Hunter Bailey
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host of the @hwy49podcast covering charlotte 49ers & hornets. journalizin’ since 2018.
Articles by Hunter Bailey
What We Learned From Charlotte’s First Win Snap Counts & All-22: Offensive Line Improves, Harrell Delivers
Charlotte wins when Conner Harrell rushes for touchdowns. Credit: Charlotte Athletics In Charlotte’s first victory of the season against the Temple Owls, the 49ers played 70 offensive snaps, and just 62 defensive snaps, concluding the action in victory formation at Lincoln Financial Field. The all-22 is always easier to watch after a win, and this week’s film offered plenty of encouraging signs for a team searching for offensive answers.
Grades: Charlotte Survives Shootout with Temple, First FBS Win for Tim Albin
When Conner Harrell rushes for touchdowns, Charlotte wins. Credit: Charlotte Athletics It had been 399 days since Tim Albin and the Charlotte 49ers celebrated a victory. On Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field, Charlotte (1-6, 1-2 American) finally broke through with a career-best performance from quarterback Conner Harrell, taking down the Temple Owls (2-5, 1-2 American) on the road, 38-31.
Temple Preview: Conner Harrell’s Second Start + Q&A with Owls Beat Writer Mike Livingston
Shoutout Sean Brown. Credit: Charlotte Athletics Looking for its first win of the season and first in 15 games, Charlotte (0-6, 0-2 American) heads north this weekend to face Temple (2-4, 1-1 American) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. In the first half of a double-dip weekend for Charlotte teams in Philly (the Panthers face the Eagles on Sunday), the 49ers and Owls will meet for the fourth time.
What We Learned From Charlotte’s Week 6 Snap Counts & All-22: Harrell Raises The Floor, O-Line Concerns Persist
Credit: Ryan Amstutz (GOAT) - Charlotte Athletics In Charlotte’s lopsided 50-10 loss to North Texas, the 49ers ran 59 offensive snaps and 72 defensive snaps. The Mean Green used a 30-point second quarter to turn a one-score game into a rout. Let’s dive into the snap counts, observations, and a few offensive bright spots from an otherwise brutal defensive showing.
What We Learned From Charlotte’s Week 5 Snap Counts & All-22: Why Henry Rutledge Needs More Touches
In Charlotte’s rock-bottom 59-8 loss to Memphis, the 49ers ran just 42 offensive snaps while their defense was forced to play a season-high 92. It marked the third straight game Charlotte’s defense has been on the field for more than 80 snaps, a trend that is becoming unsustainable. Let’s dive into the snap counts, observations, and a few bright spots from an otherwise extremely forgettable football game.
Who’s Visiting? 116 Recruits on Campus for Charlotte’s American Conference Opener vs. Memphis
Credit: Charlotte Athletics Another Saturday, another Charlotte football game and a packed sideline at the Rich, with 116 prospects flooding McColl-Richardson Field as Memphis comes to town to kick off American Conference play. With the game moved up to 11 a.m. (from 3:30 p.m.) due to impending weather, Charlotte has a major opportunity to make a statement both on the field and on the recruiting trail.
Memphis Preview: Quarterbacks, Charles Huff Quotes and Q&A with Tigers Beat Writer Jonah Dylan
Charlotte opens conference play on Saturday morning (11 AM kick) with questions at quarterback, renewed scrutiny on the offense, and a difficult test against Memphis. Credit: Ryan Amstutz/Charlotte Athletics American Conference play is here, and the Charlotte 49ers are searching for answers after an 0-4 start. They’ll get their first chance Saturday morning against Memphis (3-1) on Homecoming Weekend, with kickoff moving to 11 a.m. on ESPN+ because of expected inclement weather.
What We Learned From Charlotte’s Week 4 Snap Counts & All-22: Offensive Problems Run Deeper Than The Score
Charlotte has now scored two-straight defensive touchdowns, dating back to Appalachian State in Week 3. Credit: Charlotte Athletics In Charlotte’s ugly 34-7 loss to Louisiana, the 49ers played just 47 snaps on offense and 82 on defense, with the Ragin’ Cajuns more than doubling the 49ers‘ time of possession. Let’s dive into the snap counts, observations, and a few defensive bright spots from an otherwise brutal offensive showing.
Grades: It's Time for a Change on Charlotte's Offense
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Four games into the 2026 season, that is exactly what Charlotte head coach Tim Albin is doing. Week after week, the 49ers continue to put the same product on the field offensively. The faces change. The quarterbacks rotate. The results don’t. One week, the offense shows flashes. The next, special teams makes a play.
Who’s Visiting? Breaking Down Charlotte’s 87-Recruit Visitor List vs. Louisiana
While not an ideal start for Charlotte in 2026, high school prospects will continue to pour onto the Richardson Stadium sideline on Saturday night as Tim Albin and the 49ers host the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. Charlotte is slated to host 87 prospects this weekend, spanning from the 2027 class to 2030, and including two potential JUCO transfers. Over half (47) of the visitors are from the state of North Carolina, with 10 total states represented.
Louisiana Preview: Five Things To Watch In Final Non-Conference Game
It feels good to be home, and barring any unforeseen thunderstorms, it will feel good to be asleep before midnight on Saturday night. It’s shaping up to be a beautiful day for football (75 and sunny) and family day this weekend, with Charlotte (0-3) hosting Sun Belt team Louisiana (2-1) at 6:30 PM on ESPN+. This is the first meeting between the two programs, kicking off a home-and-home with the return game scheduled in Lafayette in 2032.
Kevin White Talks Tim Albin, Revenue Sharing, Stadium Expansion And More In Wide-Ranging Q&A
Three games into the 2026 season and 15 games into the Tim Albin era, Charlotte athletic director Kevin White isn’t wavering.
What We Learned From Charlotte's Week 3 Snap Counts & All-22: Pressure Mounts on Offense
Stats never lie, until they do. Saturday night’s rain-delayed game, kicking off over three and a half hours later than originally scheduled, was one of the weirdest college football games I have covered. Appalachian State largely controlled the game, but penalties, turnovers and a handful of timely defensive stops allowed Charlotte to hang around long enough to make the final minutes interesting.
Clock Strikes Midnight: Appalachian State Escapes Charlotte In Late-Night Clash, 26-21
Delayed over three and a half hours, the latest kickoff in Charlotte’s program history turned into more of the same for Tim Albin and the 49ers, losing at the hands of Appalachian State, 26-21. Despite a late-game pick-six by Charlotte’s Collin Gill, which pulled the 49ers within five points, it was too little, too late, as the Mountaineers recovered the ensuing onside kick and closed out the game in victory formation.
Appalachian State Preview: Can Albin Change The Tide In Boone?
It’s not a rivalry if one side has never won. That’s where Charlotte finds itself matching up with Appalachian State in Boone on Saturday at 6 PM on ESPN+. Meeting for the fifth time and second in the last two seasons, Tim Albin and the Charlotte 49ers (0-2) are in desperate need of a signature win against the Mountaineers (2-0). Biff Poggi beat East Carolina both times. Will Healy took the program bowling and got as close as any 49ers coach to taking down the Mountaineers.
What We Learned From Charlotte's Week 2 Snap Counts & All-22: A New CB2, Clarity at QB, and Reps Available at RB
Credit: Charlotte Athletics A snap count sheet can tell you a lot about what a coaching staff really thinks. Charlotte’s 41-9 loss at No. 8 Ole Miss provided another week of evidence, revealing which players have earned the staff’s trust, which young players are climbing the depth chart and where key position battles remain unsettled entering Saturday’s trip to Appalachian State.
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Grades: Charlotte Shows Progress, Leaves Points Behind in 41-9 Loss to Ole Miss
Credit: Charlotte Athletics One step forward. Two steps back. That was the story of Charlotte’s (0-2) trip to Oxford, where the 49ers flashed enough offensive competence to suggest progress under Tim Albin, but repeatedly undermined themselves in key situations during a 41-9 loss to No. 9 Ole Miss (2-0). Great drive against an SEC defense? Immediately stop doing what worked to get into scoring position. Goal-to-go situation?
Ole Miss Preview: Money Game, Mismatches and What to Watch
Credit: Charlotte Athletics Happy Ole Miss week, folks. In what should have 100% been a noon kickoff, the Charlotte 49ers (0-1) are headed to Oxford this weekend for their lone Power Four clash this season, taking on Trinidad Chambliss and the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels (1-0), Saturday night at 7:45 on ESPN2. This is the first of two scheduled matchups between the programs, with Charlotte returning to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to open the 2027 season.
What We Learned From Charlotte's Week 1 Snap Counts: Hampton Emerges In Season Opener
Despite a frustrating loss to The Citadel, Jaylen Hampton, Cole Gonzales and several newcomers provided reasons for optimism.
The Prestige: Same Script, Different Cast for Charlotte Football
Credit: Charlotte Athletics Most of the time, I love rewatching old movies. Sometimes you pick up new things, understand plot wrinkles that you may have missed when you were too young, or just not watching. I’ve quoted quite a few Christopher Nolan films lately and will do so again here with a 2006 release, The Prestige. In the film, every magic trick has three acts: The Pledge, The Turn, and The Prestige. First, you show the audience something ordinary. Then you make it disappear.
Charlotte Hosting Over 60 Prospects for Season Opener Against The Citadel
The visitor list includes three Class of 2027 commits, dozens of North Carolina prospects and talent from five states as Tim Albin's staff looks to build recruiting momentum.
The Wait Is Over: Charlotte Opens 2026 Against The Citadel
Game week in the 704. Credit: Charlotte Athletics Nine long months have come and gone since Charlotte last took the field at Richardson Stadium, but as the grills begin to fire, cans start cracking, and annual tailgate traditions resume, we’ll all be together again. Saturday is meaningful in plenty of ways for Charlotte’s program as it prepares to kick off its 14th season. It’s Tim Albin’s second season as head man. It’s the first time fans will see tangible progress on the stadium expansion.
The Wait Is Over: Charlotte Opens 2026 Against The Citadel
Game week in the 704. Credit: Charlotte Athletics Nine long months have come and gone since Charlotte last took the field at Richardson Stadium, but as the grills begin to fire, cans start cracking, and annual tailgate traditions resume, we’ll all be together again. Saturday is meaningful in plenty of ways for Charlotte’s program as it prepares to kick off its 14th season. It’s Tim Albin’s second season as head man. It’s the first time fans will see tangible progress on the stadium expansion.
Year Two Under Tim Albin: Season Preview, Players to Watch, Depth Chart Prediction
RB Chance Williams. Credit: Kelli Blackburn / Charlotte Athletics Football is back, folks. With Week 0 already underway, we’re just one week away from Charlotte football returning to Richardson Stadium. If you’ve followed my offseason and training camp coverage, much of this won’t be new. But stick around until the end for my projected two-deep depth chart. And if you haven’t been keeping up with the 49ers this offseason, consider this your primer.
Cole Gonzales Named Charlotte’s Starting Quarterback
Cole Gonzales (9). Credit: Charlotte Athletics Another season, and another transfer quarterback taking the reins for Charlotte, with head coach Tim Albin landing on Western Carolina/Pittsburgh transfer Cole Gonzales as the 49ers’ Week 1 starter, first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Albin and offensive coordinator Todd Fitch recruited Gonzales hard ahead of their first year at Charlotte, with Gonzales ultimately following his OC, Kade Bell, from Western Carolina to Pittsburgh.
Cole Gonzales Named Charlotte’s Starting Quarterback
Cole Gonzales (9). Credit: Charlotte Athletics Another season, and another transfer quarterback taking the reins for Charlotte, with head coach Tim Alin landing on Western Carolina/Pittsburgh transfer Cole Gonzales as the 49ers’ Week 1 starter, first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Albin and offensive coordinator Todd Fitch recruited Gonzales hard ahead of their first year at Charlotte, with Gonzales ultimately following his OC, Kade Bell, from Western Carolina to Pittsburgh.
Every Batman Needs a Robin
The 49ers know who some of their defensive Batmen are. These under-the-radar contributors could be just as important to Charlotte's success this fall.
Mid-Camp Mailbag: Early Answers, Lingering Questions for Charlotte
Credit: Charlotte Athletics The first half of Charlotte’s training camp is in the books, and the pieces of Tim Albin’s second-year puzzle are beginning to come together at Richardson Stadium. With just over two weeks until the season opener against The Citadel, we’re beginning to get a clearer picture of who will play major roles and who could emerge as valuable depth pieces.
Charlotte Training Camp Day 1: Conner Harrell update, quarterback pecking order, and early observations
Credit: Charlotte Athletics There was a noticeably different feel around Jerry Richardson Stadium as Charlotte opened training camp Wednesday morning. Progress was the recurring theme, both on the field and around the program. Construction continues on the stadium’s upper deck and renovated entrance, while head coach Tim Albin enters his second season looking to guide the 49ers forward after a difficult 2025 campaign.
Training Camp Position Battles To Watch: Defense and Special Teams
Credit: Ryan Amstutz/Charlotte Athletics Happy training camp week, folks. As we count down the days until the pads begin to pop, let’s talk about position battles to watch on defense and special teams. There’s a lot to unpack here, but much like Tim Albin’s outlook on the offensive line, new faces in the secondary are more of a necessity than a concern. The offense had its obvious storylines, but the secondary might be where camp’s fiercest competition resides.
Charlotte 49ers Fan Survey: Expectations for Tim Albin's Second Season, the Quarterback Battle and More
Credit: Charlotte Athletics With what was a year to forget for the Charlotte 49ers in the rearview, Tim Albin and his second-iteration roster are gearing up for redemption as training camp approaches. From quarterback intrigue and pressure on the coaching staff to position battles across the roster and newcomers looking to make their mark, plenty of storylines are set to unfold once the pads come on. Let us know what you think.
Training Camp Position Battles To Watch: Offense
Credit: Ryan Amstutz/Charlotte Athletics We’re all the same, really. Simple creatures of habit and routine. Decorating for the holidays. Ordering the same meal at your favorite restaurant. Watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Returning to the traditions that mark the passage of time. But every year, right about the time the calendar flips to August, something changes. Everyone reading this knows the feeling.
How Charlotte Changed Alex Highsmith's Life, and Why He Keeps Coming Back
You hear all the time about how money, success, and fame can change a person. We see it everywhere: artists struggling to recapture the magic of a breakout album, directors chasing the formula that made their debut a box-office sensation, athletes searching for a way to recreate the season that put them on the map. Then you sit down with someone like Alex Highsmith. As a freshman at Charlotte, Highsmith wasn’t a can’t-miss prospect or a future NFL star.
Charlotte Football Coverage Isn't Going Anywhere
It’s always a weird feeling to start typing, or in this case, scribbling your thoughts down on a piece of paper for the first time in a while. I can’t even tell you the last time I sat down to write something that I planned to share with others, so here goes. Reality is beginning to creep in on the print media industry, and if it hasn’t been evident to my readers over the past few years, I’ll clarify.
What’s next for Charlotte 49ers football as spring workouts come to a close
Spring practice is in the books for Tim Albin and the Charlotte 49ers as they enter year two of his tenure, aiming to rebound from a one-win 2025 season. Saturday’s 15th and final session marked their last full-team work until fall camp opens in early August. A recent transfer portal rule change eliminated the post-spring window — a shift Albin welcomes — meaning the roster is largely set.
Inside the Charlotte 49ers football QB room: Competition to be No. 1 is strong
Charlotte 49ers quarterback Cole Gonzales participates in drills during a spring practice on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Saturday afternoon’s open practice ushered in Charlotte’s final week of spring ball, as the gates of Jerry Richardson Stadium swung open to give fans their first close look at Tim Albin’s second-year roster.
Charlotte football’s defense in focus as 49ers reach midway point of spring work
While the road was undoubtedly bumpy for Nate Faanes and Charlotte’s defense last season, there’s a growing sense of excitement for the 49ers as Faanes enters his second year as defensive coordinator. Faanes, who followed head coach Tim Albin from Ohio after spending eight seasons on the Bobcats’ staff, got his first shot as defensive coordinator last year. Fast-forward five months since the 2025 season concluded.
Charlotte football's defense in focus as 49ers reach midway point of spring work
While the road was undoubtedly bumpy for Nate Faanes and Charlotte's defense last season, there's a growing sense of excitement for the 49ers as Faanes enters his second year as defensive coordinator. Faanes, who followed head coach Tim Albin from Ohio after spending eight seasons on the Bobcats' staff, got his first shot as defensive coordinator last year. Fast-forward five months since the 2025 season concluded.
Charlotte FC falls to Nashville at home after late rally falls short Original
A tale of two halves is a phrase that could encapsulate much of Charlotte FC's hot start to the season, but Saturday night against Nashville SC wouldn't fit the bill. This was a much shorter story, say, a tale of the 90th minute on, and then the struggle that was the rest of the evening at Bank of America Stadium, with Charlotte falling to Nashville, 2-1.
New-look offense taking shape in spring practices Original
Through two weeks of Charlotte's spring football session, the 49ers are beginning to find an identity on offense. And after last season's struggles, it's not what you may think. After rushing for just 81.8 yards per game last season, the worst in the American Conference, Tim Albin and offensive coordinator Todd Fitch have completely revamped the offensive line and added three new running backs to the fold. Charlotte 49ers head coach Tim Albin during the 2025 season.
Inside Charlotte 49ers football's first week of 2026 spring practice Original
The first week of spring practice has come and gone for coach Tim Albin and the Charlotte 49ers, who put on pads for the first time Saturday morning. Despite no true "live" periods, the energy was high for Albin's Year 2 roster, with linebacker Kadin Schmitz's playlist pumping a mix of Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Eminem, BigXthaPlug, and even some Pearl Jam as the sun shined down on Richardson Stadium.
He understands basketball in NC: Charlotte 49ers introduce coach Wes Miller
Hunter Bailey Wes Miller was introduced as Charlotte's new men's basketball coach Wednesday afternoon at Halton Arena in front of hundreds of fans, university administrators, support staff, and, most importantly, players currently on the roster. With the transfer portal opening April 7, after the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament, Miller spoke as directly as possible to current 49ers players, who stood out in a room full of green and gold. “I am completely overwhelmed by all of you showing up.
'Unbelievable energy' as Charlotte 49ers open spring football practice Original
The Charlotte 49ers took the field for the first of 15 spring practices on Tuesday morning, gearing up for the second year under head coach Tim Albin. The chilly March morning saw temperatures rise between the white lines, Albin's best Ric Flair "woo!" impressions during the stretch periods, 52 returnees and 46 newcomers looking to gel, and a team looking to drastically improve with less than six months until the season opener against The Citadel. "From a year ago to now - wow.
Charlotte 49ers to hire Cincinnati's Wes Miller as next men's basketball coach Original
Less than a week after parting ways head basketball coach Aaron Fearne, the Charlotte 49ers have hired former Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller as the program's next men's basketball coach, according to multiple reports. Miller, known in the Carolinas for his 10-year stint with UNC Greensboro, was fired last week by Cincinnati at the end of a disappointing season in which the Bearcats finished seventh in the Big 12.
Top storylines as Charlotte 49ers open spring football practice Original
The Charlotte 49ers open their five-week spring practice session Tuesday morning, kicking off the first of 15 workouts ahead of Tim Albin's second year in command. With a new athletic director and a roster reshaped by transfers, expectations are rising fast for Albin as he enters a pivotal second season, posting just one win in 2025.
Four candidates who could replace Charlotte 49ers basketball coach Aaron Fearne Original
It has been a busy week inside Halton Arena, where the Charlotte 49ers moved on from head men's basketball head coach Aaron Fearne and opened the first coaching search in the American Conference on Tuesday. Less than a month after starting his new role, athletic director Kevin White made his first personnel change, moving on from Fearne following three seasons and a 47-51 record with the 49ers.
Charlotte 49ers' March Madness run ends with loss to USF in American semifinal Original
Charlotte 49ers head coach Aaron Fearne, left, speaks with guard/forward Damoni Harrison, right, during a November 2025 game at Halton Arena. jsiner@charlotteobserver.com The Charlotte 49ers' second-half magic finally ran out Saturday afternoon as they fell to the No. 1 seed South Florida Bulls in the American Conference Tournament semifinals, 86-64.
Canes come up short vs. Virginia in ACC semis, eye NCAA bid Original
The Miami Hurricanes’ ACC tournament run came to a close on Friday night, losing in the semifinals to the No. 2 seed Virginia Cavaliers, 84-62. After a thrilling matchup in Charlottesville last month, the Hurricanes couldn’t replicate that effort — falling behind by 15 points late in the first half and failing to cut Virginia’s lead to single digits in the final 20 minutes.
UM beats Louisville 78-73 to advance to ACC tournament semifinals
Hunter Bailey The Miami Hurricanes tipped off their run in the ACC Tournament with a victory on Thursday afternoon, taking down the No. 24 Louisville Cardinals in a quarterfinal thriller, 78-73. After failing to qualify for the conference tournament just one season ago, first-year head coach Jai Lucas' Canes will clash with the Virginia Cavaliers with a chance to advance to Saturday's Championship game tomorrow night at 7 PM on ESPN.
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