Goldrush: September 29 vs Temple

Photo by Ben Robson

CHARLOTTE VS. TEMPLE 路 OCT. 2, 2015

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UNC CHARLOTTE FOOTBALL 2015 FRIDAY, SEPT. 4

Georgia State at Atlanta, Ga.

3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 12

STAFF PICKS

Presbyterian at Charlotte, N.C.

Noon SATURDAY, SEPT. 19

Middle Tennessee at Murfreesboro, Tenn.

7 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 26

Florida Atlantic at Charlotte, N.C.

GAME-DAY TAILGATING EDEN CREAMER GUEST WRITER

With the launch of a new football program, the need for an official policy regarding tailgating at the university becomes necessary.

As the university revved up for football, a tailgating policy was created to make sure students and fans have the most fun possible while being safe. These rules and regulations are meant to maximize safety and comfort for all that attend.

Tailgating rules and regulations are completely broken down in University Policy 706, Alcoholic Beverages.

Any violation of this policy may cause students and campus guests revoked tailgating rights, criminal prosecution, disciplinary action through the Office of Student Conduct if the violator is a UNC Charlotte student and/or trespassing charges should the individual be a campus guest.

7 p.m.

CAMPUS ENTRANCES AND LOT INFORMATION

FRIDAY, OCT. 2

Temple

at Charlotte, N.C.

7 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 17

Old Dominion at Norfolk, Va.

3:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 24

Southern Miss

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 7, Temple 34

“Charlotte nearly pulled the upset against Florida Atlantic despite seven turnovers. Temple is the best team the 49ers have played in program history and a win will be tough to come by.”

at Charlotte, N.C.

Noon SATURDAY, OCT. 31

Marshall

at Charlotte, N.C.

TBA SATURDAY, NOV. 7

LOT CONTRABAND

FIU

at Miami, Fla.

12 p.m.

Kegs, glass containers, drinking games, devices used to accelerate the consumption of alcohol, grills in parking decks and on brick pavers, open pit fires, staked tents, household furniture and animals are prohibited.

SATURDAY, NOV 14

UTSA

at Charlotte, N.C.

TBA SATURDAY, NOV 21

Kentucky

at Lexington, Ky.

TBA SATURDAY, NOV 28

Rice

at Houston, Texas

TBA

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All entrances except the main entrance and the John Kirk Road entrance will be closed five hours prior to kickoff. Game-day entrances open four hours prior to kickoff.

Parking and tailgating will be available in lots 5, 5A, 6, 7, 7A, 14, 18, 19, 23, 25, 27 and CRI 2 and 3. Decks available for parking are Union Deck, Cone Deck 1 and 2, West Deck and CRI Deck. Oncampus residents not attending the game can park in East Deck 2 and 3 or North Deck.

Students who live on campus who normally park in lots designated for tailgating for football game-day parking will be required to move their vehicles to an alternative parking location the night before a home game. If there are any cars in the parking lots as of midnight on game day, the vehicle will be automatically towed.

Tailgating areas will open four hours prior to the game.

Tailgating at halftime and during the game time is prohibited, and tailgaters will be encouraged to vacate lots. Lots must also be evacuated no later than two hours after the end of the game.

FINAL SCORE: CHAR 13, Temple 31

“Charlotte looked stellar defensively against FAU but the lack of offensive production will continue to curb the 49ers going forward.”

Tweet us your predictions to @NT_Sports using #CHARTEMPPicks

STADIUM CONTRABAND Tobacco products, other drugs, alcohol of all kinds and weaponry are prohibited.

Football patrons will be permitted to bring empty, clear, plastic bottles into the stadium to fill with water at designated fill stations, but other beverages will be prohibited.

The complete University Policy 706 is available online. Tailgaters are encouraged to read this policy prior to game-day.

GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

GAME DAY IN THE QUEEN CITY Niner Nation packed Jerry Richardson Stadium as football continues to grow

MATT CHAPMAN SPORTS EDITOR

When I first stepped foot onto the campus of UNC Charlotte four years ago, 49er football fever ravished Niner Nation like a plague of biblical proportions. I’ve been blessed beyond belief with the opportunity to cover this program since its inception, witnessing moments that will live on forever in the history books and deep in the Niner Times archives.

Memories from the scene of the inaugural game against Campbell in 2013 showcased the potential of Charlotte as a college football haven. However, the electric atmosphere flowing through the stadium Saturday night served as the culmination of decades of patience and perserverence. A record-setting crowd of 17,444 rowdy Niner fans clad in black filled Jerry Richardson Stadium past capacity as the Charlotte 49ers took center stage for the first time as members of Conference USA. As I walked through campus a couple of hours before kickoff, I got my first taste of what makes college football Saturdays in the South such a unique experience. The newly-erected lights towered above stadium, providing the perfect

backdrop for hours of tailgating festivities. Music bellowed from the speakers, the aroma of food fresh off the grill filled the air and students and alumni joined together to welcome the Niners as the brand new Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band led the traditional Niner Walk through the tailgating village, up to the stadium.

“It was unbelievable,” said 49ers head coach Brad Lambert when asked about his thoughts on the crowd after the game.

“Once again the Niner Walk was a great atmosphere. The student body was unbelievable tonight. It was a lot of fun from the time we got off the bus until the end of the game. Once again, our fanbase hasn’t disappointed since I’ve been here in 2011. They’ve come out and supported us and it was a really, really good environment tonight.”

Lack of attendence caused a good deal of concern last year as interest appeared to dwindle during Charlotte’s final season at the Football Championship Subdivision level. The absence of stadium lights resulted in noon kickoffs in the sweltering heat for games against schools most

fans had never heard of. The designated student tailgating lots were located on the opposite side of campus, isolated from the alumni and nearly a mile away from the venue itself.

Thankfully the differences in 2015 have been literally and figuratively night and day. Fans no longer have to wake up at the crack of dawn to allow ample time for tailgating. The brand new 49er Village, a lot near the stadium lined with tents, has brought students and alumni together, fostering the opportunity to establish a culture for all future members of Niner Nation as the program continues to grow.

Rob Dibble, ‘96 alumnus and mastermind behind the Normbulance, spoke with me about the new fan experience before the game. Dibble’s ambulance has been established as the tailgating epicenter since the first game in 2013.

“When I look back, I see the first two years as us trying to figure out what we were doing,” said Dibble.

“Over the last couple years the students have been way away from everything. The reality is you have to make it fun. I think the first couple years

A record setting crowd of over 17,000 fans filled Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday to witness the first home game under the lights. Photo by Chris Crews

CHARLOTTE VS. TEMPLE · OCT. 2, 2015

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we didn’t do a good job of that for the students.

We have a lot of students that walk by the Normbulance and see us. I think that’s powerful because they see alumni that are invested in this university and are proud to have graduated from Charlotte. Hopefully what this does is tell students that it’s okay to be passionate. There are alumni here that want to be part of the student experience and love giving back to the university.”

I also spoke with Niner Nation Gold President Brian Pearlman who gave me a little insight into the benefits of the new tailgate set up from a

student’s perspective.

“I think the new tailgating community does a couple things that are pretty cool,” Pearlman explained.

“Everyone’s a lot closer together here and it forces people to interact. Fraternity tailgates used to be seperate from non-fraternity tailgates, but now they’re interacting. Also, it’s so much closer to the stadium so now we’re right here in the middle of it.”

Niner Nation has a lot to be excited about with a team that has matured quickly behind a defense

that has been lights out in three of four games this season. Austin Duke and Kalif Phillips have home run ability on offense and the 49ers could shock some people if they find a quarterback that can take care of the football.

The alumni provide the tradition and establish the tone, but it’s up to the students to take pride in their school and provide the noise and passion that make Charlotte’s opponents dread taking the trip to the Queen City.

Left: 49er fans showed up dressed in black to match the team’s uniforms on the field.

Right: Coach Lambert enjoys his time in the tailgating village during the Niner Walk.

Photos by Chris Crews and Ben Robson

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GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

49ERS PREPARE FOR TEMPLE After a stellar defensive performance against FAU, Charlotte readies themselves as they host Temple, Friday night at Jerry Richardson Stadium

ANDY GUSTAFSON STAFF WRITER

Charlotte parades out of the tunnel. Photo by Chris Crews

The Charlotte 49ers (2-2) will look to bounce back this Friday, Oct. 2, against the Temple Owls (3-0) under the lights. In front of a sold out Jerry Richardson Stadium, the 49ers defense rebounded against Florida Atlantic, forcing five turnovers.

However, Charlotte couldn’t play a complete game as the offense turned the ball over seven times, ultimately losing to Florida Atlantic 17-7.

The Charlotte defense led the charge Saturday against FAU. After a rough showing against Middle Tennessee, the 49ers’ defense only gave up 205 total yards and scored the lone touchdown. Tank Norman’s pick-six nearly sparked a comeback, but offensive troubles plagued Charlotte all game. Head coach Brad Lambert commented on the defensive effort.

“I was really proud of them because they bounced back after last week. I thought they refocused on what they had to do.”

Charlotte made another change at quarterback this past weekend, but the results were the same. Junior, Lee McNeill made his first start, finishing with four interceptions. Charlotte gave fellow junior Matt Johnson an opportunity, but two of three passes were picked off by the Owls.

Coach Lambert commented on the recent performances from the Charlotte Quarterbacks.

“It’s not very good. We’ve got to continue to get better there and take care of the ball. Part of that was the weather, but we’ve got to value the ball better. It’s amazing we had a shot to win the game at the end.”

A bright spot for the 49ers’ offense would be the play of running back Kalif Phillips, finishing with 165 rushing yards. Phillips running would provide more than half of the total yards for Charlotte Saturday night.

Charlotte will have a lot to prepare for on a short

week against a talented Temple squad. The Owls are undefeated this season, including wins against Penn State and Cincinnati. Phillips and the rest of the 49er squad will have less running room, as Temple ranks 12th in the nation against the run. As for the Temple offense, they are well-balanced, ranking in the middle of the pack in passing and rushing in the nation.

A few keys to the game for Charlotte would be protecting the ball and continuing the defensive momentum created from the Florida Atlantic game.

If Charlotte continues to turn the ball over five times a game, then victories will be few and far in between.

Charlotte currently has the third worst turnover margin in the nation. Perhaps keeping the ball on the ground would help the Charlotte offense maintain possession.

The 49ers must rely on the defense to carry the load until the offense finds their rhythm. Scoring points from the defesive side of the football isn’t the easiest task, but Charlotte found a way to score seven off a turnover in the game against FAU. The Niners allowed a yard per rush attempt against Florida Atlantic last week. Repeating a defensive performance like the one Saturday night will prove to be a difficult task, but one that can be accomplished. Also, the 49ers found success in Florida Atlantic’s backfield, generating three sacks and nine tackles for loss.

After a strong start to the season, Charlotte has hit a rough patch in their schedule, dropping the last two games. The 49ers must find stability at the quarterback position if Lambert wants to continue the progression of the young football program. Jerry Richardson Stadium is sure to repeat another as a great environment as Charlotte plays its next game under the lights on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.

CHARLOTTE VS. TEMPLE · OCT. 2, 2015

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GOLDRUSH 路 A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION

Turnover troubles haunt Charlotte 49ers in 17-7 loss at the hands of Florida Atlantic Seven turnovers overshadow defensive performance in the first Charlotte night game MATT CHAPMAN SPORTS EDITOR

A record-setting crowd of over 17,000 fans packed Jerry Richardson Stadium for the first time under the lights on Saturday night and witnessed a gutsy defensive performance in the pouring rain.

The Charlotte 49ers nearly rallied behind a Tank Norman pick-six in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t overcome seven turnovers in a 17-7 loss against Florida Atlantic.

“Our defense was really humming and I was really proud of those guys.

They played extremely hard and got five turnovers,” said 49ers head coach Brad Lambert after the game.

“I was really proud of them because they bounced back after last week. I thought they refocused on what they had to do … I was really proud of their effort and how they played.”

The Niner defense stifled the Owls all night as the front seven wreaked havoc in the backfield led by nose tackle Larry Ogunjobi who had a career night with 11 tackles, including four behind the line of scrimmage.

Charlotte (2-2, 0-2 Conference USA) held Florida Atlantic under 200 total yards and forced five turnovers a mere seven days after allowing 42 points in the first quarter against Middle Tennessee.

“I think the game against Middle was a really bad showing,” said Ogunjobi.

“I feel like a lot of people got the wrong impression of us. I feel like tonight we showed up and showed everyone what type of defense we’re trying to be.”

Charlotte’s defense produced the only touchdown of the contest for the home team. In fact, Saturday marked the first game in program history where the 49ers’ offense failed to find the end zone.

Running back Kalif Phillips broke

Tank Norman returns an interception 28 yards for the only 49ers touchdown. Photo by Chris Crews

Things got chippy between the two teams in a hard-hitting defensive slugfest. Photo by Ben Robson

free for 165 rushing yards on 29 touches and Lambert commented after the game that maybe they should have fed him the ball more.

“I thought Kalif was running extremely hard and our offensive line was obviously blocking them pretty well,” said Lambert.

“The o-line was giving me everything they could. I’m not a stats person and the offensive line gave me everything that I got,” added Phillips after the game.

Phillips provided the only spark on offense as the two Charlotte

quarterbacks combined for 89 yards on 34 pass attempts and three fourth quarter interceptions.

Lee McNeill made his first start of the season, becoming the third different starting quarterback in four games. McNeill had no luck pushing the ball down the field, accounting for four turnovers and a pick-six with under two minutes to play that sealed the loss.

Matt Johnson played sporadically throughout the night, but didn’t fare any better. Johnson only threw the ball three times and two of those

CHARLOTTE VS. TEMPLE · OCT. 2, 2015

passes were intercepted.

Coach Lambert was very blunt with his assessment of the quarterback play after the game.

“It’s not very good. We’ve got to continue to get better there and take care of the ball. Part of that was the weather, but we’ve got to value the ball better. It’s amazing we had a shot to win the game at the end.”

Curiously, redshirt freshman quarterback Brooks Barden didn’t see the field after starting each of the past two weeks. Barden struggled in his first two collegiate games, but has the tools to develop given some playing time in a dynamic 49ers offense that boasts two home run threats.

Charlotte’s quarterback carousel continues until someone showcases the ability to take care of the football.

“We’ve got to remember … this team (FAU) was battling Miami two weeks ago,” added Lambert as the press conference came to a conclusion.

“This was game 26 for us in the history of our school. Our guys are battling and we go out there every day to win the game, that’s why we show up to play. Middle Tennessee, we’re watching them against Alabama. We’re watching FAU against Miami. These teams have been in big ball games for a while now, so I’m proud of our guys and the way they continue to grow. We’ve got a lot of things moving in the right direction, but we have to finish that game and win it. We’ve always got to keep that in mind.”

The 49ers will welcome the Temple Owls (3-0) to the Queen City on Friday, Oct. 2.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with the game being televised nationally on the CBS College Sports Network.

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CHARLOTTE VS. TEMPLE 路 OCT. 2, 2015

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