UNC Football: Larry Fedora decides against Spring Game

UNC wont play a Spring Football game in 2018 due to a few reasons

For the first time in a long time, the North Carolina Tar Heels football program won’t be having a Spring Game. Instead of playing in the Spring Game for 2018, the team will use the time for some extra practice.

With Carolina Blue seat backs being installed into Kenan Memorial Stadium, it put the Tar Heels in a time crunch for the Spring Game. But that wasn’t the only reason.

Head coach Larry Fedora made the announcement this week, telling reporters that he wanted to use the time for more practice as they prepare for the 2018 season.

“The other reason is to be able to have another scrimmage,” Fedora said via Inside Carolina at practice. “I can get a whole lot more plays and get what I need for our team at this point… We’ll probably get twice as many plays and get in situations we need to help our team get better. It was a combination of both.”

The game was scheduled to take place in April, with construction at Kenan Memorial Stadium still planned.

Spring games are a tradition around the country and give the fans their first look at the team for the upcoming season. There’s usually events going on all day around the football stadium.

While it’s a loss for the fans, Fedora sees it as an opportunity to get some more work in.

The Tar Heels are coming off the worst season in Fedora’s six-year tenure at UNC finishing 2017 at 3-9 with one Atlantic Coast Conference win. They need to turn things around after pulling in a solid recruiting class this year.

It could hurt recruiting, however.

The Spring Game is also an event that recruits can attend to see the facilities, program and team but with no game this year it takes away another opportunity for the recruits.

UNC has already had eight practices this Spring and will hold another eight with the finale coming on April 14th.

They open training camp in August and will play on the road at Cal and East Carolina in their first two games of the 2018 season.

Next: UNC adds Liberty series to schedule

For more on the Tar Heels football program please check back with Keeping It Heel.