The Raleigh area doesn't have a "sports" season. No, my friends, the pandemonium is year round!
Between professional teams and collegiate teams there is enough sports fever in the area to satisfy the MOST avid sports devotee...While I will not debate who is the best or which team I personally follow I will show you what we have and you can decide!
UNC TAR HEELS!
Basketball:
The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill boasts one of the finest Men's Basketball teams in the nation! A few of the accolades to mention are:
- The 1957 National Championship game versus Kansas was the only triple overtime contest in championship history.
- The Tar Heels have only reached the Final Four four times without winning the ACC Tournament (1993, 1995, 2000, 2005).
- UNC has appeared in 39 NCAA Tournaments, which ties them for second most all-time with UCLA behind Kentucky (48).
- UNC has been the number one seed in the NCAA Tournament 11 times, the latest being in 2007 (most #1 seeds all-time).
- UNC has been in the Sweet Sixteen 27 times, the latest being in 2007. The 27 appearances is the all-time NCAA record.
- UNC has been to the Final Four 16 times (2nd all-time).
- UNC has been ranked in the top 25 616 times (1st all-time).
- UNC has the most consecutive 20-win seasons, with 31.
- Brendan Haywood recorded the first triple-double in UNC History against the University of Miami December 4, 2001 with a 18 point, 14 rebound, and 10 blocks (also a UNC record) in the contest.
There have been quite a few basketball players from the Tar Heels that have gone on to shine well beyond their college years. You may have heard of one or two....
- Michael Jordan - ever hear of him? Does anyone know if he needs a new house?
- Larry Brown
- Walter Davis
- Brad Daugherty
- Matt Doherty
- Rick Fox
- James Worthy
Football:
A mention of UNC Chapel Hill must also include the The North Carolina Tar Heels football team. While the football team might not be quite as prominent as their basketball team it is most definitely a contender in the ACC Conference. The Tar Heels have participated in 25 Bowl Games and have won 5 Conference Championships. A few of the most notable notables include:
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first college team to use the forward pass in 1895
- The Tar Heels received 20 letters of intent on National Signing Day, February 7, 2007. Three student athletes had already enrolled before National Signing Day making this class relatively large with 23 commitments.
- At the beginning of the 4th quarter, AC/DC's "Hells Bells" is played and students hold up four fingers indicating the quarter.
A few of the prominent players to go on and makes waves after the college years are:
- Lawrence Taylor
- Jeff Saturday
- Alge Crumpler
- Willie Parker
- Greg Ellis
- Dre Bly
- Julius Peppers
In 2007, the team got an enormous boost in the form of former Miami Hurricanes and Cleveland Browns Head Coach, Butch Davis. Optimism is at an all time high! In addition, the school pledged to fund the football program on a level equivalent to that of the Men's and Women's Basketball teams. The winds of change are in the air......
Stayed tuned for Part II - North Carolina State Wolfpack!
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