March 19, 2007

Chapel Hill, N.C. ------ North Carolina head coach Butch Davis conducted his first official practice as a Tar Heel on Monday afternoon under sunny skies at Carolina's Navy practice fields. Davis was active throughout the two-hour session moving from station to station to work with specific position groups.

"I was pleased with the effort and enthusiasm of our players," said Davis. "We were fairly efficient and I think we became a better team today. That's our goal, to be better the next day than we were the previous day."

Last season's starting quarterback Joe Dailey headlined a group of players switching positions this spring. Dailey moved to wide receiver, but will still see some time under center.

"Joe is an electrifying athlete with speed and is a smart player," said Davis. "He knows the coverages from the quarterback position and I knew the transition would be relatively easy for him."

Davis first discussed the changes with Dailey prior to the holiday break in December. Dailey completed 112 of 195 attempts for 1,376 yards and seven touchdowns last season, but told Davis he would do whatever it took to win, even if that meant switching positions.

Other players switching positions include Joey Bozich to fullback, Anthony Parker-Boyd to running back, Deunta Williams to defensive back and Nick Starcevic to defensive end.

Parker-Boyd is one of several players vying for time in the backfield along with senior Justin Warren, sophomore Richie Rich and redshirt freshmen Anthony Elzy and Johnny White. Warren (7) and Rich (1) are the only two returning players with any carries. In last season's finale at Duke, Warren had a 45-yard touchdown run.

Davis also announced that offensive lineman Kenny Price and linebacker Logan Buchanan would receive medical hardships.

"Unfortunately both of those guys have reached the point with their careers where athletically and physically there is too much torture and too much pain," said Davis. "They're going to both remain on athletic scholarship. I know it's important to them to get their degree and to graduate."

The Tar Heels will return to the practice field on Wednesday. Carolina will hold its annual coaches clinic on Friday-Sunday, March 22-24.