| Year: | 2009 |
| Team: | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Division: | Coastal |
| Short Conf: | ACC |
| Record: | 0–5 |
| Conf Record: | 0–4 |
| Wins Vacated: | 8[1] |
| Conf Wins Vacated: | 4 |
| Head Coach: | Butch Davis |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Coach: | John Shoop |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Scheme: | Pro-style |
| Def Coach: | Everett Withers |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Captain: | Jordan Hemby, Kyle Jolly, Quan Sturdivant, Cam Thomas, Kennedy Tinsley, E. J. Wilson, T. J. Yates |
| Stadium: | Kenan Memorial Stadium |
| Bowl: | Meineke Car Care Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 17–19 vs. Pittsburgh |
The 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by third-year head coach Butch Davis, the Tar Heels played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina finished the season 8–5 overall and 4–4 in ACC play to place fourth in the Coastal Division. The Tar Heels lost to Pittsburgh in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. In 2011, North Carolina vacated all its wins from the 2008 season and 2009 seasons.
On January 5, 2009 starting wide-receiver Hakeem Nicks announced that he would forgo his senior year in order to enter the 2009 NFL draft. In just three years Nicks had set 14 school records, including career receptions (181), career receiving yards (2,580), and career touchdowns (21). In his senior season, Nicks was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after catching 68 passes for 1,222 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was the only player in UNC history with more than 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
The following are some of the other key players who will no longer play for North Carolina in the 2009 season:
Offense
Defense
Special teams:
For 2009, the Tar Heels are likely to return numerous starters from the previous season. The following players will maintain their playing eligibility and in all likelihood will return for the season:
Offense
Defense
Special teams:
As of February 6, 2009, Scout.com rated North Carolina's 2009 recruiting class as 5th in the nation, Rivals.com ranked North Carolina's recruiting class as 6th, and ESPN ranked 12th. Joshua Adams (WR) and Kevin Reddick (LB) plan to enroll in January 2009 and do not count against the limit of 25 recruits per year. The other following players have offered North Carolina non-binding verbal commitments. These pledges can become binding when recruits sign their National Letters of Intent on February 4, 2009.
| Name | Position[2] | Seasons in Position |
|---|---|---|
| Butch Davis | Head coach | 3rd |
| John Blake | Associate head coach / recruiting coordinator / defensive line | 3rd |
| Ken Browning | Running backs | 16th |
| Jeff Connors | Strength and conditioning coordinator | 9th |
| Steve Hagen | Tight Ends | 3rd |
| John Lovett | Special teams coordinator / Defensive Assistant | 3rd |
| Sam Pittman | Offensive Line | 3rd |
| John Shoop | Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks | 3rd |
| Tommy Thigpen | Linebackers | 5th |
| Charlie Williams | Wide Receivers | 3rd |
| Everett Withers | Defensive coordinator / defensive backs | 2nd |
North Carolina had its best rushing game under coach Butch Davis with 260 total rushing yards (its most since 2004), and Shaun Draughn rushing for 118 yards, his fourth 100-yard rushing game. T. J. Yates threw two touchdown passes and threw for 114 yards.[3]
See also: 2009 Connecticut Huskies football team. North Carolina managed to come back by scoring 12 points against Connecticut in the fourth quarter to win the game. North Carolina gained its final two points when Connecticut's senior tackle Dan Ryan was flagged for holding North Carolina's end Robert Quinn in the end zone, which gave North Carolina a safety, with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter.[4]
See also: 2009 East Carolina Pirates football team.
See also: 2009 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team.
See also: 2009 Virginia Cavaliers football team.
See also: 2009 Florida State Seminoles football team.
See also: 2009 Virginia Tech Hokies football team.
See also: 2009 Duke Blue Devils football team.
See also: 2009 Miami Hurricanes football team. Miami and North Carolina last met at Miami on September 27, 2008 in a game won by UNC 28–24. Miami is 5–7 all time versus UNC.
See also: 2009 Boston College Eagles football team.
The Tar Heels defeated a Boston College team that was playing for an outside shot at a trip to the ACC Championship Game. The UNC defense stifled the Eagles offense for much of the game, holding them to 0 conversions on 13 3rd down attempts. Freshman Boston College quarterback David Shinskie threw for more yards to the Tar Heels defenders than to his own team. His four interceptions were returned for a total of 133 yards, while his twelve completions gained only 101 yards. Tar Heels DB Kendric Burney's interception return for a touchdown was his second in as many games. Cam Thomas added another defensive touchdown on a fumble return. UNC's offense had four turnovers of their own (3 T. J. Yates interceptions, 1 fumble by Erik Highsmith), and struggled to move the ball for much of the game. The UNC running attack was slowed due to a lower extremity injury to Ryan Houston who was sidelined for most of the second half. However, he did return for a 1-yard touchdown run. UNC's stout defense once again came up with big plays in the Tar Heel's fourth straight win.
See also: 2009 North Carolina State Wolfpack football team.
See also: 2009 Pittsburgh Panthers football team.
See also: 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings.