Well... there's been a slight change of plans for the UNC football program
Minnesota started a chess match, and the UNC football program has decided to match it.
Per UNC: Since Minnesota won’t release a depth chart, the Tar Heels have decided not to as well. So we won’t know who wins the QB job into the first offensive play in the opener.
— Tar Heel Illustrated (@HeelIllustrated) August 17, 2024
Since PJ Fleck and the Gophers will not release an official depth chart prior to the August 29 season opener, neither will Mack Brown and the Tar Heels.
Yes, this means we won't know who the UNC football program's starting quarterback will be until game time.
Now, Brown has been on the record this offseason essentially stating how he's not "one of those" who will make you wait to see until game time. However, Minnesota has seemingly made the Hall of Fame coach alter his style a bit leading up to the start of the 2024 season.
Mack Brown in July: “I’ve never been one of those that said you’ll see at game time. Mark Packer said I’m supposed to tell you when the huddle breaks in the first game – then you’ll know who the starting quarterback is.”
— Shelby Swanson (she/her) (@shelbymswanson) August 17, 2024
Looks like UNC is going the @MarkPacker route after all! https://t.co/mK3zefXqhl
Previously, the belief was that the UNC football program would publicly announce its starting quarterback about 7-10 days before the season opener. Now, we likely won't know until shortly before game time, as it will be the best kept secret in Chapel Hill until then.
Sure, we all get the strategy behind it. Why give Minnesota extra time to game plan for a certain quarterback when you can force their hand to prepare for at least two (or three) different options.
However, we are all anxious to find out who has won the starting quarterback gig, so we could blame PJ Fleck and Minnesota for starting this chess match leading up to the season opener in a little over a week.
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