WATCH: North Carolina football releases hype video ahead of season opener

The North Carolina Tar Heels and Florida A&M Rattlers finally got their pre-game issues sorted out on Friday and their game is set to get kickoff on Saturday at 8:15 PM EST on ACC Network. It’s the season opener for both teams and their matchup is on the opening weekend of the 2022 college football season. The Tar Heels dropped a hype video ahead of the matchup to get their fans amped up and it’s narrated by former UNC running back A.J. Blue.

Check it out.

It’s time to play some ball 🐏#CarolinaFootball 🏈 @ReedsJewelers pic.twitter.com/kDSEg7X0bn

— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) August 26, 2022

Here is the transcribed version of what Blue narrates at the beginning of the video.

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“I want you to close your eyes real quick. Close your eyes for me and ask yourself. Why? Why are you here? Why do you play this game? Do every lift. Winter workout. Summer conditioning. And practice. Why do you keep coming out? Why do you keep showing up? Every drop of sweat that you sacrifice. What is that all for? I’ll tell you why. It’s for every single soul that’s gonna be in Keenan Stadium. So you can represent this great University! To make your family proud. Every single second you’ve given to this team since January. That’s why. Remember that in your heart and soul. Remember your why in every inch of your bones. And when you step out onto that field Saturday night. Show…them…why,” Blue said in the first minute of the video. Then, the video went into a series of highlights from last season, including some electrifying catches from their superstar receiver, Josh Downs.

Season opener between North Carolina and Florida A&M will be played after all

The season opener between North Carolina and Florida A&M will be played, after all. On Friday, reports emerged on Friday that the Rattlers were going to be short a number of players, putting the game in jeopardy.

According to various reports, the Rattlers were going to be without 20 players against North Carolina and have fewer than 10 offensive linemen available — and being shorthanded, especially up front, put the game in doubt. But ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the game will be played, according to a Florida A&M spokesperson. On3’s Matt Zenitz also confirmed the news.

Further reporting from ABC 27’s Alison Posey offered more context into the issue. Florida A&M is going to be shorthanded because certain players aren’t certified as eligible to compete yet for a variety of reasons: academics, transferring in, and more. Rattlers head coach Willie Simmons told Posey that the decision on whether or not to travel to Chapel Hill and play rests with the players who will be putting it on the line.

On3’s Andrew Graham also contributed to this article.