CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Former North Carolina standouts William Henderson and Brian Simmons will join play-by-play voice Jones Angell and sideline reporter Lee Pace as analysts on Tar Heel Sports Network football broadcasts in 2016. Henderson will handle commentary duties for eight of the 12 regular season contests, with Simmons providing analysis on the four remaining games. In addition, former Tar Heel Jeff Saturday will return to the THSN broadcasts as a pregame contributor.
“We are so excited to have William, Jeff and Brian as a part of our broadcast team this year,” Angell said. “To have three people as accomplished as they are on and off the field will enhance the listening experience for Carolina fans. Their knowledge of the game and passion for Carolina will be enormous assets to the broadcast.”
A fullback from Virginia, Henderson was a third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 1995 NFL Draft. He went on to spend his entire 12-year career with the Packers, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2004 and playing for the Green Bay team that won Super Bowl XXXI.
“As a former Tar Heel student-athlete it’s always been a pleasure to shed light on how special the UNC athletics experience truly is,” Henderson said. “That’s why I can’t wait to join the Tar Heel Sports Network broadcast and help you experience Carolina football through my eyes. This year I hope to share in a most special season. Go Heels!”
An outside linebacker from New Bern who earned first-team All-America honors in 1997 as part of UNC’s fearsome defense, Simmons helped lift Carolina to national prominence. After finishing his Tar Heel career with 36 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, Simmons was the No. 17 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and spent parts of 10 seasons in the league, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals.
“I’m just as excited to join Jones and the Tar Heel Sports Network team for four games this season as I was to be a player at the University of North Carolina,” Simmons said.
A native of Atlanta, Saturday was a two-time first-team All-ACC center at Carolina before playing 14 seasons in the NFL. After entering the league as an undrafted free agent, Saturday was a six-time Pro Bowler with the Indianapolis Colts and the Green Bay Packers. He famously scored a touchdown in the 2007 AFC Championship Game before helping the Colts to a win over the Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
“I’m excited to be back with the Tar Heel Sports Network this season covering Carolina football,” Saturday said. “The University of North Carolina and Tar Heel football have had a such a large and positive influence on both my career and personal life. It is special for me to be able to stay connected to the program in this way.”
“We are very excited to have William and Brian join our broadcast crew and serve alongside Jones Angell,” said Chuck Schroeder, general manager for Learfield’s Tar Heel Sports Properties, multimedia rights holder for UNC Athletics. “With respect to Jeff, having him back on board as a contributor is terrific. These three care deeply about the University of North Carolina and Carolina Football. That passion will be noticed on the broadcasts. I’m ready to listen to their calls this fall.”
Carolina opens the 2016 season on Saturday in Atlanta against Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.