Featured stories, UNC

Gaines named UNC assistant baseball coach

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Former University of North Carolina pitcher and a member of four-straight College World Series teams, Bryant Gaines is the Tar Heels’ newest assistant baseball coach, head coach Mike Fox announced today.

“I am excited to have Bryant join our coaching staff,” head coach Mike Fox said. “A young man of tremendous character, Bryant was one of our most respected and committed players and will bring insight to our younger players on what it takes to be successful both on and off the field”.

Gaines worked for Ring Power Crane in Charlotte after graduating from the University of North Carolina in 2011 with a degree in sport administration. The Weddington, NC, native replaces Robert Woodard who joined the UNC Wilmington staff as the pitching coach.

“I am so fortunate that Coach Fox gave me the opportunity to come back to UNC and coach baseball,” Gaines said. “I feel as if I have a lot of valuable experiences and knowledge that will help our players in a number of different ways.”

During his career at Carolina, Gaines posted a 5-0 record in 35 career appearances for the Tar Heels. Gaines battled back from his second Tommy John surgery as a junior to make 10 appearances as a fifth-year senior.

Gaines will assist in all aspects of the program, including serving as camp director for the Carolina Baseball Camps.

– News release

Featured stories, UNC

What they’re saying about Carolina’s 62-0 romp over Elon

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“While the naysayers, the ABC’ers, the haters will point to the fact that what happened in Kenan Stadium yesterday was against a Football Championship Subdivision squad, the shallacking that the North Carolina football squad put on Elon, shutting the opponents out by the final of 62 to 0, was still very impressive. The Tar Heels came just three points shorts of their single game record, which if not for a lost fumble by A.J. Blue a few yards away from the Phoenix’ end zone would have probably been broken. And still it was the most points that a team from Chapel Hill had scored in the last 17 seasons. But that is neither here or there, what was important, as I said in my preview, “how the squad played”. After having watched the game twice, once live and then taking my time on replay, I can say for certain that they played well!”
– Alex Mazzolini of isportsweb

“Giovani Bernard can be scary good this year: North Carolina’s all about spreading teams out and giving its playmakers room to work this year. That’s bad news for its opponents when it comes to Bernard.”
– David Morrison, Greensboro News & Record

“Carolina debuted its new offense conjured by Larry Fedora but tailback Giovani Bernard would have looked good in any formation with 203 all-purpose yards. Bernard became well-acquainted with the end zone by the end of the first quarter before leaving the game with discomfort in his left knee. It didn’t take long for Bernard to break into the open nor for UNC to go up big in a new live-wire offense that produced the second-most points in school history.”
– Ryan Bisesi, Salisbury Post

“I don’t know if one game will establish the identity because there wasn’t much adversity for us in that game. Until we have to face some adversity it’s hard to find out who you really are.”
– Larry Fedora, UNC coach

“We were definitely overmatched by the size, by the strength, by the speed of Carolina. The snowball effect of them scoring early and continuing to score on top of it didn’t help.”
– Thomas Wilson, Elon quarterback

“Looking forward, it’s impossible to know how long Larry Fedora will coach the North Carolina football team. His tenure now consists of one game, a 62-0 romp over Elon on Saturday that will arouse hibernating fans, inflate immediate expectations and cause some pauses around the ACC. Fedora’s debut was virtually flawless, with two turnovers and three penalties buried under the roaring thunder of Giovani Bernard’s 59-yard tightrope dance down the left sideline and his 70-yard punt return.”
– Lenox Rawlings, Winston-Salem Journal

Featured stories, Panthers

Panthers cut down roster to 53 players

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The Carolina Panthers have set their 53-man roster.

The wide receiver position was a source of heated competition throughout training camp and the preseason, and Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State) earned a spot on the team. This season will be his third with the Panthers.

Other competing wideouts Seyi Ajirotutu, Jared Green and Lamont Bryant were cut. Ajirotutu has two years of NFL experience. Green and Bryant joined Carolina as undrafted rookies. Running backs Tauren Poole and Armond Smith were also cut.

Several veterans on defense, including safety Reggie Smith, cornerback Darius Butler and linebacker Jason Williams were left off the roster. Smith was signed in the offseason after four years with the San Francisco 49ers. Butler played his first two seasons with the New England Patriots before joining the Panthers and starting six games last season. Williams spent the last two seasons in Carolina after two years with the Dallas Cowboys.

Poole (ribs) and Butler (concussion) were waived/injured.

All of the Panthers’ seven draft choices made the roster. None of the Panthers undrafted rookie free agents made the cut.

Defensive tackle Andre Neblett is on the roster but is on the suspended list for the first four weeks of the regular season. He will not count against the 53-man limit until he returns from suspension.

– News release

Featured stories, Redskins

UNC’s Quinn cut by Redskins

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Tight end Richard Quinn, a former UNC player, was cut from the Washington Redskins Friday.

He was picked in the second round (64th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has appeared in 30 games in his three-year NFL career. He played only one game for the Redskins in 2011 so it’s unlikely he will be chosen for the eight-man practice squad. At only 25, he could latch on with another team however.

Another Redskin tight end and fullback, Chris Cooley, who was one of the most popular Redskins players in recent memory, was also cut. That leaves the Skins with Niles Paul, Logan Paulsen and Fred Davis as their tight ends.

Featured stories, N.C. State

Disappointing start for State, another embarrassment for ACC vs. SEC

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High hopes for the NC State Wolfpack dampened a bit with a disappointing showing against Tennessee in the Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game. The Pack’s Mike Glennon was pressured most of the night as he was intercepted four times in the 35-21 defeat. The rushing game was weak and the defense had trouble getting Volunteers to the turf.

NC State figured to be a contender this season in the ACC, and the Pack still may be, but that was an embarrassing loss to a team that finished last in the SEC a year ago – and another embarrassment for the ACC which has not beaten the SEC in a season-opening nationally televised game since 2005 when Georgia Tech beat Auburn.

In fact in 10 national TV season openers since expansion, the ACC is 1-9. Overall, the ACC is only 24-37 against the SEC since expansion eight years ago.

Featured stories

McBabe er… McCabe joins Hurricanes’ TV broadcast team

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Chantel McCabe will join the Hurricanes’ television broadcast team as sideline reporter/host. McCabe will join play-by-play voice John Forslund and color analyst Tripp Tracy for all Hurricanes games on FOX Sports Carolinas.

“Adding Chantel to the broadcast will help bring fans closer to the team and make watching the games on television an even better experience,” said Rutherford.

McCabe comes to Carolina from Springfield, MA, where she has served as a general assignment reporter for WGGB-ABC 40. Along with her work at ABC 40, the New Hampshire native has served as a sideline reporter for Major League Lacrosse (MLL), and covered events for the New England Sports Network (NESN) and Hockey East. McCabe graduated from the University of New Hampshire where she covered news, politics and sports for the school’s student-run newspaper The New Hampshire.

The Carolina Hurricanes open their 2012 exhibition schedule on Sept. 26 at Columbus, and play their first exhibition home game on Sept. 28 against the Nashville Predators. For information on 2012-13 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.

– News release

Featured stories

Leesville, Garner romp; Clear and warm for tonight’s high school football games

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A couple of blowouts started the Labor Day weekend games as Leesville Road stomped Jordan 49-0 and Garner whipped Broughton 51-27 Thursday night. Tonight it’s going to be warm and clear so get out to a local game. Below are tonight’s games involving Triangle-area teams with predicted winners in bold. I went 93-18 during the regular season in predictions last season. Most games start at 7:30 p.m. You might want to check with local officials as some games start at 7.

Cary @ Holly Springs
Cedar Ridge @ East Chapel Hill
DeMatha, MD. @ Hillside
Jack Britt @ Southern Durham
Lee County @ Apex
Middle Creek @ Fuquay-Varina
Millbrook @ East Wake
Panther Creek @ Athens Drive
Riverside @ Chapel Hill
Sanderson @ Green Hope
Southeast Raleigh @ Enloe
Union Pines @ Cardinal Gibbons
Wake Forest-Rolesville @ Northern Durham
Wakefield @ Knightdale

Featured stories, Redskins

ECU’s Willie Smith cut by Redskins, picked up by Raiders

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Former North Johnston High and East Carolina standout Willie Smith, who started several games at left tackle for the Washington Redskins, has been released by the Skins. (Editor’s Note: Since this story was written, Smith has been picked up by the Oakland Raiders.)

Smith was a free agent signee of the Redskins after the lockout and found playing time with the suspension of Trent Williams and the injury of Jammal Brown.

If he clears waivers, he could be added to the team’s practice squad but that is not expected.

Featured stories

Garner’s McCreery to sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame at DBAP

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The Durham Bulls today announced Scotty McCreery will headline festivities at the 2012 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game at the DBAP on Tuesday, Sept. 18. The country music superstar will throw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch and perform “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch.

McCreery, a native of Garner, NC, was crowned the winner of the tenth season of American Idol in 2011. He has since become one of country music’s brightest young stars, selling over a million copies of his debut album Clear as Day. Now enrolled at North Carolina State University, McCreery is an avid baseball fan, having played on the Garner High School baseball team.

The 2012 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game is a one-game, winner-take-all showdown between the champions of the International and Pacific Coast Leagues. Durham is the first International League city to host Minor League Baseball’s premier event, which will be nationally televised on NBC Sports Network.

Tickets for the 2012 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on September 18th are available online at durhambulls.com, by phone at 919.956.BULL, or in person at the DBAP ticket office.