Irish have quite a fight coming with UNC

Notre Dame is 4-1 and there are signs of life in South Bend. But before we trumpet the return of the Irish to the national rankings, they will have to get by Butch Davis’ young North Carolina team Saturday in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels (4-1), who cracked the AP rankings at 23 this week, has just the type of secondary that can challenge Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Carolina already has 12 interceptions. The Heels are 1-16 all time against Notre Dame and the two teams have not met since 1975, when Joe Montana led the Irish to a come-from-behind 24-14 victory at Chapel Hill. • Speaking of Carolina, 6-5 starting senior guard Marcus Ginyard - the team’s best defensive player - will be out for eight weeks with a stress fracture in his right foot, which may push 6-6 senior Danny Green from sixth man into the starting lineup, • Over at Duke, the Blue Devils should soon celebrate the decision by 6-10 forward Ryan Kelly of Ravenscroft Academy in Raleigh to commit to the ... (link)