By R.L. Bynum
With no news yet on Carolina’s appeal to the NCAA on Tez Walker’s status, Mack Brown says his coaching staff is preparing two game plans.
With Walker, the Tar Heels would have one of the best wide receivers in the country with game-changing ability. UNC must adjust its approach if the Kent State transfer can’t play in Saturday’s 7:44 opener in Charlotte against South Carolina (ABC broadcast starts at 7:30).
“We still haven’t heard anything from the NCAA on Tez,” Brown said at a press conference on Monday morning. “We’re hoping to hear something, at least in the process and the timetable, today. But, at this point, it’s very difficult for him and us.”
Walker, named to the preseason watchlist for the Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s best pass-catcher, tied for the Mid-American Conference lead and was seventh in the country last season with 11 touchdown receptions. Over two seasons at Kent State, he caught 63 passes for 1,045 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He had been excited about playing this weekend in his hometown of Charlotte, close to his grandmother, before the NCAA ruled that he wasn’t eligible.
The uncertainty has been tough for Walker, who Brown says was down after Sunday’s practice. He’s tried to help Walker with his approach.
“He didn’t practice with much confidence as he has been because he’s not sure if he’s going to play,” Brown said.
Brown and Lonnie Galloway, the assistant head coach for the passing game, met with Walker on Sunday after that practice didn’t go well, telling him that he has to prepare as if he’s going to play.
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“ ‘If they tell you Saturday at 3:30 that you’re going to play, you’ve got to play, and you don’t want to be in a position where you’re not ready to play,’ ” Brown said they told Walker. “ ‘You don’t want to be in a position where you may get hurt because you’re not out there with the right mindset.’ ”
Brown said that they have alternate game plans.
“We’ve got to have a game plan with him and one without him,” Brown said. “That makes it difficult because you want your quarterback to be throwing it to the guys he’s going to be throwing to in the game, and we’re not sure who he’s going to throw to. It’s a very difficult situation for us.”
Either way, Walker will travel with the team but won’t be in uniform if he’s not eligible.
“We’re just trying to build the offense around what we’re capable of doing, what we can be good at, and if Tez is there, that’s even better,” first-year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said.
UNC schedule
UNC schedule
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| August | ||
| 29 | Noon, ESPN | vs.TCU in Dublin, Ireland |
| September | ||
| 12 | Noon, ACCN | vs. ETSU |
| 19 | Noon, ESPN | at Clemson |
| October | ||
| 3 | TBA | vs. Notre Dame |
| 10 | TBA | at Pittsburgh |
| 17 | TBA | at Duke |
| 24 | TBA | vs. Syracuse |
| 31 | TBA | vs. Miami |
| November | ||
| 7 | TBA | at UConn |
| 14 | TBA | vs. Louisville |
| 21 | TBA | at Virginia |
| 28 | TBA | vs. N.C. State |
| December | ||
| 5 | noon, ABC | ACC championship game in Charlotte |
