Where I Come From: One Man's Arduous Journey from Fetus to Carolina Fan
by T.H. on Jul 5, 2010 7:53 PM EDT
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PrintThis is the first of a week-long series of posts sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.
I've got to say, the story of how I became a Carolina fan is among the shortest and dullest on record. Here it is:
I was born.
There you go. From the moment my name was put to paper by the folks at Rex Hospital, I was a Carolina fan. Hence the blue hat, after all. Both my mother and my father were UNC grads, as were two uncles. Multiple family members have worked for Carolina. I've got relatives buried on Franklin Street. I didn't need to be won over, I am genetically coded to be a Tar Heel. I've cheered in Carmichael, sweated in Wollen and have a piece of turf from the Kenan end zone packed away in my closet. I traced the Rameses logo on scratch paper and kept track of the score of UNC games with the magnetic numbers toddlers had. There was just no other way this was going to go down.
I can recall my first game at Kenan Stadium, though. Not much beyond the fact that it was a crisp fall day and the opponent was Bowling Green. UNC won 33 to 14, but I'd wager we left by the end of the third quarter – there's only so much a six-year old can take, after all – and that the prospect of blue cup of Coke was half the thrill. I was still hooked, though. I remember being able to walk around the track surrounding the field, to short to see over the hedges; the walk over stone walls from wherever we parked to the visitor's side of the stadium; the smell from beneath the West End Zone and the other kids all dressed up in Carolina Blue. There was just nowhere else I wanted to be.
(My next UNC memory, alas, was of one of my father's friends advocating for a third down punt. The end of the Dick Crum era and the start of the Mack Brown one was a rough time to grow up a Carolina fan.)
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UNC Fan
I was born in November of ‘84 in Fayetteville, NC and while I spent 86-93 in New Mexico the Tar Heel seed was planted early by my grandparents and father. Both my mom & dad were ECU grads and while my pops loved the Pirates he grew up a UNC fan and that’s what I was as well.
We moved back to Charlotte in 93 and I went from being the only UNC fan to one of many. As I grew up watching Mack and Dean through elementary into middle school my Carolina love grew immensely. I met Wagstaff in sixth grade and he talked about making sure I could go to UNC like him. Met Jeff McInnis in 97 and he talked about the same thing.
As I got to high school my grades were stellar, I was sure I’d get into UNC and then a new variable entered the equation; football. I got very good to the point where free school became an option during my 2001-2003 recruiting period. I wasn’t a speed burner but I was smart and could play.
The Ivy’s wanted me to play, the service academies, the local 1-AA’s and plenty of “smart” schools came calling quickly. Then came feelers from Tenn, Clem, Wake, Duke, UNC and others.
After senior camp at UNC it was clear Bunting, Brewer and Fleming liked me but couldn’t offer me after I ran a high 4.5 as a 180lbs safety. No problem. Duke, Wake, N’western and Navy wanted me and I was close to deciding between Wake & Navy. While all the football recruiting went on my folks made sure I had a back up plan; I applied to UNC early admissions and kept in touch with Brewer.
In 2003 Brew invited me up for the UNC-UConn basketball game for a visit. The same trip as Adarius Bowman, Mike Mason, Jon Hamlett and other recruits. A quick meeting with Brewer-Bunting-Fleming and I was invited to walk-on in the fall as a preferred player expected to earn a scholly in 2004.
Through it all Fleming got fired end of my 2003 freshman year, I never got my scholly but I had more fun than I imagine I’d have had playing anywhere else. Some of my best friends were forged through the fires of early AM running sessions, hot 7 on 7 sessions, puke spewing weightlifting punishment and spring practice fights.
I support UNC in everything but football will always hold a special place above all else. I made good friends with athletes across the board. Its a community that most folks don’t understand. The Deems May comments of a year ago speak to the fan vs football cancerous relationship but they don’t epitomize the relationship we had personally with the basketball team. All the athletes get along thanks to ridiculous amounts of time spent in lifeskills meetings and ACT or CREED.
My blue runs deeper than just playing football. I spent a lot of time with our baseball team from 05-07, lived with a few of the guys. I’m truly proud to call those guys friends. I dated a swimmer (current at start now former) the last 4 years. My best friends are married, engaged or dating former UNC volleyball, lacrosse, field hockey and basketball girls. My best “girl” friend is a 2-time national soccer champ. Across the board I’m invested personally in UNC athletics in a level a lot of people never experience.
From Julius Peppers being my 1st unofficial visit guide with Dexter Reid as my guide in 2002 to being on the field when we beat #4 Miami I loved everything about UNC. The first time I realized I’ve lived a “charmed” life was talking to my uncle, a diehard UNC guy, and I casually remarked about Michael Jordan buying us a beer at He’s Not one summer. He didn’t believe me and I had to go through calling my teammates to verify that it happened. I appreciate all the great experiences from Pantana Bob’s DJ Night tuesdays and watching games at the Bosh to Thursday nights at Monterrey’s and playing pick up in Carmichael and the Dean Dome.
I love UNC. I don’t consider myself a fan, I’m just a Tar Heel.
http://inthebleachers.net
by InTheBleachers on Jul 6, 2010 9:34 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
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