Seven former Tar Heels set to compete for Charlotte 49ers vs. UNC

As the hype train that is Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels approaches JW Clay Station for the first time on Saturday night, the Charlotte 49ers have more to play for than just their first victory under Tim Albin.

Rostering seven former Tar Heels, headlined by starting quarterback Conner Harrell and playmaking safety Ja’Qurious Conley, the 49ers have added motivation with the litany of familiar faces donning Carolina blue who will take the visitor’s sideline under the lights at Richardson Stadium. Downplaying talk of a revenge game, Charlotte is looking to score its second victory against an in-state ACC opponent and take down the Tar Heels for the first time in the program’s brief history.

And matching up with his former school and favorite NFL coach, Conley’s opportunity to make his mark on Saturday night’s game can’t come soon enough.

“It is crazy just being able to play against coaches that have been in the league and have done it for a long time. The Patriots are the team that I used to look up to a lot. Seeing them win all the time, that’s exactly where I want to be in life,” Conley said of Belichick. “To be able to go against them, and hopefully win, that’s going to feel right.”

Mindset of 49ers QB Harrell

The two programs have met just once before, with the Tar Heels pulling away in the second half in Chapel Hill a season ago, winning 38-20 against Biff Poggi’s 49ers.

But in that matchup, Harrell led the Tar Heels’ offense to the tune of his best collegiate game to date, where he combined for three touchdowns and celebrated his first win as a starter. And Saturday night, he’ll get the chance to return the favor — this time donning green and white.

“It’ll be fun. It’s a game. You get to compete against a really good team at our home stadium. Get a chance to show our fans a good game. I’m excited to play against a really good coach,” Harrell said in May on the Highway 49 Podcast. “Definitely looking forward to it.”

When asked about playing his old team in the offseason, Harrell was all smiles, sharing his excitement to play against the team he committed to out of high school. But when asked again on game week, Harrell was all business.

“I’m excited to play. Another Saturday, and another week,” Harrell told the media Tuesday. “Every week is exciting, so I’m excited to get out there and play a good game.”

How big is 49ers’ game vs. Tar Heels?

Even with the all-business mindset, it’s impossible to downplay the draw that Saturday night’s game will have.

Belichick, the eight-time Super Bowl champion, is searching for his first collegiate win in his first true road game after being trounced by TCU in Chapel Hill on Monday night. Albin and company are looking to pick up the pieces after being dismantled by Appalachian State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic on Friday. Country artist and Charlotte alumnus Chris Lane is performing a pregame show on campus, and the 49ers are adding 2,500 temporary seats to push the stadium’s capacity to roughly 17,800 for the highly anticipated matchup.

It could be the biggest crowd Richardson Stadium has seen. And it’s definitely the most expensive ticket, at upward of $130 on Vivid Seats. It’s a chance for revenge for Harrell, Conley, defensive end Curtis Simpson, running back Jariel Cobb, receiver Justin Olson, tight end Jake Young and kicker Liam Boyd, who all once played for the Tar Heels.

And it’s a chance for Charlotte to show strides on a national stage, despite being aired on ESPN+.

But are Albin and the 49ers using the matchup against Belichick and the Tar Heels as extra motivation? Albin isn’t sure.

“That’s not how I look at it, but you know. I’m sure there’s talk in the locker room,” Albin said Tuesday.

Albin called Belichick the “greatest of all time” at media day and is looking forward to the postgame handshake — regardless of how the matchup unfolds.

“If you’re judging by the number of Lombardi trophies, he is the greatest. End of story. I’ve got a copy of his first book. When I first got the head job at Ohio, someone sent me his book in the mail. I still don’t know who it is; it just showed up. His record speaks for itself,” Albin said of Belichick. “It will be interesting to watch it unfold, but I’m going to shake his hand and wish him luck.”

With both teams reeling from season-opening lopsided losses, Saturday night’s contest is crucial for both teams. But after the final buzzer sounds, Conley is looking forward to catching up with his old teammates.

“I’ve got a lot of friends who are still there,” Conley told The Observer. “I don’t talk to them a lot anymore, but it will be a good kumbaya after the game.”