Last week, the Tar Heels announced the retirement of Darrell Moody from his position as the senior advisor to the head coach/pro liaison and that his replacement will be former Tar Heel linebacker and Tar Heel Sports Network football color analyst Brian Simmons. His move to the advisory staff means that the Tar Heels will be looking for a new color analyst to pair alongside play-by-play voice Jones Angell for this upcoming season. Here is a look at five names that we think should be considered for the position.
Jeff Schoettmer- Former Linebacker, Current Inside Carolina Podcast Host
Schoettmer is a star in the making that would be a great fit alongside Angell. His Inside Carolina podcast (Calling the Schoetts in 2022, Schoett & Vipp in 2023) has been an amazing listen for Tar Heel fans over the past couple of seasons and he does a great job of explaining the game through an audio platform. His knowledge of the program is about as good as anyone’s right now and he has great energy that would fit perfectly on the broadcast. This one makes a lot of sense to us if he is interested.
Deems May- Former Tight End, Current Pre/Postgame Analyst
This would probably be the easiest move, but there has to be the question of whether or not May wants to stay in the role that he is in now. That role is an extremely important one as he brings an honest assessment in both the pregame and postgame that makes them entertaining to listen to, especially for those in the car on the way back home from the games. He would likely bring that same mindset to the booth, which would certainly be entertaining to listen to.
Taylor Vippolis- Former Wide Receiver, Current Inside Carolina and Dan Le Batard Show Contributor
Vippolis is one of the more polarizing figures in the Tar Heel football community, but there is no questioning his knowledge of the program. Vippolis has been involved with covering the football and basketball programs in some capacity since 2016 and has been very fair and honest in his assessments of both teams. The biggest question would be is he interested in this job with all that he is doing for the Dan Le Batard Show out of Miami? If he is, this would be a well-versed, knowledgeable option for the job.
Joe Jauch- Former Wide Receiver, Current Game Analyst for Liberty Radio Network
Jauch called the 2022 trip to Boone against Appalachian State and brought an unreal level of energy for a game that deserved it. The question with him is whether or not he is willing to leave his current position. He is a branch manager of a mortgage company in Lynchburg that is strongly tied to the Liberty program, making it difficult for him to just up and leave. As an alumnus and a current color analyst, he has to be considered, but there are a lot of layers to this one.
Matt Merletti- Former Safety, Former WRAL Tar Heel Consultant
Merletti isn’t foreign to the broadcast community, but it has been a little while for him. He was the WRAL consultant for the team back in 2017, as he and Marilyn Payne would preview and recap games, but he stepped away from that role after one season. He is currently Benefits Consultant for Scott Insurance in Raleigh and he has a young family, so there is a lot on his plate. However, he is a natural and would be a strong option to consider.
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