Staff photo by Robert Willett
UNC used a new look to end an old losing streak.
The Tar Heels busted out swank dark blue pants for their trip to Rutgers and the Thursday night national stage on ESPN.
The Heels looked good in more ways than one. They trounced Rutgers 44-12 for their first win outside the state of North Carolina since 2002.
Receivers Brandon Tate and Hakeem Nicks each scored two touchdowns and quarterback T.J. Yates threw for three scores as the Heels ended a 20-game losing streak outside of the state.
Linebacker Bruce Carter added an interception return for a touchdown in a dominant performance by UNC's defense, which forced four turnovers.
UNC had lost 20 straight road games outside the state of North Carolina and 14 straight road games outside the Triangle.
Those streaks are history, as is Butch Davis' winless road record at UNC.
The Heels exploded for 21 points in the third quarter busting open a 17-6 halftime lead and giving the program its first 2-0 start since 2000.
Nicks (six catches, 63 yards) got UNC going with a 9-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter to put UNC up 10-3.
Rutgers' second field goal made it 10-6 with 5:15 left in the second quarter.
Tate popped off a 69-yard run-and-catch before the half.
The Knights, who looked bad in a season-opening loss to Fresno State, didn't leave the locker room after the break.
Tate's 12-yard run gave him his fourth touchdown in two games this season.
Carter's 66-yard pick six came next, followed by Nicks' TD catch to make it 38-6.
Jay Wooten added two of his three field goals — the first of his college career — in the fourth quarter.
Tate finished 138 receiving yards on four catches and 19 rushing yards on two carries.
Yates completed 14 of 22 passes for 221 yards with three touchdowns putting behind UNC's sluggish start in the season-opener against McNeese State on Aug. 30.
UNC went 0-6 on the road in Davis' first season in 2007. The last time the Heels won outside of the state border was in 2002 at Arizona State.
Comments
rutgers looked pretty
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 00:17 — mad_maxrutgers looked pretty horrible IMHO, especially that one interception in the red-zone...dude had two wide open recievers but threw it into triple coverage instead. however, i give unc credit for taking it to 'em. no win is given to you, you have to take it. should be interesting to see what happens next; unc has it's first game against legit competition next week. monumental game for butch davis next week, though i personally don't think they will win.
Preparation leads to great results.
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 07:54 — UNCAlumnusI just knew the Heels' defense would play better. It looks like Davis and staff ripped everybody and new one. That's because the Heels were solid in all 3 phases. That was just a good 'ol fashion butt whippin. I was disappointed in Rutgers' fans. They were leaving and booing the team. Didn't they get O'briens statement?. It's low class to boo college players, I'll agree with that. Go Heels!! Look out Hokies, looks like the Heels are getting some steam.
again, another high and
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 00:26 — mad_maxagain, another high and mighty unc fan that is quick to judge another schools fan base. anyways, i think those rutgers fans had a right to boo. everyone assumes that fans are booing the players but most, if not all, are booing the coaching staff. remember, rutgers was supposed to have their most talented team ever this year, according to their head coach. they were supposed to be "one of the best offenses in the country". and what have they done? lost 24-7 to fresno state, and then got crushed at home by a team that had lost 20 straight outside the state of north carolina! those fans paid for their ticket, and they have the right to boo. you can't expect fans to cheer for just about everything, and then expect them not to boo when you fall well short of expectations.
The Pants
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 07:42 — Anonymous (not verified)Just like the old commercial said, "it's gotta be the shoes, Mike!", it has to be the new blue pants! I have said for years that Carolina Blue is a pretty color, but the football team needed to add some dark blue as a power color. Kudos to whoever got the new pants approved by the University! I hope to see those more often.. Go Heels!
ewwww
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 01:26 — izzykareemman, Rutgers must be horrible this year because we know that UNC-CH barely beat a 1AA school. I bet McNiece state would kill Rutgers.
izzy
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 15:05 — melvinfurdWuff, wuff!
they just might
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 07:32 — gvillegatrthey just might izzy!!
funny thing is, RU looked a lot better than South Carolina did!! The Knights simply couldnt put the biscuit in the basket early and it costed them ... dearly!!
whose chopping wood now!! on to find that idiot writer up in the armpit ...
"Rutgers looked a lot
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 00:20 — mad_max"Rutgers looked a lot better than South Carolina did!"
-you, sir, are a fool
Dizzykareem, you better hope
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 06:24 — Rocky (not verified)Dizzykareem, you better hope not, because I bet both of those teams would kill NCState.
nc
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 23:24 — stock picks (not verified)What a bear down. I dont like Rutgers. The ACC needed this
win or it would be considered the worst BCS conference. Butch
did a great job shellacking Schiano.
Fans Booing
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 22:33 — jrbrownI heard some booing tonight in the Rutgers stadium. They must have seen how the State fans act when they watch their sorry team play! haha. Go Heels! State fans are losers and second class.
oh, we've never heard boos
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 00:18 — mad_maxoh, we've never heard boos at a unc game before have we? get real chump
looking great
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 21:08 — george32it looks like randy shannon at miami is going to get some serious competition from butch and the heels in coming years. beamer and bowden 1 & 2; be afraid, be very afraid.
BEING great
Fri, 09/12/2008 - 08:32 — TarheelVP (not verified)Yeah but, uhh, we BEAT Miami last year. We were up 27-0 at halftime on them...they need to catch up with us.
Totally agree with the other comments.
Dontcha love the Navy pants?!?! GO HEELS!!!
this is how you go on the
Thu, 09/11/2008 - 20:44 — gvillegatrthis is how you go on the road on a thursday night and play football!
Yates is really playing well rght now (1st drive of the 3rd). night and day when his shoulder is healthy.