CHAPEL HILL — As much as North Carolina's T.J. Yates would like to play his final college game with Johnny White and Zack Pianalto, Yates doesn't expect any sudden returns from either injured senior.
UNC's Music City Bowl date with Tennessee is Dec. 30, which is in the range of a return for White, from a broken collarbone, or Pianalto, from a broken leg.
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina's depleted lineup took another hit on Monday with the news that tight end Zack Pianalto will miss the remainder of the regular season.
Pianalto fractured his right fibula in the second quarter of UNC's 44-10 win at Virginia on Saturday and will be out the rest of the season, UNC coach Butch Davis said Monday.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – It looked as if senior Zack Pianalto’s touchdown jinx might be over Saturday night when the North Carolina tight end managed to haul in a 1-yard touchdown reception, celebrate, and leave the end zone with nary a limp.
Until about 4 minutes later, when he hobbled to the sideline with a fractured right fibula.
With 2:35 left in the second quarter, Pianalto caught a 7-yard pass from quarterback T.J. Yates, then was tackled by two Cavaliers. The pop by cornerback Chase Minnifield earned a 15-yard personal foul penalty for Virginia , and Pianalto hopped off the field – and then to the locker room -- on one leg.
ATLANTA — North Carolina's final two chances to beat LSU and complete an epic comeback ended with quarterback T.J. Yates trying to find tight end Zack Pianalto in the end zone.
Each pass from the 6-yard line hit Pianalto but he couldn't come down with either. The second pass, on the final play, was close and could have been considered pass interference under different circumstances.
CHAPEL HILL — Junior tight end Zack Pianalto, who sustained a mild concussion during last Thursday’s loss to Florida State, returned to practice Sunday and is listed as “probable” to play Thursday at Virginia Tech.
“We’ve got the leading experts in the entire field,” coach Butch Davis said. “They immediately do [tests] at the ball game. Then they test him and reevaluate him the next day. They deemed him healthy and ready to go.”
How is Pianalto ready to play so soon after the concussion?
UNC tight end Zack Pianalto hasn't played since dislocating a bone in his right foot on Sept. 12. The junior returned to practice this week, the Tar Heels' bye week, a sign that he could play against Florida State on Thursday.
Despite missing four games, Pianalto ranks third on the team in receiving yards (112). He had seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown before injuring his foot in the fourth quarter of UNC's 12-10 win over UConn in the second week of the season.
For Saturday's game with ECU:
Out: C Lowell Dyer (shoulder), WR Dwight Jones (knee), TE Zack Pianalto (foot), TE Ryan Taylor (knee)
North Carolina's offense will be without two starters for three to four weeks, UNC coach Butch Davis said Wednesday. Center Lowell Dyer (shoulder) and tight end Zack Pianalto (foot) will not play against East Carolina and could miss up to a month.
Davis said the significant injuries won't change UNC's game plan on offense.
CHAPEL HILL — Center Lowell Dyer was in shorts and tight end Zack Pianalto was on crutches Tuesday as No. 24 North Carolina prepared for East Carolina.
Dyer missed UNC's 12-10 win over UConn with an injured right shoulder and Pianalto injured his right foot in the fourth quarter. If Tuesday's practice participation is any indication, neither will play against the Pirates on Saturday.
UNC got good news on the injury front on Monday for both tight end Zack Pianalto and fulback Bobby Rome.
Pianalto, who injured his right foot after scoring the game-tying touchdown in Saturday's 12-10 win over UConn, did not break a bone the X-rays revealed Monday, Tar Heels coach Butch Davis said.
