The 6-5 UNC football team follows up an emotional Thursday night win over Duke with another big-time rivalry game this Saturday to finish out the regular season. UNC head coach Larry Fedora, as always, is quick to remind his team that it’s N.C. State week.

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Carolina’s postgame spray-painting celebrations last week caused significant damage to the Duke locker rooms and practice facilities. UNC will be footing the bill for at least $10,000 worth of repairs.

Coach Fedora says he gave Duke head coach David Cutcliffe a call Friday morning to offer an apology.

“I was made aware of it on Friday and called David [Cutcliffe] to apologize. Obviously, the celebration got out of hand. I wish it wouldn’t have, but it did,” Coach Fedora says.

UNC players wasted no time painting the Victory Bell. (Elliott Rubin)

UNC players wasted no time painting the Victory Bell. (Elliott Rubin)

But for now, the Victory Bell chimes have grown quiet. The Tar Heels have turned their attention to another in-state foe – the Wolfpack of N.C. State.

UNC will be striving to make it three straight victories over its rival in red Saturday afternoon inside Kenan Stadium and remarkably, given the 2-4 start, be playing to finish with a 7-5 regular season record.

Yet again, much like last season, the Tar Heels have turned the corner and saved their best stuff for the second half of the season.

Coach Fedora credits the coaching staff and the leadership of the seniors for keeping the team together during the four-game losing streak.

“A lot like last year, I think our coaching staff did a tremendous job of keeping these guys together. There was never any finger pointing or any guys blaming anybody. Our seniors did a really good job of staying together and keeping our team together. Basically, we just kept playing and eventually started making some plays,” Coach Fedora says.

What specific unit does the Carolina skipper attribute this year’s turnaround to? He says it all starts and ends with the play of the big guys up front.

“We’re much better up front on the offensive line than we were at the beginning of the year. When we’ve had our five healthy guys out there, we’ve moved the ball pretty consistently. I think our D-line is also growing up and starting to play better. If we can continue that way, we’ll be a really good football team,” Coach Fedora says.

The junior leader of the young offensive line, Landon Turner, has largely been overlooked, but has been a sturdy anchor for the Tar Heels all season. Coach Fedora says Turner’s consistency and impactful leadership abilities have not been lost on him.

The Tar Heels bagged a road win at Carter-Finley last season (Elliott Rubin)

The Tar Heels bagged a road win at Carter-Finley last season (Elliott Rubin)

“Landon Turner is the leader of that group. He’s been the most consistent all the way through and since he’s got back from injury, he’s got better and better every week. […] He moves people at will,” Coach Fedora says.

As has grown custom for the UNC football program under the Larry Fedora regime, the football coach did a little interior designing in the UNC locker room over the weekend in preparation for N.C. State week. Red was the dominant color scheme.

Motivational tactics aside, Coach Fedora says above all, this regular season finale will be for the seniors.

“This team is excited and anxious to get back on the field, especially for this next one which will be our last home game – an opportunity for our seniors to go out in this stadium the right way. Our guys will do a great job in preparation this week and hopefully, we will do that,” Coach Fedora says.