CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina hasn't played many Thursday football games, but kicking off at Rutgers tonight, on this particular date, adds extra significance to the event.

"It's going to be special playing up in that area on 9/11,'' UNC senior linebacker Mark Paschal said. "We're so blessed to be able to play this game in front of people that want to watch it, and it's crazy that it's been so long, but with the war and everything that's going on, it's going to have a little more meaning playing in that area on that day."

Seven years have passed since terrorists crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center, killing more that 2,700 people.

In memory of the attacks, the Scarlet Knights will hold several events to recognize victims and the 4,000 soldiers from the New Jersey National Guard who are serving overseas. Mini American flags will be distributed to fans as they enter the stadium, an Army general will escort the Rutgers captains onto the field for the coin toss and a military jet will fly over over a moment of silence and the national anthem.

"Nobody really, truly had to go through as much of the pain and suffering, and deal with the drama, as much as the metropolitan New York area,'' UNC coach Butch Davis said. "... It affects everybody, and we're certainly in support of ... Rutgers showing support for the police department, fire department and all the people that lost their lives. That day will live in the history of America as significantly as Pearl Harbor."

KENAN ON THURSDAY? Davis has said he'd like to see Kenan Stadium host a Thursday night football game someday. But whether that will ever happen remains in doubt.

Senior associate athletics director Larry Gallo said that because of the on-campus location of the stadium, the hospital nearby and night classes in session, it has become an "accepted practice" not to host because the traffic and parking flow would be disruptive to campus.

"It would be exciting to have a game here, ... but we do have some limitations," he said. "... A lot of people say 'What's the big difference with basketball and football?' Well, 20,000 vs. 60,000. So, 40 [thousand]."

Davis said Tuesday he didn't know if the coming expansion to Kenan Stadium will change the chances of holding a Thursday night kickoff. But it would certainly help the program's reach and recruiting.

"There are programs in the country that have done phenomenal jobs on capitalizing on national exposure opportunities," Davis said Monday. "... Any time you get the chance to expose the country to what you're trying to do, what you're trying to build, the players who are playing, the type of schemes that you run, it attracts kids. So certainly part of that scenario is getting a chance to play on Thursday night."

UNC has played on Thursday road games five times since ESPN began its telecasts, going 3-2.

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