.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
More UNC-Duke Stories
February 5, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2004
The 2003 Game In The Smith Center
I've been an avid UNC fan for the past 14 years and have been through a lot of the tobacco road's moments. Of all the classic games, the moment that stands out above the rest was last year's match up at Carolina. As a resident of Northern Maryland, I haven't really had the chance to see many Tar Heel games in person. Compliments of my lovely fianc?, I was given the best Christmas present ever of having tickets to last years UNC/DUKE match up which was the last game of the regular season. The Tar Heels were obvious underdogs to another top ranked Blue Devil team, but that thought had never crossed the minds of the players, that's for sure! The atmosphere in the Smith Center was just surreal, and in some ways you knew you were about to witness something spectacular. The leadership of Raymond Felton and the way Rashad McCants just seemed to take over the game at the end was something that I will never forget. As the clock reached zero and the fans rushed the court, I was just ecstatic to enjoy this moment with the person who made it possible, my lovely fianc?. Being part of the greatest rivalry in college basketball will always be remembered, and I personally want to thank the players, the coaches, and most importantly, my fellow Heels fans for making it the most memorable Tar Heel moment in my life.
Chris Rimmel and Susan Camp
My brother and I live in Northern Kentucky ( Cincinnati ), and I'm a lifetime Tar Heel fan and he a Blue Devil. This will be the second year of many to come that we will make the trip to Chapel Hill to see this game.There is no better rivalry in all of sports and definitely no better to have between brothers. GO HEELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RGG
A Pain In The Grass
I am a faithful fan of the Tar Heels. However, one of my co-workers has been cheering them on for over 40 years. He and his two brothers are very dedicated to the Heels. Their cousins who live here in Wilson are big Duke fans. One year after the Tar Heels upset Duke, they planted winter rye grass in the Duke cousins' yard in the shape of "UNC." I thought that was hilarious because that did not leave the Duke fans with many options. Now that was a pain in the grass.
Dawn Hodges
Wilson, NC
Tickets From The Head Coach
It was 2001, my sophomore year at Carolina and Coach Doherty's first year as head coach of the Tar Heels. As a Tar Heel lifer, it had always been a dream to attend the Duke/UNC game. However, for the second straight year, I came away from ticket distribution empty handed.
The Thursday night prior to the Duke/UNC game in Chapel Hill (which was on Sunday), my friend Cara and I went to Coach Doherty's radio show at Michael Jordan's 23 Restaurant. After the show concluded, we wanted to wish Coach Doherty and the team luck for the upcoming game. After approaching him with handshakes and words of "good luck," Coach Doherty asked the million dollar question: "Are you girls going to be at the game?" Of course, we said, "No," and told him about our unlucky streak in getting these highly coveted tickets. Upon hearing this, Coach Doherty said, "This is a problem; we need you there." He then took our names and told us that tickets would be waiting for us at will-call on the day of the game.
Inside the restaurant, we tried to play it cool. However, once we got outside, we became like Cuba Gooding, Jr. accepting his first Oscar. We cried; we screamed; we ran down Franklin St. shouting to all the annoyed passers-by that we would be at the game. Not only were we going to our first Duke/UNC game, but we were going to be there with tickets given to us by the coach.
For our first game against our archrival, we went all out and made several signs. Due to our creativeness, we became the fan-focus on ESPN's Road Show on game day, taking the show to and from commercial break. This allowed us to see Phil Ford, George Karl, and George Lynch, making our day that much more special.
Although we ended up losing the game, Coach Doherty and that game will always have a special place in our hearts. Go Heels!
Jennifer E. Tomon, '03
Neighborhood Rivalry
My Buddy who happens to live right across the street from me, is the biggest Duke Fan, and I really would have to say that I am the biggest Tar Heel fan, so it makes for an interesting street if you know what I mean. But last year when hard working Heels beat Duke in the last game of the season, it had just snowed that week, and my neighbor Chris and his daughter Kayla had built this huge snowman in the front yard. Well after the game...that night really late I went out to the snow man, and dressed him up in a Carolina jersey, UNC pants, scarf, gloves, and an all blue UNC hat. He had his Duke flag up on his house, so I took it down, and put my UNC flag waving on his house....I just hope we win this year, there's no telling what will happen to me.
Chad Kannon
