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CHAPEL HILL -- As far as anyone knows, McNeese State has not displaced Duke or N.C. State on North Carolina's list of rivals. And a win over the Cowboys would not guarantee the Tar Heels a berth in a BCS bowl game.

It just kind of seems that way when UNC coach Butch Davis talks about it.

"There is nothing in the world more important than the first game of the season," he said. "Nothing."

That's hyperbole even by coaching standards, but it's a calculated exaggeration, one Davis feels is necessary to help the Tar Heels stay focused and combat the sudden surge in expectations for their 2008 season.

In the preseason, UNC has been picked to finish second in the ACC's Coastal Division, behind 2007 league champion Virginia Tech. The school has sold the most season tickets in its history, more than even in the halcyon days of Mack Brown. One intrepid Web site even ranked the Tar Heels No. 5 in its preseason poll -- its national poll.

That may all seem a bit out of whack for a team that won just four games last season, but Davis isn't shying away from the preseason love.

"There's an awful lot of buzz and excitement about the program," he said. "I think our football program has done a good job of continuing to build momentum."

The trick now is validating that hype. That means validating several assumptions that have played a big role in the growing expectations in Chapel Hill.

Assumption No. 1 is that UNC, after trying numerous candidates in 2007, has found its workhorse running back -- sophomore Greg Little. It's based on what Little did in the final two games of last season, when he rushed for a total of 243 yards. Of course, 154 of those yards came against a Duke squad that ranked 84th nationally in run defense.

Still, the Tar Heels believe they've found their man. The versatile Little believes he's finally found a position. Having four starting offensive linemen back doesn't hurt, either.

"It's just one of those things where you turn on the film and it looks like he belongs at running back," said senior middle linebacker Mark Paschal. "It came very naturally to him."

Things seemed to come very naturally to quarterback T. J. Yates in the early portion of 2007. But after throwing for nine touchdowns in his the first three starts of his college career, Yates managed only five more in the remaining nine games. During that period he also threw 15 interceptions. He then had offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder.

Assumption No. 2 is that a healthy Yates will take the next step this season and become one of the ACC's top quarterbacks. Yates, who said his shoulder feels fully recovered, will have talented targets in wideouts Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate. Perhaps just as important is Yates' belief that he's a smarter quarterback going into his second season in offensive coordinator John Shoop's system and should be able to make more pre-snap reads.

"I think this year I'll be able to make a decision quicker because I'll have it figured out in my head earlier," Yates said.

Assumption No. 3 is that a defense that went through serious growing pains last year will be better because of how many young players gained experience in 2007.

"There's a change in our expectations of them," Davis said of his young players. "And fortunately, there's a change in expectations by them."

It should not be overlooked though, that the three starters lost from last year's unit -- end Hilee Taylor, tackle Kentwan Balmer and linebacker Durrell Mapp -- were arguably the Tar Heels' top three defenders. To offset that loss, young talents such as sophomore tackle Marvin Austin need to become consistent performers.

"Kentwan took a whole lot of pressure off me. They double-teamed him a lot," Austin said. "But I'm looking forward to double-teams. I feel like if you don't do it, you're disrespecting me."

Austin and the rest of the Tar Heels know that respect, unlike preseason hype, is something that must be earned. Otherwise those lofty expectations will quickly turn to bitter disappointment.

SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS

Coach: Butch Davis (55-28 overall, 4-8 in one season at UNC)

2007 record: 4-8 overall, 3-5 ACC (4th Coastal)

Home field: Kenan Stadium (60,000), Chapel Hill

KEY QUESTIONS FOR NORTH CAROLINA

Who's going to rush the passer?

While Marvin Austin is expected to ease the loss of DT Kentwan Balmer to the NFL, the successor to Carolina Panthers DE Hilee Taylor and his 10.5 sacks is less clear. Darrius Massenburg will replace Taylor in the lineup, but at 300 pounds, he's certainly not a speed rusher as 245-pound Taylor was.

Who's going to make most of the tackles?

It's a startling drop-off from last year's tackles leader Durrell Mapp (132) to the runner-up, Trimane Goddard (59). Sophomore Quan Sturdivant is the best bet to progress into a solid linebacker for the Heels. Getting back senior Chase Rice, who missed 2007 with an injured ankle, also helps.

Has the RB carousel finally stopped spinning?

Greg Little is the clear No. 1, but Butch Davis has been adamant that he'll need other contributors. Ryan Houston has slimmed down from 250 pounds in the offseason, but should still be able to do the between-the-tackles bruising to complement Little.

What's the biggest concern for QB T.J. Yates?

The obvious answer would be his throwing shoulder after offseason surgery. A bigger issue may actually be keeping Yates' shoulder -- and the rest of his body -- from taking the kind of beating it did in 2007, when UNC gave up 37 sacks. A big key will be Yates' ability to make quicker decisions in the pocket, something he seems to have improved.

Will UNC live up to the preseason hype?

Does anything ever match the hype? Still, given the weakness of the ACC's Coastal Division, it's possible that the Heels could play below their potential and still win their fair share of games. Every team in the division is vulnerable, including Virginia Tech. Expect a decent bowl this year for UNC.

-- Compiled by Jim Young

2007 results

James Madison W 37-14

at East Carolina L 34-31

Virginia L 22-20

at South Florida L 37-10

at Virginia Tech L 17-10

Miami W 33-27

South Carolina L 21-15

at Wake Forest L 37-10

Maryland W 16-13

at N.C. State L 31-27

at Georgia Tech L 27-25

Duke W 20-14 (OT)

Schedule

Today -- McNeese State, 6

Sept. 11 -- at Rutgers, 7:30 (ESPN)

Sept. 20 -- Virginia Tech

Sept. 27 -- at Miami

Oct. 4 -- Connecticut

Oct. 11 -- Notre Dame

Oct. 18 -- at Virginia

Oct. 25 -- Boston College

Nov. 8 -- Georgia Tech

Nov. 15 -- at Maryland

Nov. 22 -- N.C. State

Nov. 29 -- at Duke All kickoff times TBA unless noted

NORTH CAROLINA INFO

Tickets: A limited number of $50 single-game tickets are available for the Connecticut, Boston College and Georgia Tech games. Call (919) 962-2296.

Official Web site: tarheelblue.cstv.com

Local radio affiliates: WTHZ-94.1, WBAG-1150, WLXN-1440

Coach's TV show: 9 a.m. Saturdays (Fox Sports Net)

Offense

Pos. NO. PLAYER HT. WT. YR.

WR 88 Hakeem Nicks 6-1 210 Jr.

3 Kenton Thornton 6-5 230 Jr.

LT 72 Kyle Jolly 6-6 300 Jr.

71 Carl Gaskins 6-5 295 R-Fr.

LG 76 Bryon Bishop 6-4 310 Jr.

70 Alan Pelc 6-6 325 So.

C 73 Aaron Stahl 6-2 290 Jr.

69 Lowell Dyer 6-4 290 Jr.

RG 79 Calvin Darrity 6-3 310 Sr.

77 Kevin Bryant 6-7 340 R-Fr.

RT 75 Garrett Reynolds 6-7 310 Sr.

66 Mike Ingersoll 6-5 300 So.

TE 89 Richard Quinn 6-4 260 Sr.

17 Zack Pianalto 6-4 250 So.

WR 87 Brandon Tate 6-1 195 Sr.

1 Brooks Foster 6-3 205 So.

QB 13 T.J. Yates 6-3 215 Jr.

11 Cam Sexton 6-1 190 Jr.

FB 4 Bobby Rome 5-11 245 Sr.

6 Anthony Elzy 5-10 205 So.

RB 8 Greg Little 6-3 220 So.

32 Ryan Houston 6-2 240 So.

K 18 Jay Wooten 6-3 185 R-Fr.

Defense

Pos. NO. PLAYER HT. WT. YR.

E 92 E.J. Wilson 6-2 280 Jr.

84 Vince Jacobs 6-7 235 So.

T 9 Marvin Austin 6-3 300 So.

91 Tydreke Powell 6-3 300 R-Fr.

T 93 Cam Thomas 6-3 330 Jr.

97 Aleric Mullins 6-3 300 Jr.

E 98 Darrius Massenburg 6-4 300 Jr.

95 Greg Elleby 6-5 290 Jr.

WLB 52 Quan Sturdivant 6-2 235 So.

47 Zach Brown 6-2 220 Fr.

MLB 41 Mark Paschal 6-0 230 Sr.

36 Kennedy Tinsley 6-0 220 Jr.

SLB 54 Bruce Carter 6-3 230 So.

or 44 Chase Rice 6-3 220 So.

CB 23 Jordan Hemby 5-10 185 Jr.

or 12 Charles Brown 5-10 200 So.

SS 31 Trimane Goddard 5-11 200 Sr.

21 Da'Norris Seary 6-0 200 So.

FS 27 Deunta Williams 6-2 205 So.

10 Melvin Williams 6-0 195 Jr.

CB 16 Kendrick Burney 5-9 185 So.

34 Johnny White 5-10 205 So.

P 19 Terrence Brown 6-3 190 Sr.