CHAPEL HILL — As another consideration to UNC's youth, offensive coordinator John Shoop and defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano will be coaching from the sidelines during games this season, instead of from the press box.
"We talked long and hard about it; I think all the coordinators I've been around ... pretty much were in the press box, but you also had a much more veteran, experienced football team at all the different stops,'' head coach Butch Davis said Tuesday.
Shoop and Pagano considered coaching from the press box, where they can see the field and make adjustments. But with such an inexperienced offense, Shoop liked the idea of making eye contact with quarterbacks as he talked to them, Davis said. And Pagano figured he could make quicker tweaks on the field, too, Davis added.
Tight ends coach Steve Hagen and linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen were in the press box for Saturday's victory over James Madison.
"Now, it puts some pressure on people in the box; you've got to trust those guys, because they become the big eyes that are looking at the field, that can relay information,'' Davis said.
But so far, so good.
