WHY TAR HEELS?

The UNC nickname is unique to the entire state of North Carolina. Local legend recalls that during the Civil War soldiers from fellow states of the Confederacy fled at signs of Union invasion. North Carolinians, motivated by the desire to protect their own land, stood fast. They stuck their ground as if "they had tar on their heels." Many years later the state of North Carolina continues to recognise the bravery of these young men by referring to North Carolinians as "Tar Heels".

RETIRED NUMBERS In order to have his number retired by the University, a player must be voted National Player of the Year during his tenure at UNC. There are currently seven jerseys hanging on the east ceiling of the Smith Center which honor this achievement... NNO Jack Cobb ('26) # 20 George Glamack ('41) # 10 Lennie Rosenbluth ('57) # 12 Phil Ford ('78) # 52 James Worthy ('83) # 23 Michael Jordan ('85) # 33 Antawn Jamison ('99)

RETIRED JERSEYS In 1994 the university adopted a plan to honor all former players who were either voted MVP of a national championship team, recieved a gold medal in Olympic basketball competition, or recieved All-American honors while at UNC. These jerseys hang in the middle rows of the east ceiling... # 8 Jim Jordan ('46) # 13 John Dillon ('48) # 35 Pete Brennan ('58) # 12 Lee Shaffer ('60) # 22 York Larese ('61) # 35 Doug Moe ('61) # 11 Larry Brown ('63) # 22 Bobby Lewis ('67) # 31 Bill Chamberlain ('72) # 44 Dennis Wuycik ('72) # 35 Robert McAdoo ('73) # 34 Bobby Jones ('74) # 21 Mitch Kupchak ('76) # 24 Walter Davis ('77) # 45 Tommy LaGarde ('77) # 30 Al Wood ('81) # 42 Brad Daugherty ('86) # 34 J.R. Reid ('90) # 34 George Lynch ('93) # 00 Eric Montross ('94) # 30 Rasheed Wallace # 42 Jerry Stackhouse ('99)

HONORED JERSEYS Origionally there were seven players honored for outstanding achievement while at UNC. This list includs one National Player of the Year and six two-time fist-team All-Americans. These men's jerseys now hang on the back row of the east ceiling... NNO Billy Cunningham ('65) # 32 Larry Miller ('68) # 44 Charlie Scott ('70) # 33 Mike O' Koren ('80) # 31 Sam Perkins ('84) # 30 Kenny Smith ('87)

WHY CAROLINA BLUE?

In the early 19th century UNC students were required to maintain membership in one of two academic fraternities. Carolian students first used the colors light blue and white to distinguish between members of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Literart Societies in the early 1800s.

These colors were worn by members of their respected fraternities at all academic and social events. Several student government positions, however, represented not a single fraternity but the entire student body. For this reason the Chief Manager and similar posts were required to wear both light blue and white. Over time the combination of colors came to symbolize membership in the University, not just a single society.

The colors worn by UNC fans and athletes today are those which have been used since the first University intercollegiate athletic teams were fielded in 1888. Today, the colors "Carolina Blue" and white are perhaps the most recognised in all of collegiate sports. Look to the sky and you will see that it, too, is Carolina Blue.

WHY A RAM FOR A MASCOT?

In 1924 Vic Huggins, UNC's head cheerleader, decided that Carolina needed a mascot like N.C. State's Wolf and Georgia's Bulldog. At the time, Jack Merrit, known to his fans as the "Battering Ram," was a popular member of UNC's football team. Making use of this nickname, Huggins hit upon the idea of a ram as the Carolina mascot.

The cheerleader went to Charles T. Woollen, the University's Business Manager, and asked him to find twenty-five dollars to buy a ram. They ordered UNC's first mascot from Texas.

The 1924 team had been in a slump and Carolina fans were looking for something to break the jinx. The Tar Heel sports staff joined the campus in hoping that the new mascot would bring the much-needed luck.

The mascot, who was named Ramses, arrived in time for the UNC-VMI game on 8 November 1924. The fans saw a defensive struggle. No one scored until late in the fourth quarter when a UNC player executed a perfect dropkick for a 3-0 victory. Carolina fans credited the first Ramses' presence for pulling Carolina past VMI, and giving birth to the long line of rams who have witnessed Tar Heel games.