Tar Heels turn to Dailey

Coach John Bunting chooses Joe Dailey, who started 11 games for Nebraska in '04, over redshirt freshman Cam Sexton

CHAPEL HILL -- It took a move from the Midwest, a season on the sidelines, and fierce competition behind center, but Nebraska transfer Joe Dailey is back on top of the depth chart -- this time, for North Carolina.

"Joe's earned the right to start," UNC coach John Bunting said Tuesday, ending months of speculation about who would be the Tar Heels' No. 1 quarterback. "Cam [Sexton, a redshirt freshman] has earned the right to play."

Dailey, a junior who fell to as low as fourth string for the Cornhuskers after starting 11 games in 2004, edged Sexton because of his experience, decision making and grasp of Carolina's new offense, Bunting said.

The coaches have not yet determined how much each of the competitors will play during Saturday's season-opener against Rutgers. Bunting said, however, that he would like to fashion the system somewhat like Louisville's two-quarterback rotation in 2004. That year, Cardinals senior Stefan LeFors started and threw 257 passes; freshman Brian Brohm threw 98 passes.

"Right now, it's not like it was in '01 where we had a two-series rotation," said Bunting, who told the quarterbacks of his decision on Monday. "We're not there; we're not at that point."

No matter how many snaps he gets, Dailey said he wants to "disprove all rumors" about his ability after transferring from Nebraska.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound signal-caller went to the Cornhusker State from Jersey City, N.J., in 2003 to run the triple option under coach Frank Solich. But Solich was fired after Dailey's freshman season and was replaced by Bill Callahan, who ditched the option in favor of a pro-style West Coast scheme.

Dailey, a naturally mobile quarterback, tried to conform. He wore a large armband with a cheat sheet of plays and often was summoned to the sidelines to confer with coaches before snaps, according to a column in the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald. But despite his studying, he never grew comfortable with Callahan's attack, throwing for 2,025 yards and 17 touchdowns -- but also 19 interceptions.

The Huskers finished 5-6 that season, their first losing campaign since 1961. Dailey became an easy target to blame in the corn-fed pressure-cooker, and when he fell to fourth on the depth chart the next spring, he decided to transfer -- eventually choosing UNC over Rutgers.

Under NCAA transfer rules, he could not play last season.

"I'd say Joe Dailey looked at that experience in a positive way and has grown from it," UNC offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti said.

What's grown, too, is his ability to run the West Coast offense. UNC's new attack is less complicated than the one he ran at Nebraska, Dailey has said. Plus, this time around, he said, "I feel as though coach Cignetti has put an offense together that makes it real easy for the quarterbacks."

Dailey's commitment has helped, too.

Wide receiver Jesse Holley said he arrived at the players' lounge in Kenan Stadium at 8 a.m. on a holiday last spring only to find Dailey already there, head buried in the playbook.

"I said 'Joe, go home, go to sleep,' " Holley said. "And he's like, 'Nah, I've got to study, I've got to get this stuff down.' "

Obviously, he has.

"It didn't come out the way I wanted it to, but that's the way it works sometimes," said Sexton, who sat out last season after breaking his right ankle. Cignetti said that in practice, Sexton will continue to take roughly three of every eight snaps with the first team, while Dailey will take five.

Sexton plans to be ready to play at a moment's notice.

"I'm going to support Joe and support this team because I want to win -- more than I wanted to win the quarterback position," he said.

As for Dailey, he expects a crowd of family and friends from New Jersey to attend Saturday's game at Kenan Stadium. All will be celebrating his comeback to the top of the depth chart.

"The only thing that changes is that I have a title now," Dailey said. "... It's not set in stone, but it's a title nonetheless and I've got to go to work."

BRIEFLY: Bunting said sophomore Mark Paschal will start at middle linebacker, although senior Victor Worsley has earned time there, as well. Junior Durell Mapp is still listed as an "or" at the 'Will' linebacker position with sophomore Chase Rice because Mapp has been limited by a sprained right knee.