In our most recent ACC profile, we went south to debrief the University of Miami. This week, we’ll head up the Atlantic coast to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Founded in 1789, the nation’s first public university is nestled in the quaint town of Chapel Hill. Represented by its ovine mascots, Rameses and Rameses Jr., North Carolina boasts the most NCAA team championships out of all of the schools in the ACC.
As the home of the Tar Heels, Chapel Hill’s rich history is interwoven with its school spirit. Before the American Revolution, the colony of North Carolina provided tens of thousands of barrels of tar to the British navy. They were extracted through a messy process that would often leave workers’ feet stained black. Therefore, the workers were derided as “tar heels.” This insult became a badge of honor during the Civil War, when North Carolinians were commended for their bravery.
Today, this name inspires fear and awe alike, especially in basketball. UNC is the only basketball team to consistently make the Final Four in each of the last nine decades. Since the renowned basketball program began in 1910, the Tar Heels have won 6 NCAA championships and 131 NCAA Tournament games.
Chapel Hill was home to the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, and legendary coach Dean Smith — who retired with 879 wins. With a 1-0 record against North Carolina after a win in 1998, the Bears will hope to start a streak when they meet again in 2024.
North Carolina’s football program launched in 1888. Since then, the Tar Heels have played in 37 bowl games and won five ACC titles with an all-time record of 729–569–54. Throughout the years, the team couldn’t achieve regular success as coaches rotated in and out. Starting in 1967, Tar Heels football experienced its golden era under Bill Dooley, who compiled a 69–53–2 record in 11 seasons and led UNC to three ACC championships.
North Carolina’s fiercest rival is Duke University. Their basketball rivalry — arguably the most intense in the sport — needs no introduction, but Duke-UNC is also a historic football game. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils play for the Victory Bell. Traditionally, the team who wins the annual game paints the bell in its school’s shade of blue — whether it be Carolina blue or the navy of Duke. North Carolina leads the series with a 64–40–4 record.
Alongside Duke, UNC contests rivalries with two other in-state schools: North Carolina State and Wake Forest. The four are collectively known as Tobacco Road.
Current coach Mack Brown was hired for the first time in 1988 and turned the team around — starting with 1-10 records the first two years but finishing with six bowl games and a long period of continuous success. Brown is credited with popularizing football at this basketball-crazy school.
In late 2018, Brown returned for his second tenure at North Carolina. The 72-year-old previously coached the Texas Longhorns from 1998 to 2013. Brown’s time in Austin makes the Cal-UNC matchup something of a grudge match.
In 2004, the 10-1 Bears were ranked No. 4 in the BCS standings and headed for their first Rose Bowl since 1959 — but they fell behind the Longhorns in the final poll. Brown had publicly lobbied for his team.
“If you’ve got a vote, vote for us,” Brown said. “This team deserves to go to the BCS. They deserve to go more than some teams that are being talked about.”
Brown’s lobbying didn’t sway the BCS standings, but he certainly twisted the knife. The Rose Bowl has been Cal’s white whale since the Eisenhower administration, and this was the closest the Bears had been in that time. The Longhorns, meanwhile, are football royalty — Old Blues felt that a trip to Pasadena would’ve meant more to them.
Although basketball remains king in Chapel Hill, UNC can hold its own in football. In Pac-12 terms, the Heels aren’t unlike UCLA. North Carolina and Cal have met twice before in football. Cal left Chapel Hill with a 35-30 win in 2017, and defended Bear Territory the following year, 24-17.
In 2025, the Bears will face the Tar Heels at California Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2018. With Cal’s recent wins over the Heels and fans’ desire to humble Mack Brown, the blue and gold will be up for a fight.
