UNC NEWS RELEASE – John Blake, North Carolina’s associate head football coach, has resigned effective today. Blake was in his fourth season as a member of the Tar Heel coaching staff.

John Blake statement:
“While I have enjoyed my tenure at the University of North Carolina, it has become apparent to me over the course of the past few weeks that my presence has become a distraction to my family and to this great University, too. Consequently, I have determined that it is in the best interests of my family, the University community at large, and the Football Program for me to step down from my position as associate head football coach effective today, September 5, 2010.

“I thank the Lord for the opportunity I have had to work with Butch Davis while at the University of North Carolina. I have grown to love and respect the school, my fellow coaches, and the young men who have worked so diligently to improve both as students and as football players. That love and respect has led me to the conclusion that the best decision for all involved is for me to step aside at this time. I wish the players, the coaches, and the University all the best.

“I thank the Tar Heel Nation for the overwhelming support I have received. The memories I have made here will last a lifetime. May God bless you all.”

UNC Head Coach Butch Davis statement:
“Knowing John as I have over the years, it is clear that this was a difficult decision for him to make. I know how much John loves the players, coaching and the game of football. I am grateful for all of his hard work and effort in helping build this program. As difficult as this situation is, I have accepted his resignation. Throughout his career, I know he has worked hard to help young men become better people and football players. He and his family have made positive contributions to our football program.

“The Tar Heel family has tremendous passion for the University and everything it represents. It’s one of the things that made me want to be a Tar Heel four years ago. All of us who are part of the football program have been both disappointed and embarrassed by recent events. Our student-athletes, coaches and I are committed to working every day, both on and off the field, to build a better football program, one that everyone associated with the University of North Carolina can and will be proud of.”

UNC Director of Athletics Dick Baddour statement:
“Coach Blake had indicated to me in previous conversations that he would step down if he felt his presence with the football program would become a distraction. I appreciate and respect his decision to do what is best for the University and our football program. I know the young men he coached are tremendously disappointed, but Coach Davis and his staff will help and support them as the season moves forward.”

Blake’s employment agreement with the University provided him an annual base salary of $240,000 and would have expired June 30, 2011. He will receive $74,500, which approximates the salary he would have received had he completed the football season. This will be entirely paid using football revenues.

The North Carolina players who were suited up last night deserved better.

I hope the Carolina football players who are ultimately determined to have done wrong in the NCAA and UNC investigations are ashamed at not being able to help the Carolina football players who were on the field fighting against powerful LSU.

Ultimately falling 30-24, the Tar Heels also fought inexperience and the corresponding errors that come with that. Two plays – a dropped sure touchdown by one inexperienced back and a booted kickoff return in the end zone that another inexperienced player chose to run out of the end zone (ultimately getting to the three-yard line) – really were the difference between victory and defeat.

Carolina got a field goal instead of a touchdown on the dropped pass play and then a center snap when the QB wasn’t ready (after the ill-advised runback) led to a safety. That’s six points right there. A chip-shot field goal in the fourth quarter would have won it.

Still, the Tar Heels were inches away at the end from beating LSU, which was a two-touchdown favorite. And, make no mistake, the Heels should have won. Sure-handed tight end Zack Pianalto failed to haul in a catchable pass in the end zone with six seconds left and then, with time expiring, he dropped a perfect pass from T.J. Yates.

“It was pretty simple – I just dropped both of ’em,” Pianalto said after the game. To be fair, the first pass was a bit behind him and banged off his shoulder pad and the second pass was dropped while a defender grabbed a shoulder pad, prompting Yates to ask officials for a penalty.

Yates answered critics by going 28 of 45 with three touchdowns and 412 yards, the third most passing yards in a game in Carolina history. He also hooked up with Jheranie Boyd on a 97-yard touchdown pass, the longest in Carolina history, in the second half to get the Heels back in it at 30-17 after the Heels trailed 30-10 at the half.

Boyd, taking on the role of suspended Greg Little, had six receptions for 221 yards – that’s the second highest single-game receiving yards in Carolina history.

Carolina had more total yardage than LSU – 436 to 313 – and the defense shutout LSU in the second half.

But an explosive five minutes in the second quarter by LSU doomed the Heels – a 50-yard TD run on a reverse play, an 80+ yard punt return for a TD and 51-yard TD pass.

UNC had a lot of miscommunication, especially early, and some muffed snaps and fumbles but make no mistake about it, the Heels could have, and probably should have, won that game – even without the shamed players left home.

Random Thoughts: Coach Butch Davis said the Heels burned eight redshirt players – in other words eight guys who would have sat out the season and had four more years of eligibility had to play.

All of the seven defensive starters who sat out the game would have been on special teams, which was the area that ended up being the difference. LSU had 244 return yards in the first half alone as the Tigers ran out to the 30-10 lead.

Carolina might have gotten one more play at the end but it appears the Heels didn’t realize the clock was going to start after the ball was set following a stoppage of the clock for an injury with 19 seconds to go. The clock ran from 19 to 15 before the ball was snapped.

Everybody was talking about the losses on defense but the loss of runningbacks Ryan Houston and Shaun Draughn, at least for this game, turned out to be a big impact as well as the Heels managed only 24 yards on the ground.

If some of the players not allowed to play are able to come back, this game could be a plus as key depth was born in the form of many Carolina players, including walk-ons, who got significant time and gained experience and confidence in a big game.

Marcell Dareus, the Alabama player involved in the NCAA investigation revolving around players’ relationships with sports agents, has been ruled ineligible for only two games and will have to repay $1,800 in expenses for partying with agents.

UNC’s Marvin Austin and Greg Little are being investigated for similar offences. Could this be good news for Carolina? Perhaps but if the penalties are similar, why not announce them at the same time? Still, it does give UNC some hope that a ruling is near, and that the penalties might not be as severe as most suspect. It might not matter for Austin who was suspended indefinitely for breaking unrelated team rules.

Marvin Austin has been suspended indefinitely and now AP reports that leading receiver Greg Little will be left in Chapel Hill when North Carolina travels to Atlanta to take on LSU Saturday – this as a result of an NCAA investigation into inappropriate perks from sports agents.

With all the talk about that investigation and a UNC internal investigation into players turning in papers written for them by a tutor, a lot has flown under the radar. For instance, all the talk may actually benefit UNC quarterback T.J. Yates who would have been the biggest story heading into the season. Sure there will be pressure for him to answer critics, many of which booed him at a Carolina basketball game earlier this year, but imagine the spotlight that would have shined on him without the scandal.

Also, LSU must be feeling overlooked with most of the national attention on the Carolina troubles. This could motivate them to show that there should have been more talk about them.

Many are saying that Carolina doesn’t have a chance if seven defensive starters believed to be involved in the academic scandal don’t play. That has to irritate the backup players who probably believe they are ready to start and play well. As Yates said, no one comes to play backup at Carolina – everyone wants to start.

This is probably the most intriguing game of the opening week. Who will play for Carolina? How good are those substituting for the projected starters? Do the intangibles go to LSU, which feels overlooked, or Carolina, which is tired of hearing about the scandals and wants to prove that they can beat LSU regardless of who’s on the field.

Like Las Vegas, I haven’t a clue as to how this game is going to go and how Carolina will react to the adversity. If the Heels overcome it all and manage to win, this could still be a special season. If they lose, especially if they lose badly, it could be a long season.

UNC Coach Butch Davis made it clear before answering questions that he wasn’t going to answer questions – at least unless it related directly to the LSU game itself.

“I just don’t have the ability to be able to answer questions other than things that directly relate to the LSU game,” he said.

A couple of journalists attempted to get some answers about player availability for the LSU games in light of the NCAA and school investigations. But precious little was revealed and no specific names were mentioned.

“We’re in a holding mode,” Davis said. “Right now we’re just preparing for the game… We’re trying to prepare for all scenarios.”

Davis did mention individual LSU players including second-team All-America cornerback Patrick Peterson and new starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson.

He said he can tell from the practices this week that it’s game week. “Guys are tired of practicing against themselves,” Davis said. “It’s time to go and play and be able to put some of these distractions behind us and focus legitimately on an opponent.”

Davis said that the game plan against LSU will be the same regardless of which UNC players are on the field.

I’m not sure what else Coach Davis can do but you’d think that some 72 hours before the first game, he could throw some crumb regarding who definitely will be available to play.

While former UNC system president William Friday has been critical of the increase in the importance of winning in sports and the lessened emphasis on academics, the UNC system will have a new president, succeeding Erskine Bowles, who is a big sports fan.

It remains to be seen what tact Tom Ross will take as president of 17-school university system but I know he loves Tar Heel basketball and his dream job is to be Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

They’d be lucky to get Ross, as the UNC system is. I interviewed him when he was director of the state administrative office of the courts and again when he headed up the sentencing commission. He was impressive.

His sentencing commission recommendations have become a model for other states. The commission reformed the sentencing system. As a result, among other things, parole was abolished and criminals now serve more of their originally imposed sentences.

A judge for 17 years, Ross most recently was president of Davidson College, where he went to undergraduate school. He is also a big Davidson sports fan. But he went to UNC law school and seemingly enjoyed Carolina basketball as much as anything. In fact, it is reported that during the time he led the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem, he kept a condo in Chapel Hill in order to have a regular place to stay during his visits to watch the Tar Heels play.

He is a democrat but he doesn’t seem overly partisan, putting politics above all. He’s fair, accomplished, personable, connected and a big supporter of sports. But, I wouldn’t be surprised if he, like Friday, concludes that the balance between academics and sports is a bit out of whack.

North Carolina freshman defensive end Brandon Willis, who enrolled in January and has been practicing with the team, has decided to transfer to UCLA, his father says, in order to be closer to him.

I hope that Willis doesn’t suspect that Carolina will be penalized harshly from the NCAA in regard to the recent investigation. But, regardless, I’m not buying the explanation.

I understand that Willis’ mother died in 2009 and I understand that Willis’ father lost his job and found one in California and I understand that family is important and that they want to be close.

But the fact is Willis decided to go to Carolina after his mother died. The fact is that Willis’ father was working in Brunswick, Ga. when Willis decided to go to Carolina. So, the fact is that his father was a six and a half hour drive away from Chapel Hill when he decided to go to Carolina. Los Angeles is a six and a half hour flight away from RDU Airport.

Furthermore, a flight from Brunswick to RDU necessitates a connection in Atlanta and takes four and a half hours. Plus, it costs only about 100 bucks less than a flight from Los Angeles.

Gary Willis said he couldn’t have accepted the job on the West Coast with his son in Chapel Hill. So what changed from the time he was four and a half hours away by air and six and a half hours away by car?

He says it’s nothing against Carolina and that very well may be true but something doesn’t seem right. Maybe they all decided that Brunswick was too far anyway and they all wanted to be closer. Maybe he wanted to play his high school position of defensive end, where he will play at UCLA, instead of defensive tackle, where he was playing for the Tar Heels.

Whatever the reason, I’m not buying the official explanation.

Earlier today, UNC head coach Butch Davis said, “His father has been looking for employment and was informed yesterday that he was able to find a job. The unfortunate thing is he found a job in Southern California and he is really adamant about trying to keep his family together. He’s asked both of his sons to join him in moving out there. That’s all that we really know at this time. We’re happy that his father was able to find a job in this economy. Brandon is a good kid and we wish him the best.”

UNC sophomore Leslie McDonald scored 25 points in only 17 minutes to help the Tar Heels to a 123-86 victory over the Bahamas All-Stars last night.

The official stats in the Bahamas games are suspect however as some journalists on hand say McDonald scored 20 – still a good number for a guy who got the ninth most minutes on the team last year.

Similarly, freshman Harrison Barnes was credited officially with 23 points but others on hand say he scored 28. Officially, Reggie Bullock added 17 points, Henson had 16 points and a team-high 15 rebounds, Tyler Zeller chipped in 14 points in only 15 minutes and Dexter Strickland scored 10.

It’s a good thing the Tar Heels have a little depth as they fouled enough for the Bahamas to shoot 56 free throws.

Carolina shot 55.6 percent (45-81) from the field, 50 percent (10-20) three pointers, and 69.7 percent (23-33) from the free throw line.

While McDonald’s big scoring night is a bit of a surprise, it really shouldn’t be. McDonald did score only three points a game last year and shot only 31 percent from the floor but he was just a freshman and he did have a couple of big scoring games. He came to the Tar Heels as the all-time leading scorer in Memphis private school history and he won Player of the Year honors in Tennessee as a high school senior. The 6-foot-4 guard also was fourth team Parade All-American as a senior.

Scoring shouldn’t be the problem it was last year with guys like McDonald having another year under their belts and freshmen sensations Barnes and Bullock in the fold.

The Tar Heels returned to Chapel Hill today and won’t be seen in public as a team again until Late Night with Roy in October.

UNC freshman Harrison Barnes scored 21 points, hauled in eight rebounds and turned the ball over only once as the Tar Heels defeated the Commonwealth Bank Giants 130-87 in an exhibition game in the Bahamas last night.

Fellow freshman Reggie Bullock matched Barnes with 21 points and eight rebounds, but it was junior Tyler Zeller who led the way with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

Seven players scored in double figures for the Heels, who shot 58 percent from the floor. Dexter Strickland scored 18 points, Justin Watts tallied 13, John Henson had 11 and Will Graves chipped in 10.

The other freshman, Kendall Marshall, sank a three-pointer.

“We’ve only practiced three days,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “We have three freshmen who haven’t done anything with us until three days ago. We knew it was going to be ugly at times, but I was impressed with how hard they worked [and] I was impressed with the unselfishness. We’re by no means where we would like to be at the end, but we were taller and more gifted than the Bahamas team.”

The only real negative Williams mentioned was letting the Giants get to the free throw line too much. “If we let a team shoot 53 free throws at our level of play we’ll lose every night,” he said.

The Tar Heels play in the Bahamas again tonight at 7:30 p.m. against the Bahamas All-Stars.