University of North Carolina Athletics
Brewer: Carolina's Finest Return To Chapel Hill
September 27, 2002 | General
Sept. 27, 2002
By Rick Brewer, SID Emeritus
They will come from all over the country this weekend.
From Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Tennessee, New York and Illinois.
From Miami, Baltimore, San Francisco, Washington, New York City, Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, Fort Worth, Chicago, El Paso and Chattanooga.
From Grapevine, Tex; Cranberry Township, Mass.; Upland, Calif.; Aurora, Ill.; Bellingham, Wash.; Satellite Beach, Fla.; and Louden, N.H.
From Vail, Colo. But, also from Denver N.C. and Raleigh, Charlotte, Burlington, Huntersville, Winston-Salem, Wilson and Asheville.
They're not only some of the greatest athletes in Carolina history, but also many of the brightest stars ever to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the entire nation.
This year marks the ACC's 50th anniversary. As part of a year-long celebration of that fact, the league has named the Top 50 athletes in each of the sports for which it recognizes a champion.
Carolina has invited back to campus this weekend all of its athletes named to the ACC's Top 50 teams. Not everyone will be able to attend. Some had prior commitments that couldn't be broken and some are still competing this month -- in football, soccer, basketball, golf and track.
But, well over 300 athletes and their families are expected to attend a special dinner Friday night and will be in attendance at Saturday's football game against Georgia Tech.
It's a group that ranges from the ACC's initial season in 1953 to some who are still in school.
As might be expected, Carolina had more athletes on the various Top 50 teams than any other school in the conference. But, even the most ardent Tar Heel fans might be surprised at the huge gap between the number of Carolina selections to that of the second-place school.
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There are winners of the nation's top amateur awards -- the Sullivan Award, the Lombardi Award, the Bednarik Award and enough Broderick Cups to stretch across the Kenan Stadium goal line. Trying to read a list of the All-Americas and Academic All-Americas in the group might break your Internet connection.
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Carolina had league highs in both the men (126) and women (153) that were chosen. Clemson was the only other school with at least 100 men and only Virginia also had over 100 women selected.
This Tar Heel group includes ACC players of the year, ACC athletes of the year, national players of the year and athletes who were named the top performers at NCAA championship events.
There are members of Carolina's 225 ACC championship teams and 31 NCAA championship teams.
Some of this group won NCAA championships in individual events such as swimming, wrestling, golf and track. Others are league, NCAA, American and even world record-holders.
There are winners of the nation's top amateur awards -- the Sullivan Award, the Lombardi Award, the Bednarik Award and enough Broderick Cups to stretch across the Kenan Stadium goal line.
Trying to read a list of the All-Americas and Academic All-Americas in the group might break your Internet connection.
Some have been Olympic Gold Medalists, members of World Cup title teams, Wimbledon champions, first-place finishers at the Pan American or World University Games. Many have gone on to star as professional athletes.
Among Carolina's Top 50 selections are the most famous male athlete in the world over the last two decades and the two most famous female stars.
"This is a special weekend, for both the athletes and our current and former coaches," said Tar Heel Swimming Coach Frank Comfort earlier this week. "I've talked to some of our winners who were disappointed they couldn't come back for this. I've gotten positive feedback from those who were excited about coming back to campus and seeing so many other people with whom they competed or whom they were able to watch."
It's also Monogram Weekend and the athletes being honored may get a chance to not only visit with other Top 50 winners, but other former teammates as well.
The conference will also name the Top 50 male and Top 50 female athletes from all sports in ACC history. Those announcements will come next January and February. Carolina should dominate both of those lists, too.
Still, there are some people who believe this type of event or honor really doesn't mean a whole lot to athletes who have already received so many awards in their lives.
They should ask former softball player Beverly Smith.
Like so may other Top 50 members, she's bringing her spouse with her -- her husband of just one week.
To these athletes, this is a special honor and hopefully will be a special weekend.
