3 ACC)
Headcoach
- Larry Fedora (1st season)
| 2012 North Carolina Tar Heels football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Coastal Division | |
| Record | 8–4 (5–3 ACC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Blake Anderson (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Dan Disch (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–2–5 |
| Captains | |
| Home stadium | Kenan Memorial Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Atlantic Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10 Florida State xy$ | 7 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 11 Clemson x | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wake Forest | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston College | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coastal Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech xy | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina† | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miami (FL)‡ | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia Tech | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duke | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Florida State 21, Georgia Tech 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sanctions from scandal
On March 12, 2012, the university was notified of penalties issued by the NCAA Committee on Infractions for violations discovered in the 2010 season. North Carolina was banned from all postseason play in 2012, including bowl games and the ACC Championship Game.[2] Also, UNC was placed probation for three years and lost five scholarships per season for three seasons beginning with the recruiting class of 2013.[3]
Recruiting
National Signing Day was on February 1, 2012, and was the first chance for high school seniors to officially declare which university or college they will be attending for their college career. North Carolina had 23 high school seniors sign a National Letter of Intent to play football with them. Terrance Knox and Shakeel Rashad both graduated from high school early and enrolled at UNC in January 2012.[4]
| College recruiting information (2012) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
| Kanler Coker QB |
Flowery Branch, GA | Flowery Branch HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.75 | Jan 16, 2012 |
Recruit ratings: Scout:  Rivals: (73) | ||||||
| Kedrick Davis WR |
Charlotte, NC | Berry Academy | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 4.3 | Jun 11, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (77) | ||||||
| Quinshad Davis WR |
Gaffney, SC | Gaffney HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.6 | Feb 1, 2012 |
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals:  (79) | ||||||
| John Ferranto OL |
Burlington, NJ | Township HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | 5.23 | Jun 3, 2011 |
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals:  (45) | ||||||
| Clint Heaven S |
Palmetto, FL | Manatee HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.89 | Jan 19, 2012 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (76) | ||||||
| Jon Heck OL |
Jacksonville, FL | The Bolles School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | 5.2 | Jun 30, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (77) | ||||||
| Joe Jackson LB |
Jacksonville, FL | First Coast HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.65 | Nov 7, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| T. J. Jiles CB |
Cape Coral, FL | Cape Coral HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 4.55 | Oct 10, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (75) | ||||||
| Terrance Knox TE |
Concord, NC | Concord HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | 4.7 | Jun 1, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (78) | ||||||
| Dan Mastromatteo LB |
Absecon, NJ | Holy Spirit HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.86 | Aug 4, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (78) | ||||||
| J.J. Patterson OL |
Roanoke Rapids, NC | Roanoke Rapids HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 330 lb (150 kg) | 5.25 | Apr 9, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| Caleb Peterson OL |
Auburn, AL | Auburn HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 310 lb (140 kg) | 5.45 | Jan 18, 2012 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (80) | ||||||
| Shakeel Rashad LB |
Jacksonville, FL | Episcopal HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.89 | Feb 3, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| Jessie Rogers DE |
Arlington, TX | Bowie HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | 4.75 | Sep 18, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (75) | ||||||
| Malik Simmons CB |
Lehigh Acres, FL | Lehigh HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.55 | Oct 31, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (77) | ||||||
| Kendrick Singleton WR |
Macclenny, FL | Baker County HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.5 | Jan 28, 2012 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (72) | ||||||
| Nathan Staub LB |
Buford, GA | Buford HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.65 | Nov 15, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (75) | ||||||
| James Summers QB |
Greensboro, NC | Page HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.74 | Jan 26, 2012 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (79) | ||||||
| Monte Taylor DE |
Springdale, MD | Flowers HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | 4.7 | Jan 29, 2012 |
| Recruit ratings: Rivals: (75) | ||||||
| Justin Thomason DE |
McDonough, GA | Eagle's Landing Christian Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | 4.75 | Jan 22, 2012 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (76) | ||||||
| Damien Washington WR |
Kannapolis, NC | A.L. Brown HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.68 | Aug 9, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (76) | ||||||
| Phillip Williamson LB |
Durham, NC | Jordan HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.84 | May 20, 2011 |
| Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: (77) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 40 Rivals: 42 | ||||||
Sources:
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Coaching staff
New football coach Larry Fedora officially took over as the head coach at UNC on January 1, 2012. He signed a 7-year contract worth more than $1.7 million annually.[5] He takes over a team that is banned from a bowl game for the 2012–13 season.
| Name.[6] | Position | Seasons in Position |
| Larry Fedora | Head coach | 1st |
| Deke Adams | Defensive Line | 1st |
| Blake Anderson | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks | 1st |
| Walt Bell | Tight Ends | 1st |
| Gunter Brewer | Passing game coordinator/wide receivers | 1st (6th Overall at UNC) |
| Dan Disch | Defensive coordinator | 1st |
| David Duggan | Defensive assistant/special teams coordinator | 1st |
| Randy Jordan | Running backs coach | 1st |
| Chris Kapilovic | Run game coordinator/offensive line | 1st |
| Vic Koenning | Associate head coach for defense | 1st |
| Lou Hernandez | Strength and conditioning coordinator | 1st |
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1 | 12:30 p.m. | Elon* | ACCN | W 62–0 | 50,500[7] | |
| September 8 | 3:00 p.m. | at Wake Forest | ACCRSN | L 27–28 | 29,526[7] | |
| September 15 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 19 Louisville* | ABC/ESPN2 | L 34–39 | 53,334[7] | |
| September 22 | 3:30 p.m. | East Carolina* |
| ESPNU | W 27–6 | 59,500[7] |
| September 29 | 3:30 p.m. | Idaho* |
| ACCRSN | W 66–0 | 32,000[7] |
| October 6 | 12:30 p.m. | Virginia Tech |
| ACCN | W 48–34 | 54,000[7] |
| October 13 | 2:30 p.m. | at Miami (FL) | ESPNU | W 18–14 | 58,954[7] | |
| October 20 | 7:00 p.m. | at Duke | ESPNU | L 30–33 | 33,941[7] | |
| October 27 | 12:30 p.m. | North Carolina State |
| ACCN | W 43–35 | 62,000[7] |
| November 10 | 12:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech |
| ACCN | L 50–68 | 50,000[7] |
| November 15 | 7:30 p.m. | at Virginia | ESPN | W 37–13 | 45,760[7] | |
| November 24 | 3:00 p.m. | Maryland |
| ACCRSN | W 45–38 | 44,000[7] |
| ||||||
Game summaries
Elon
Week 1: Elon Phoenix
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tar Heels | 14 | 21 | 27 | 0 | 62 |
at Kenan Memorial Stadium
- Date: September 1, 2012
- Game time: 12:30 pm
- Game weather: 89 °F (32 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 50,500
- Referee: David Epperley
- TV announcers (ACC Network): Steve Martin, Dave Archer, Mike Hogewood
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
North Carolina started a new era under head coach Larry Fedora with the first shutout since beating Duke 38–0 to finish the 1999 season. The last time UNC scored 62 points was in the 1995 season against Ohio, which is only 3 points shy of the school record. Giovani Bernard scored 3 touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving, and one punt return), all before sitting out the entire second half of the game. Carolina also completed passes to 14 different receivers, including one reception by quarterback Bryn Renner. The Tar Heels also set a school and ACC record with 260 punt return yards during the game.[8]
Wake Forest
Week 2: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tar Heels | 7 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
| Demon Deacons | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
at Groves Stadium
- Date: September 8, 2012
- Game time: 3:00 pm
- Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), rainy then overcast
- Game attendance: 29,526
- Referee: Gary Patterson
- TV announcers (ACC Network): Paul Kennedy, Keith Jones, Jenn Hildreth
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Louisville
Week 3: Louisville Cardinals
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tar Heels | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 34 |
| Cardinals | 15 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 39 |
at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
- Date: September 15, 2012
- Game time: 3:30 pm
- Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 53,334
- Referee: B. Allen
- TV announcers (ESPN2/ABC): Bob Wischusen, Danny Kanell, Maria Taylor
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
East Carolina
Week 4: East Carolina Pirates
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirates | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Tar Heels | 7 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 27 |
at Kenan Stadium
- Date: September 22, 2012
- Game time: 3:30 pm
- Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 59,500
- Referee: Brad Roger
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Anish Shroff, Dan Hawkins
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Idaho
Week 5: Idaho Vandals
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vandals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tar Heels | 28 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 66 |
at Kenan Stadium
- Date: September 29, 2012
- Game time: 3:30 pm
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), light rain
- Game attendance: 32,000
- Referee: Walt Davenport
- TV announcers (ACC Network): Paul Kennedy, Keith Jones, Jenn Hildreth
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Virginia Tech
Week 6: Virginia Tech Hokies
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hokies | 14 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 34 |
| Tar Heels | 14 | 14 | 17 | 3 | 48 |
at Kenan Stadium
- Date: October 6, 2012
- Game time: 12:30 pm
- Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 54,000
- Referee: Jim Hyson
- TV announcers (ACCN): Steve Martin, Dave Archer, Scott Pryzwansky
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Miami (FL)
Week 7: Miami Hurricanes
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tar Heels | 7 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| Hurricanes | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Sun Life Stadium
- Date: October 13, 2011
- Game time: 2:30 pm
- Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C), partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 58,954
- Referee: J. Magallanes
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Anish Shroff, Dan Hawkins
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Duke
Week 8: Duke Blue Devils
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tar Heels | 3 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 30 |
| Blue Devils | 10 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 33 |
at Wallace Wade Stadium
- Date: October 20, 2012
- Game time: 7:00 pm
- Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), clear
- Game attendance: 33,941
- Referee: Jeff Heaser
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick, Matt Stinchcomb, Allison Williams
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
NC State
Week 9: NC State Wolfpack
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfpack | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
| Tar Heels | 25 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 43 |
at Kenan Stadium
- Date: October 27, 2012
- Game time: 12:30 pm
- Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 62,000
- Referee: Ron Cherry
- TV announcers (ACC Network): Tim Brant, Dave Archer, Mike Hogewood
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Georgia Tech
Week 10: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Jackets | 14 | 14 | 30 | 10 | 68 |
| Tar Heels | 14 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 50 |
at Kenan Stadium
- Date: November 10, 2012
- Game time: 12:30 pm
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 50,000
- Referee: Brad Allen
- TV announcers (ACC Network): Tim Brant, Dave Archer, Mike Hogewood
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Virginia
Week 11: Virginia Cavaliers
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tar Heels | 7 | 13 | 0 | 17 | 37 |
| Cavaliers | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
at Scott Stadium
- Date: November 15, 2012
- Game time: 7:30 pm
- Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C), Partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 45,760
- Referee: Jeff Flanagan
- TV announcers (ESPN): Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer, David Pollack, Samantha Ponder
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
NFL draft
| Round[9] | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Team |
| 1 | 7 | Jonathan Cooper | G | Arizona Cardinals |
| 1 | 28 | Sylvester Williams | DT | Denver Broncos |
| 2 | 37 | Giovani Bernard | RB | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 3 | 89 | Brennan Williams | T | Houston Texans |
| 7 | 214 | Travis Bond | G | Minnesota Vikings |