The football career of UNC offensive lineman Aaron Stahl is over, the school announced Thursday.
Stahl, who graduated in May but had one season of eligibility remaining, started six games and played in all 13 for the Tar Heels in 2008. He broke his thumb in the fourth game of the season and switched from center to guard. He missed all of spring practice with a shoulder injury.
"I earned my degree from a great university," Stahl said in a statement released by the school. "[N]ow it's time for me to move forward with the next phase of my life."
Stahl was a candidate to start at left guard in '09, despite the missed time in spring practice. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Cooper and converted defensive end Greg Elleby are considered his likely replacements at left guard.
Despite the loss, UNC still returns three starters on its offensive line.
Stahl's decision frees up a needed scholarship for the 2009 season. UNC coach Butch Davis signed 28 recruits in the spring. With Stahl's exit, the Heels have 25 available scholarships.
"I understand Aaron's decision and appreciate all of his hard work and effort to make us a better football program," Davis said in a statement released by the school. "He was a versatile player, and when he was injured last year, he helped the team by moving to another position."
Comments
Thanks ever so much, very
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 03:29 — mkoswellThanks ever so much, very useful article. Kenali dan Kunjungi Objek Wisata di Pandeglang | Learn Indonesian language | Kenali dan Kunjungi Objek Wisata di Pandeglang | smart magazine | Travel News | Free Song Lyric | A Love to Kill | Laptop Price List | New Blackberry | Health & Jewerly
he definitely had a chance
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 12:33 — jimb12345he definitely had a chance to be a great player. I wish his career could have been longer. i have been a tarheel fan for a long time...go tarheels.
Autoradio
what do State fans have to
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 10:22 — lazenge44what do State fans have to be jealous about? Not being able to wear those cute navy blue pants? And i'll take the offensive lineman state has, you know the ones that paved the way for us to not have to throw the ball one time in the 4th quarter on our way to that 41-10 beat down. There's a reason the SEC capped the number of schollys offered to 28. It might as well been called the Chief Rule. Yea, he's perfectly in his right to not renew a scholly just as some HS coaches are perfectly in their right to keep UNC coaches out of their school. That's not exactly a precedence you want to start.
lol
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 10:25 — gvillegatrno one wants to be barred form a high school, but how many high schools are there again in the USA?
also, wasn't TOB kickewd out of a high school last year?
meh
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 09:33 — msbumgarnerYou state fans might remember that Toby ran some kids right out of his program upon his arrival, without even letting them earn their degree. Why is it so hard to believe that a guy who has already graduated and is struggling through difficult rehab would give up his eligibility if he wasn't interested in continuing his education. I wouldn't be surprised if Stahl ended up as a GA somewhere.
Best of luck to Stahl...
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 09:24 — UNC1998I know he's excited to be graduating from one of the premier universities around. I wish him nothing but success in life.
As to the "un"story....say what you will as facts will bear themselves out.
Old tired crap from State fans
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 08:55 — jblues1969You know what? Even if it were true, Davis is perfectly within his rights to not renew scholarships. In this case, it is perfectly clear that Stahl made the decision not to continue due to injuries and a desire to start his post-college career. He was a probable starter at Guard.
Jealous much, State fans? You just wish you had one offensive lineman as good as Stahl on your entire team.
"Jealous much, State fans?
Mon, 06/08/2009 - 12:58 — JamesinWillowSprings"Jealous much, State fans? You just wish you had one offensive lineman as good as Stahl on your entire team."
lol. I'll take converted defensive lineman-turned-2009 Rimington Watch List center Teddy Larsen over any of those Tar Heel o-linemen any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
You can bet your sweet bippy
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 13:54 — DeaconPeachthat Butch asked Stahl to step aside for one of his new recruits, making some sort of promise (either monetarily or for service in the form of a reference) so that Stahl wouldn't let the truth out of the bag. The alternative was to spend his final year of eligibility practicing, yet knowing his feet would never hit the field during a game.
Cross Sport Staff Training?
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 07:21 — BGR8FULLooks like ole Butch is taking some recruiting tips for the Men's soccer coach ... he's been doing this for years!!
Jealousy is a dish best served cold!
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 05:37 — TarheelJayI hope your frig is working well! It's such a shame when a guy FINISHES his degree, graduates, and decides to move on with his life. Be HAPPY for HIM and stop trying to smear a program that is moving up, not down! Get over yourself!
UNC fans should be glad that
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 20:43 — awdracerUNC fans should be glad that JP is only skimming the surface of this story. The fact of the matter is that Butch Davis is over-recruiting players and tossing current players off his roster to make room for the new players with lofty recruiting rankings. Butch signed SEVENTEEN more players than he had room for in 2009. Did ANYONE not see this coming? UNC has had about fifteen medical hardships in the last four year. No other NC school has had more than 2. Players have been leaving left and right. Transfers. Dismissals. Medical hardships. You name it. It looks like Butch is trying to make UNC "Da Nu U".
Good luck with the Heel fans. It looks like Butch is going to make you oh so proud of your football program.
getting old, jpg
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 18:55 — gvillegatr"Stahl's decision frees up a needed scholarship for the 2009 season. UNC coach Butch Davis signed 28 recruits in the spring. With Stahl's exit, the Heels have 25 available scholarships."
that paragraph, there, is the only reason you wrote this piece. you could have saved alot of time y writing that only.
bring on the 50 post thread ...
Surprise
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 09:28 — heelsno1The cynical nature of any JPG article comes as a surprise?