Coming off a convincing win on the road last Saturday, you’d assume the UNC football team would be excited and ready to go for this week’s home opener against James Madison.

However, the news of linebacker Allen Artis being charged with sexual assault has brought a black cloud to Chapel Hill that’s loomed large over the team’s preparations.

Nearly four minutes into his session with the media on Wednesday, UNC head coach Larry Fedora took time to remind reporters that the Tar Heels do, in fact, have a game this weekend.

The problem is this.

His program dealt with the shadow of the NCAA academic scandal for years, then finally began to escape it. Then this year he hired embattled former Illinois coach Tim Beckman during training camp, just weeks before the Artis allegations that have now become the dominant theme.

Head coach Larry Fedora has been forced to do image control for the UNC football program on multiple occasions already this season. (Smith Cameron Photography)

Head coach Larry Fedora has been forced to do image control for the UNC football program on multiple occasions already this season. (Smith Cameron Photography)

Whether he sees it or not, there are plenty of reasons why Fedora has taken on a role he doesn’t particularly enjoy—one revolving around image control–on multiple occasions this season.

“It’s just part of my job is to deal with issues that come up with our football team,” Fedora said. “I don’t know that our image has taken a hit.

“That’s up to you to decide if you feel that way,” the coach continued. “I don’t feel that way.”

By the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice, Fedora also said the Tar Heels had yet to come together as a group to discuss Artis and his situation.

Some members of the team have already come out on social media in support of their suspended teammate—which Fedora said is OK with him as long as they are willing to defend their own opinions.

Senior tailback TJ Logan referred to Artis as a brother, saying he hopes eventually Artis will be able to return to the team.

That’s been the hardest part for Logan and the rest of the players. As much as they want to try and stay focused on football, it’s obvious why that’s not exactly the easiest thing to do at the moment.

“It’s kinda tough,” Logan said. “We’re just being reassured by the coaches that there’s a mission on the line, and we gotta come out Saturday and play hard.

“We know what’s going on,” the speedster continued. “But we just gotta try and stay focused on the plan.”

Although Artis rarely made an impact on the field playing strictly on special teams, it’s clear that he developed relationships with teammates that exist far beyond that.

Fedora understands this aspect of the situation, but as it relates to football–he sees this as no different than the team being without linemen Tommy Hatton and Tyler Powell. Both of those players have each have missed time recently dealing with personal issues.

“I think the team, anytime we have anybody go down or we lose them for anything—whether it be Tommy Hatton or any of these guys—I think they all hurt for them,” Fedora said. “But they understand we’ve got a job to do and a game to play.

Senior tailback TJ Logan is among a number of Tar Heel players who have come out and supported Artis since the news broke Tuesday. (Smith Cameron Photography)

Senior tailback TJ Logan is among a number of Tar Heel players who have come out and supported Artis since the news broke Tuesday. (Smith Cameron Photography)

“There’s a ‘next-man-up’ mentality.”

In the time they’ve been able to spend focusing on James Madison, the main takeaway many of the Tar Heels seem to have is simply that the Dukes play hard.

Because it’s an FCS opponent—meaning it competes in a lower division—the fact that James Madison has won its first two games by a combined score of 137-28 doesn’t exactly foreshadow an upset.

What it does show, however, is that if UNC’s head isn’t in the right place, then the Tar Heels could find themselves in a bit of a tricky situation—much like Georgia did last week in a narrow win over Nicholls State.

“It doesn’t matter who we play, what time we play them, where we play them, what the weather’s like—all those things.” Fedora said. “It’s really about us playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played—no matter who we play.

“We won’t prepare for this team any differently than we did for Georgia or Illinois,” he added. “And I’ll be very disappointed in my team if they don’t take that same approach.”