Football

Charlotte 49ers news

By Mark Plemmons

Posted on August 25, 2015

Johnson to start at QB for 49ers

Sam Roberts, on the ladder, takes this year’s team photo at Jerry Richardson Stadium

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte 49ers head coach Brad Lambert, today, announced red-shirt junior Matt Johnson (Newton, N.C.) as the 49ers starting quarterback. Johnson started the bulk of the 49ers first two seasons, but missed the final three games of last year with injury.

The 49ers entered spring practice with an open competition between Johnson, red-shirt junior Lee McNeill, who started those final three games of 2014 and red-shirt freshman Brooks Barden, who sat out the 2014 season.

“I’ve been real pleased with how all three have handled the competition from the spring, through the summer and into the fall,” Lambert said. “Matt has worked extremely hard and has had a really strong camp. He really stepped up and earned the spot.”

Charlotte’s two-year old football program will make its debut at the FBS level as a member of Conference USA in 2015. The 49ers spent the first two years competing as an FCS Independent.

In his first two seasons, Johnson completed 340 of 596 passes for 4,522 yards and 34 touchdowns. He was a finalist for the 2013 Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the FCS First-Year Player of the Year. He owns all four of the 49ers’ 300-yard passing performances and threw for a record five TDs twice. He is also the 49ers second-leading rusher, with 801 career rushing yards.

The 49ers make their FBS debut, in a nationally-televised contest, Sept. 4 at Georgia State at 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU). Charlote will face Presbyterian in its home-opener, Sat. Sept. 12.

49ers on Time Warner Channel 22 in Mecklenburg

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Athletics and UNC Charlotte Cable Television have partnered up to broadcast 10 fall events which will reach over 500,000 Time Warner Cable and AT&T UVerse subscribers in the Charlotte region. Men’s soccer will have four of their home matches broadcast while women’s soccer and volleyball will each have three.

The broadcast can be seen on campus and in Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell counties through Time Warner Cable’s channel 22. Broadcast Communications, located on campus, provides television and video production services to the University community. The department is also responsible for the operation of the University’s cable television channel 22.

The broadcast on channel 22 will be a simulcast with http://www.charlotte49ers.tv online. Fans can watch all home athletic events online at http://www.charlotte49ers.tv. More athletic events may be added in the fall with winter and spring sport broadcasts planned for the 2015-16 season.

The first broadcast of the 10 will take place on Friday night as the women’s volleyball team hosts rival Davidson at 7:00 p.m. inside Halton Arena.

Live Broadcasts on TWC Channel 22

Friday, August 29 – Volleyball vs. Davidson (7pm)

Friday, Sept. 11 – Women’s Soccer vs. South Florida (5:30pm)

Monday, Sept. 21 – Volleyball vs. UTEP * (6pm)

Thursday, Oct. 1 – Volleyball vs. Southern Miss* (6pm)

Tuesday, Oct. 6 – Men’s Soccer vs. Clemson (7pm)

Friday, Oct. 9 – Women’s Soccer vs. North Texas* (7pm)

Sunday, Oct. 11 – Women’s Soccer vs. Rice* (1pm)

Tuesday, Oct. 20 – Men’s Soccer vs. Virginia Tech (7pm)

Friday, Oct. 23 – Men’s Soccer vs. South Carolina* (7pm)

Friday, Oct. 31 – Men’s Soccer vs. Kentucky* (7pm)