Division Coastal Head coach Butch Davis Offensive scheme Pro-style | 2010 record 8–5 (4–4 ACC) Offensive coordinator John Shoop | |
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference | ||
The 2010 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2010 college football season. The team was led by fourth year coach Butch Davis and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium, members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Coastal Division. They finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in ACC play and were invited to the Music City Bowl where they defeated Tennessee 30–27 in two overtimes.
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NCAA investigations
On July 15, 2010, ESPN reported that players at the University of North Carolina were being investigated and interviewed by the NCAA for possible rules violations concerning sports agents and improper gifts. The next day, it was confirmed that certain members of the football team were thought to have received improper gifts from agents, which is not allowed by NCAA rules. Marvin Austin, one of the players suspected in the probe, had made numerous Twitter posts with questionable content, which the NCAA investigated, and he was the first UNC player to be indefinitely suspended, though for violation of team rules, and not the NCAA probe. Butch Davis, the head coach, did not say much about the probe, as he, and many others, expected a quick resolution to the investigation, and he was known for running a clean program. Soon after though, the NCAA began to look at defensive line coach John Blake, his relationship with certain agents, and whether or not he had received money from them. He later resigned. Also, former UNC lineman Kentwan Balmer admitted that he had paid for a trip to California for two current players. It soon became apparent that things would be much worse, and 13 players were suspended for the opening game. Furthermore, the university launched its own probe, and found academic misconduct within the football team.
Schedule
ACC opponents not played: Boston College, Maryland, and Wake Forest.
NFL Draft
12 Tar Heels were invited to the NFL combine, more than any other university in the nation. 19 players participated in the annual university pro day, which attracted nearly 100 scouts and coaches from the NFL. Many of the players participating, however, missed either part or all of the games played this season due to the above-mentioned investigation. Because of this, it has led many fans and observers to wonder how good this team could have been had all of the talent been available for the entire season. With 9 players selected in the draft, the Tar Heels were tied with USC as having the most players selected from a single school in this draft.
* did not play in the 2010 season due to investigation
† missed part of the 2010 season due to investigation