With the college football season winding down, the urgency in the UNC locker room is high. The Tar Heels must win two of their final three contests to qualify for postseason play.

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Yet again, the 4-5 Tar Heels find their backs against the wall late in a season.

Following a rough 47-20 loss at Miami, though, Coach Fedora says his team was able to recover in the week off and is now fully fit to take on the 4-5 Pittsburgh Panthers this Saturday at 12:30 pm in Kenan Stadium.

“We had a really good practice. They had a couple days of break there after our open week. I feel like we have everybody fresh and healthy as we’re going to get at this point. We’re raring to go for this next game,” Coach Fedora says.

Thomas Moore in practice (UNC Athletics)

Thomas Moore in practice (UNC Athletics)

An Achilles heel for Carolina has sprung up in the kicking game in recent weeks. Sophomore place-kicker Nick Weiler has struggled to emerge as a reliable alternative to senior Thomas Moore.

Coach Fedora says Weiler has responded well in practice since his rough outing against the Hurricanes.

“We didn’t have an issue until that game. The guy was in a funk and didn’t do well. He’s bounced back and had good practices. We’ll see what happens,” Coach Fedora says.

With that said, Coach Fedora insists the job is up for grabs. Both Moore and Weiler have been facing off over the bye week and a starter will be named after Thursday’s practice.

Despite the inconsistency in the kicking game, Coach Fedora maintains belief in his players and says he won’t hesitate to trot out the field goal team this weekend.

“It doesn’t really weigh on me until I get in the game. It’s not really something I sit around and worry about. I feel like we’ll put a guy out there and he’ll knock it in, I really do. You have to some confidence, that’s all there is to it,” Coach Fedora says.

The lopsided game at Miami left the Tar Heels in a sour mood. Coach Fedora says his team is anxious to ameliorate the situation with another crack at an ACC opponent.

QB Marquise Williams drops back for a pass (Elliott Rubin)

QB Marquise Williams drops back for a pass (Elliott Rubin)

“The kids are hungry to get back out there. They know they didn’t play well in that last one. They don’t like the taste in their mouth because of it. They’re anxious to get back out there and play football the way they can,” Coach Fedora says.

For the seniors, the window is closing on their time in a Carolina uniform. Coach Fedora says the Tar Heels need to seize the opportunity before them and leave everything out on the field in the coming weeks.

“You only get so many opportunities to play this game. You work all year. It’s a full-time, 365 days a year job to get 14 or 12 opportunities. We’re running out of time. We’re down to about ten practices left in this season and only so many opportunities to go out there and do the thing you love. You prepare as hard as you can, you go out and play with great pride and go win a football game,” Coach Fedora says.

The final fate of Coach Fedora’s third season as Carolina skipper is hanging in the balance. UNC’s last-ditch effort for a postseason bowl bid is being met with anxious energy and urgency by coaches, players and fans alike.