When it comes to repeating as Coastal Division champions this season, Larry Fedora and the UNC football team will have their work cut out for them.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about,” Fedora said. “The Coastal Division just got a lot stronger, just by the coaches that were hired and the pedigrees they have behind them.”
On top of facing perennial ACC powerhouse Florida State at Tallahassee and traveling to Atlanta to take on Georgia, the Tar Heels will also have to deal with the rejuvenated Miami and Virginia Tech programs.
Miami hired Mark Richt, who led Georgia to two SEC titles and a 145-51 record in 15 seasons.
Virginia Tech brought in Justin Fuente, who turned Memphis from a 4-8 team to a 10-3 team in just three seasons.
“It’s pretty amazing the strength of this league as you look at the coaching staffs,” Fedora said. “That makes not only the Coastal Division stronger but the ACC stronger.”
But Fedora said he thinks his guys are up to the challenge.
They locked up the Coastal Division last year before falling to then-undefeated Clemson in the ACC Championship game.
Fedora said that experience is helping his team get ready for the first kickoff in September.
“You can see in all of their eyes that they’ve tasted it,” he said. “They just got a little taste of what it’s like and so they know what it’s going to take to get there.”
Right now the Tar Heels are working to incorporate expected starter Mitch Trubisky into an offense that returns star running back Elijah Hood and deep threat Mack Hollins.
“They’re aware of that,” Fedora said. “They’re excited about it. They’ve got a pretty good blueprint of what they need to do. Time will tell.”
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