UNC running back Giovani Bernard returns a punt 70 yards for a touchdown in the Tar Heels' 62-0 victory against Elon on Saturday. PHOTO: Robert Willett

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina returned nine punts in its 62-0 victory against Elon on Saturday, and the Tar Heels returned those nine punts for 260 yards total – an average of 28.9 yards per return.

One thing to note before we go on: Elon is not a good football team. At least it wasn’t on Saturday. And the Phoenix, an FCS team from the Southern Conference, struggled on punt return coverage like it did in no other area, which is saying something.

That said, the Tar Heels had an all-time punt return performance on Saturday. To put it into perspective …

UNC coach Larry Fedora said the pace of practice has been consistent early in the preseason. PHOTO: Robert Willett

CHAPEL HILL — The Larry-Fedora-likes-Red-Bull storyline has been beaten into submission but it is in fact true. He drinks a lot of the stuff, which is part of the reason why he’s so energetic. He wants his North Carolina football team to reflect that energy and, given that, Fedora has been pleased early in practice.

Four practices in, he likes the pace.