University of North Carolina Athletics
2003-04 Team Poster is in Production
October 27, 2003 | Lucas
Sept. 26, 2003
by Adam Lucas, Tar Heel Monthly
Carolina's 2003-04 basketball team suited up for the first time on September 19. Literally.
The Tar Heels didn't wear the familiar blue Julian argyles -- they donned suits and ties for the photo shoot for this year's basketball poster.
The poster is the culmination of a long process that involves more people than your average full-court press. Each year, the sports marketing office comes up with a different theme for the shot. Two years ago, a group of students gathered at the Old Well to provide the backdrop. Last year's edition featured the five returning players at midcourt of the Smith Center.
The creative process for this year's poster began about eight weeks ago with brainstorming for this year's theme. With Roy Williams expected to be a major early-season storyline on the national basketball scene, it was only natural to try and incorporate the new Tar Heel head coach. And after two years of selective inclusion, this year's creative team -- which included associate athletic director for athletic communications Steve Kirschner, assistant director of athletic communications Matt Bowers, associate athletic director for marketing Norwood Teague, and marketing director Michael Beale -- decided it was time for the full squad to make a poster appearance.
Teague cleared the idea of the full team appearing with Williams, who approved it, and then Kirschner, Bowers, Teague, and Beale had to decide what theme they wanted for the poster.
"It was pointed out that in the past, the team picture always had either the seniors or the whole team in suits and ties," Beale says. "The last couple of years we've done some different creative things, so we wanted to go back to the old way a little bit this year."
With the format decided upon, all that was left was finding a location. Assistant sports marketing director Matt Roberts and video/productions whiz Ken Cleary were dispatched to campus, digital camera in tow. After shooting a couple campus locations, they ventured into the Paul J. Rizzo Conference Center and photographed the DuBose House, which became the immediate frontrunner.
The various location possibilities were shown to photographer Bob Donnan and layout guru Chuck Underwood, who immediately latched onto the DuBose House location as the best choice.
eale worked with basketball administrative assitant C.B. McGrath to schedule the photo shoot, with the pair eventually settling on Friday afternoon as the best choice. The dapper players -- including freshmen Reyshawn Terry and Justin Bohlander and sophomore transfer Wes Miller -- assembled at the Smith Center before riding over to the Rizzo Center, which is located off Highway 54 in Meadowmont.
After doing about 60 minutes worth of setup, Donnan was ready for the Heels when they arrived in the DuBose foyer. Roy Williams gave the order -- "OK, guys, let's go" -- that set them in motion lining up on the stairs. After a brief bit of debate over whether the pose should be smiling or serious, Williams issued the final verdict: "We're going to do this to make your mommas happy. Let's see a smile."
Donnan arranged the players and Williams in two lines on the stairs, and after firing off a series of shots, the shoot was finished in less than 20 minutes.
The final product will be available for the first time at Late Night with Roy Williams on October 17 and will also be distributed (while supplies last) at all men's basketball exhibition games.
Adam Lucas is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly and can be reached at alucas@tarheelmonthly.com. To subscribe to Tar Heel Monthly, click here.
