Photo by Chris Crews
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTHERN MISS 路 OCT. 24, 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.
7 p.m. 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 24, Southern Miss 34
“Kalif Phillips and the 49er offense found a rhythm against Old Dominion. However, the pass defense will have its hands full with Southern Miss quarterback Nick Mullens.”
at Charlotte, N.C.
Noon SATURDAY, OCT. 31
Marshall
at Charlotte, N.C.
TBA SATURDAY, NOV. 7
FIU
at Miami, Fla.
Noon SATURDAY, NOV. 14
UTSA
at Charlotte, N.C.
2 p.m. SATURDAY, NOV. 21
Kentucky
at Lexington, Ky.
TBA SATURDAY, NOV. 28
FINAL SCORE: CHAR 17, Southern Miss 13
“The Charlotte 49ers are celebrating homecoming which should give the team added motivation. Behind a stout defense, the 49ers win at home”
Rice
at Houston, Texas
3:30 p.m.
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Tweet us your predictions to @NT_Sports using #CHARSoMIssPicks
GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION
THE 49ERS LOOK TO SNAP A FOUR-GAME LOSING STREAK ON HOMECOMING AGAINST SOUTHERN MISS MATT CHAPMAN SPORTS EDITOR
The Charlotte 49ers will return to Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday afternoon still in search of their first Conference USA victory. The Niners welcome the Golden Eagles of Southern Miss to the Queen City with hopes of putting on a show and extinguishing past homecoming demons. Charlotte (2-4, 0-3 C-USA) could bounce back from last week’s heartbreaking loss on the road against Old Dominion in one of two ways. Hopefully for Niner Nation, the team will continue to build on Saturday’s 536-yard offensive outburst instead of sulking after a disappointing defeat. “We’ve got to get right back in the saddle,” said 49er head coach Brad Lambert after the loss to the Monarchs. “We’ve got to get right back at it Monday morning. I have no issue with how hard our team works. They show up and work every week and that’s what we have to do to continue to keep getting better and show team’s that we can play in this league.” Charlotte ranked near the bottom of the conference in scoring and passing before last Saturday’s explosion on offense. All three quarterbacks have seen extensive playing time, but redshirt junior Lee McNeill appears to have settled in as the starter at the midway point of the 2015 season. McNeill struggled mightily in his first two starts, but bounced back and managed the game well against Old Dominion. McNeill completed 23-of-33 pass attempts for 231 yards, providing just enough of a threat through the air to open things up for the 49ers’ ferocious rushing attack. “We’ve practiced really hard the past couple weeks and I feel like I’m getting more comfortable with the offense and getting used to the speed of the game,” said McNeill after his performance Saturday.
The 49ers take the field before the 2014 homecoming game. NT file photo
“We’ve played some really good teams this year and we’ve played some great defenses. I feel like it’s just an experience curve.” McNeill’s job as quarterback becomes much easier when Kalif Phillips is carving up defenses the way he has in three consecutive games now. Phillips leads all C-USA running backs with over 700 yards rushing through six games this season. Charlotte’s workhorse in the backfield recorded his first multitouchdown game of 2015 and set a new school record with 204 yards on the ground against the Monarchs. “Kalif has done this every game since he’s been here. Maybe we shouldn’t take him out of the game and just give him the ball more,” said Lambert when asked about his stud running back. “I would never say it’s just me because it’s never just me on the
field,” added Phillips. “I give all the credit to my offensive linemen and at the end of the day I just have to finish.” Phillips spearheads the Niner rushing attack, but he isn’t the only one who got the job done on the ground Saturday afternoon. West Virginia transfer Andrew Buie carried the ball seven times for 71 yards and scored his first touchdown in a 49er uniform. All in all, Charlotte racked up 309 yards and four touchdowns with the ground game against Old Dominion. The Golden Eagles (4-3, 2-1) will bring a lot of confidence into the Queen City, riding high off of a 32-10 homecoming victory of their own against the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners. Southern Miss’s three losses have come against the likes of Mississippi State, Nebraska and Marshall, three teams with
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTHERN MISS · OCT. 24, 2015
legitimate bowl game aspirations come December. Southern Miss is led by junior quarterback Nick Mullens who must be licking his chops after watching the 49ers’ secondary struggle to contain Old Dominion’s league-worst passing offense. Mullens ranks second in C-USA with 2,348 passing yards and 17 touchdown throws. The 49ers have been a bit Jekyll and Hyde in the secondary this season, holding three teams under 150 passing yards, while also getting torched by Middle Tennessee and Old Dominion. Expect another heavy dose of Phillips and Charlotte’s multifaceted rushing attack against the Golden Eagles, who rank near the bottom of the league in defending against the run.
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49ERS FUMBLE AWAY FIRST C-USA VICTORY The 49ers dropped their fourth straight game in a 37-34 loss on the road against Old Dominion
MATT CHAPMAN SPORTS EDITOR
The Charlotte 49ers went into Foreman Field, nearly crashed homecoming and came within a field goal of notching their first Conference USA victory in program history against the Old Dominion Monarchs on Saturday afternoon. On a day on which Old Dominion’s Ray Lawry entered the game as the leading rusher in C-USA, it was 49er running back Kalif Phillips that stole the show, found the end zone twice and broke his own school record with 204 rushing yards. However, it wasn’t enough as the Monarchs stormed back in the second half and scored the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes and change left on the clock to capture a thrilling 37-34 win. “I was upset, but I told our guys that we’re a good football team,” said Charlotte head coach Brad Lambert after the game. “We’re playing with every team we’re playing against, but we’ve got to finish. We had this one and we let it get away at the end. We can’t put it on the ground at the end and we have to make plays in critical situations when we have those opportunities.” Charlotte’s offense that hadn’t scored a touchdown in the last 10 quarters of football exploded for 536 total yards, spearheaded by Phillips and the rest of the Niner rushing attack that churned out over 300 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Quarterback Lee McNeill managed the offense well and made some timely throws as the 49ers converted on 12-of-22 third down attempts. The 49ers (2-4, 0-3 C-USA) wasted no time attacking the Monarch defense with a nineplay, 64-yard drive on their opening possession of the contest. McNeill utilized the play-action pass with Old Dominion expecting the run and marched the 49ers into scoring territory where Phillips finished things off with a one-yard burst up the middle for the touchdown. Phillips’s score gave Charlotte its first lead in over a month and helped the offense gain some desperately needed confidence. The Monarchs (3-3, 1-1 C-USA) showed plenty of fight and answered immediately when wideoutturned-quarterback David Washington tossed a 53-yard bomb over the top of the Niner defense to stud receiver Zach Pascal. Charlotte managed to cling to a 7-6 advantage however, as Jalen Holt blocked the extra point attempt. The 49ers continued to find open lanes in the running game late in the opening quarter and
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Andrew Buie took his turn gashing the Old Dominion defense. Buie, a graduate transfer from West Virginia, gave the Niners a 14-6 lead with 4:54 left in the first quarter when he punched it in from the goal-line for his first touchdown in a Charlotte uniform. The team’s went back-and-forth, trading a few field goals before Phillips broke free again with his second touchdown, a 36-yard scamper late in the first half that pushed Charlotte’s lead to double-digits. The 49ers had an opportunity take command and stun the homecoming crowd, but couldn’t capitalize on a Terrence Winchester Kalif Phillips leads the C-USA in rushing yards. NT file photo interception and had to settle for a 24-12 halftime lead. “Kalif has done this every game since he’s Charlotte in Old Dominion territory. Offensive been here,” said Lambert when asked about his coordinator Jeff Mullen worked the clock, handing star running back. “Maybe we shouldn’t take him the ball to Phillips five consecutive plays. Phillips out of the game and just give him the ball more.” eclipsed the 200-yard mark for the first time in The Niners once again squandered a chance to his career and set the 49ers up with third-andgo up by three scores on the first possession of the goal at the one yard-line. Mullen inserted Johnson second half when McNeill made his lone mistake into the game at quarterback for the third down of the afternoon and tossed an interception play and called a fade route to the back of the end right into the hands of safety C.J. Bradshaw. zone. It was only Johnson’s second pass attempt McNeill’s turnover didn’t translate directly into of the afternoon and it sailed over the receiver’s points, but it did allow the Monarchs to gain head, forcing Charlotte to settle for a chip-shot a little momentum and score 10 unanswered field goal and a 34-29 lead late in the game. third quarter points to cut the 49er lead to 24-22 Old Dominion’s new quarterback Washington heading into the fourth quarter. was stellar with the game on the line. Washington Charlotte didn’t crumble under the pressure guided the Monarchs on a nine-play, 75-yard drive of the Old Dominion comeback as the Niners and tossed the game-winning touchdown pass to marched the ball 79 yards down the field on Pascal who made another ridiculous grab in the the back of Phillips. The junior back carried the back corner of the end zone. Pascal racked up 49ers all the way to the goal-line and backup 231 receiving yards on 11 grabs, but none more quarterback Matt Johnson capped the drive with important than his third touchdown of the game a one-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal. that gave Old Dominion its first lead of the day. Johnson looked good carrying the ball seven times “We’ve got to get back in the saddle,” added for 42 yards after suffering a concussion late in Lambert. September against Florida Atlantic. “We’ve got to get right back at it Monday Unfortunately for Niner Nation, the game morning. I have no issue with how hard our team turned in the blink of an eye when Buie took a works. They show up and work every week and hard hit and coughed up the football deep inside that’s what we’ve got to continue to do to continue Charlotte territory with a nine-point lead and to keep getting better and show people that we 9:46 left on the clock. That’s when Pascal began can play in this league.” to take over, delivering an acrobatic, diving catch Charlotte will need to rally behind what is for a touchdown on a crucial third down midway sure to be a raucous homecoming crowd at Jerry through the final quarter to cut the 49er lead to Richardson Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24. The two points again. 49ers continue their search for their first C-USA The Niners were gifted another opportunity to victory when they host the Southern Miss Golden seal the game when the Monarchs inexplicably Eagles at noon. faked a punt and failed, turning the ball over to
GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTHERN MISS 路 OCT. 24, 2015
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HOMECOMING
2015
NT file photos
Homecoming is back and better than ever. The festivities begin on Wednesday and culminate Saturday when the 49ers host James Madison MATT CHAPMAN
Photo by Chris Crews
SPORTS EDITOR
Homecoming is quite possibly the biggest event to take place on a college campus throughout the school year. All the festivities and school spirit build up to an exciting culmination on Saturday afternoon at the annual homecoming football game. UNC Charlotte got its first taste of a true homecoming in 2013 with the arrival of the university’s brand new football program. Prior to 2013, Charlotte students were forced to celebrate the tradition in dreary February during basketball season. The addition of the Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band and the new tailgating layout should take the 2015 homecoming to another level. The party gets started on Monday with the first annual 49er Kickoff pep rally in the CHHS/COED Plaza at 6 p.m., followed by the Homecoming
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Comedy Show featuring Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson at 8 p.m. on the third floor of the Student Union. Admission is free to all UNC Charlotte students with a valid student I.D. The festivities continue with a pair of events at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Niner Idol, UNC Charlotte’s take on the “American Idol” singing competition, will take place in the Student Activity Center Salons. If singing competitions aren’t your cup of tea, head out to Transamerica Field to watch the Charlotte 49ers men’s soccer team do battle with the Virgina Tech Hokies of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wednesday, Oct. 21 is the Day of Service. Head out to the CHHS/COED Plaza between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to help the University reach its goal of collecting 4,900 pounds of food for the campus food pantry. Any student that brings two cans of food will receive a free homecoming T-shirt. Things turn up another notch on Thursday night the annual Basketball Madness event inside Halton Arena at 9 p.m. Get your first look at the 2015-16 men’s and women’s Charlotte 49ers basketball squads. Head coaches Mark Price and Cara Consuegra introduce their teams and the players will compete in skill competitions and possibly even a slam dunk contest. The homecoming ceremony kicks into high gear on Friday night with the annual homecoming parade throughout campus at 6:30 p.m. Various viewing stations will be set up with bleachers, vendors, judges and announcers. After the parade you can head to the student union and enjoy Campus Activites Board’s annual Union Takeover, or make your way back to Transamerica Field for another thrilling 49er soccer match against the South Carolina Gamecocks. The party kicks off early Saturday morning with the homecoming tailgate scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., three hours prior to the noon kickoff between the 49ers and Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Come out and experience the new student tailgating village and witness as the marching band leads the cheerleaders, dance team, players and coaches on the Niner Walk through campus to Jerry Richardson Stadium. The 49ers are currently on a four-game losing skid since opening the season 2-0 and the team needs a raucous crowd to pack Richardson Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Charlotte came within a field goal of upsetting Old Dominion last weekend for their first C-USA victory and will get back in the saddle again this week hoping to shock another C-USA squad. 49er running back Kalif Phillips is having a monster season and will likely put on a show against one of the worst rush defenses in the league. The Royal Court will be presented at halftime, followed by the crowning of Mr. and Miss UNC Charlotte to conclude the ceremony.
GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION
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.
CAMPUS ENTRANCES AND LOT INFORMATION 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.
LOT CONTRABAND 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.
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.
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTHERN MISS 路 OCT. 24, 2015
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GOLDRUSH 路 A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION