North Carolina football prepares for ‘bloody nose’ kind of ACC game at Boston College
There are a number of ways to slice and dice the football matchup between North Carolina and Boston College this week.
Former NFL coach Bill O’Brien is in his first season as the Eagles’ head coach and has brought an NFL look to his team in its schemes and game-planning approach, the UNC coaches says.
The Eagles will show multiple looks on offense, UNC defensive coordinator Geoff Collins said Monday. The same might be said about the BC defense, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey added.
But UNC coach Mack Brown said the ACC road game Saturday will be decided in a more basic sense.
“Toughness,” he said Monday.
“This week is all about toughness,” Brown said. “It’s going to be a fight. It’s going to be such a competitive game. Both teams are going to run the ball. It’s going to be ‘the toughest man wins’ on this one. It’s going to be who’s the toughest, the longest.
“We’ve been accused of being soft before. This team has not been accused of being soft. They will fight you.”
Hampton leads the way
Running the ball will not be a problem for UNC (6-4, 3-3 ACC), revitalized after winning three straight games. Not with Omarion Hampton willing to touch the ball as much as Lindsey and the offensive staff wants No. 28 to touch it in games.
Lindsey smiled Monday when asked if his play-calling has evolved into simply saying “28” and then “28” into his mic in the coaches box during recent games.
“He’s our guy. I think he’s built for it,” Lindsey said. “He’s proven over and over and over that he’s capable of carrying any load we ask him to do.”
Hampton had 40 touches – 35 rushing carries, five pass catches – in the Tar Heels’ 31-24 win over Wake Forest this past Saturday. His 244 yards rushing were a career high for the junior from Clayton, who one day should be in an NFL backfield.
“Omarion’s a machine,” Brown said. “I mean, he wants the ball every time.”
Lindsey said he saw Hampton just after the Wake game in the Kenan Football Center, noting, “You look at him, you can’t tell he played a game. He’s not gassed a bit.
“He’s one of the most impressive kids I’ve ever been around. Doesn’t say a lot. Just does his job. Smile on his face, doesn’t complain, ever.”
If it’s a physical slugfest Saturday – ‘They’re going to bloody your nose, now,” Brown said – it’s safe to say Hampton can handle himself. As Brown said, Wake Forest knew Hampton would be getting the ball a lot Saturday and he still pounded out big yardage.
Brown said 183 of Hampton’s yards came after contact. That included his 6-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter when he bulldozed his way to the end zone.
Boston tough
Boston College (5-5, 2-4 ACC) rushed for 313 yards in a 37-31 win over Syracuse on Nov. 9 as Kye Robichaux had 198 yards and two scores and Jordan McDonald 133 yards and a TD.
“I think that’s what we have to be, right?” O’Brien said to the media after the game. “We’re in Boston. We’re in a city that’s built on toughness, determination and grittiness. That’s who we are.”
That’s the approach Brown is expecting from the Eagles on Saturday in the noon game at BC’s Alumni Stadium. All coaches like to say games are often decided at the line of scrimmage, but this one should be.
“The two of us have run the ball the most of anyone in the ACC this year,” Brown said. “So this will be a battle. It’ll be two who line up and hit each other right in the face.”
In the past three games, the Tar Heels have allowed 7, 42 and 114 yards rushing in beating Virginia, Florida State and then Wake Forest. Brown and Collins believe the UNC defense should be pumped and excited about what they will see Saturday and seeing how they match up.
Kaimon Rucker, Des Evans, Jahvaree Ritzie, Kevin Hester, Josh Harris, Travis Shaw … there are several UNC defensive linemen who want that NFL chance.
“Obviously this game is about toughness and it’s going to be about physicality,” Collins said. “But the other piece is (for) all our guys who aspire to play at the next level, well, this game you’re playing an NFL offense. You’re showcasing your talents against an offense and a style you’re going to have to play against at the next level.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 6:47 PM with the headline "North Carolina football prepares for ‘bloody nose’ kind of ACC game at Boston College."
