CHAPEL HILL-- In perfect 82-degree weather at the Bill Koman Practice Facility, North Carolina launched fall football practice with anticipation running high. The team has 20 sessions before game-week preparation for its season-opener versus South Carolina in Charlotte on September 2.

UNC, predicted by the ACC media to finish third in the conference, is primed for plenty of media attention with Heisman hopeful Drake Maye, the game versus the Gamecocks in primetime on ABC, and ESPN’s GameDay on hand as well.

The first day had the players in just helmets with shorts, as they will add shoulder pads for the fourth and fifth practices, before donning full pads for the sixth. The practice was structured to resemble game day, consisting of 17 periods in a four-quarter format, complete with breaks for TV timeouts and halftime.

Travis Shaw, a fan-favorite big man, was a notable figure, firing up his teammates with his infectious energy. Meanwhile, safety Will Hardy sat out due to a lower body injury but is expected to return by the opener.

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The Tar Heels demonstrated improved speed and energy. UNC Coach Mack Brown attributed this to the maturity of the team, stating, "We are an older team. We are more lean, we don't have heavy guys, we move around better. So, all the pieces are here to be good."

However, he also highlighted the newcomers, with ten players attending their first-ever college practice. Brown expressed excitement about this fresh talent.

“It's fun to see those 10 extra guys because we just haven't seen them,” he said.

The practice also offered a glimpse into the new offensive strategy under offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, including interchangeable wide receivers, multiple tight end packages, and a focus on the screen game. Brown emphasized, however, that the strategies employed should best fit the team, not necessarily what the well-traveled staff knows best.

Despite being only in helmets, the drills were intense, with physicality particularly evident in the linebacker drills. Brown, however, cautioned about the importance of maintaining health while ramping up the physicality.

For now, the main focus for Brown and the Tar Heels isn't the first game but overall team improvement. He stressed the importance of not becoming fixated on the first four games at the cost of overall development.

Last season saw UNC with a 9-5 record and an ACC Coastal Division title, but Brown is not resting on past laurels, expressing a desire for the team to perform even better.

He identified focus, organization, and energy as the critical elements of a good first practice, all of which were present in the Tar Heels' first fall practice.