University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH
Lucas: Forever Family
June 15, 2024 | Baseball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Memories were long and stories were bountiful on Friday, where former Diamond Heels players had a huge turnout.
By Adam Lucas
OMAHA—The roar startled the fans who were simply trying to walk through the concourse behind section 116.
                 Â
It was the top of the fifth inning in Friday's 3-2 Carolina win over Virginia at the College World Series. The shaded concourse in the area behind home plate was packed, because it was a sweltering 90 degrees that felt more like 95.Â
                 Â
Just behind the Carolina fan section, over a dozen men of varying ages were laughing, high-fiving and telling old stories. The group of former players had briefly taken a break from cheering for the 2024 Tar Heels to take a quick "team photo," one that was testament to just how many eras of Carolina baseball were represented in Omaha.
                 Â
In total, there were nearly 20 Tar Heel baseball lettermen in attendance, made all the more impressive by the fact that it's not easy—or cheap—to get to Omaha, Nebraska, on short notice. But there they were, from the rosters of multiple Tar Heel CWS squads. Vaughn Bryson represented the 1960 team. Mike Fox was present from the 1978 team, of course. Bobby Honeycutt and several of his 1989 teammates were on hand. A healthy group from the era that made five appearances in six years from 2006-2011 were there.
                 Â
After they took the photo, they started to return to their seats for the remainder of the tight game. But Fox just couldn't resist coaching them up one more time.
                 Â
"Hands in!" he said. And that's why, on the count of three, a giant shout of "Tar Heels!" echoed around the concourse.
                 Â
That's the kind of day it was in Omaha on Friday. But it wasn't all just telling old stories. It was also a whole lot of fun.
                 Â
Dustin Ackley sat in the stands with his wife and kids. Right next to him was Fox, and the two carried on a game-long conversation at the same event (if not the same stadium) where Ackley once set the College World Series record for hits.
                 Â
Former catcher Mark Fleury roamed the stands with a cup from He's Not Here, the iconic establishment on Franklin Street. He'd imported 100 of the cups from Chapel Hill, following a tradition he began at the 2022 basketball Final Four.Â
                 Â
"You know the one," he said, "where we beat that other team."
                 Â
So it wasn't unusual to see former players throughout section 116 and 222 holding the cups. There was Tim Fedroff. Over here was Garrett Gore and Tyler Trice. Chad Flack was in attendance. No matter when they played, they had an immediate bond.
                 Â
"We never got to do this as players because we were always down there," said Fleury, gesturing to the field. "This is so much fun."
                 Â
You could rely on Fleury to bring just as much fun now as he did as a player. Remember—in addition to being a key part of the 2009 team's run to Omaha and a fourth round pick of the Cincinnati Reds, Fleury was also occasionally known to entertain teammates by wearing his uniform upside down during rain delays.Â
                 Â
It was a little jarring to see them in the stands. Seeing Ackley as a normal ticketholder in Omaha is a little like stumbling across Eric Church in the crowd at Lollapalooza. What are you doing…here…when you should be…there?
                 Â
But it ended perfectly, with Vance Honeycutt—the son of Tar Heel letter winners Bobby and Leah Ann—smacking a walk-off single. The immediate aftermath was a blur, but two images will remain indelible: Andrew Carignan, hat turned backward, standing on the seats leading the cheers and Fleury, shirtless, walking up the aisle high-fiving fans.
                 Â
"This," Fleury screamed, "is the greatest thing ever!"
It's been a thrill watching Vance and Dalton and Parks take us on this ride. But Friday was also a nice reminder that if we're all very lucky, they'll be right back here in the stands doing this exact same thing--and maybe even watching a son or two--a few years in the future.
                 Â
The former Tar Heels were still telling stories late into the night, where they met at—where else?—The Drover.
                 Â
"We were all reminiscing and telling stories," Fox said. "They have such great memories of Omaha, as you can imagine. It's so special to have them here."
Â
OMAHA—The roar startled the fans who were simply trying to walk through the concourse behind section 116.
                 Â
It was the top of the fifth inning in Friday's 3-2 Carolina win over Virginia at the College World Series. The shaded concourse in the area behind home plate was packed, because it was a sweltering 90 degrees that felt more like 95.Â
                 Â
Just behind the Carolina fan section, over a dozen men of varying ages were laughing, high-fiving and telling old stories. The group of former players had briefly taken a break from cheering for the 2024 Tar Heels to take a quick "team photo," one that was testament to just how many eras of Carolina baseball were represented in Omaha.
                 Â
In total, there were nearly 20 Tar Heel baseball lettermen in attendance, made all the more impressive by the fact that it's not easy—or cheap—to get to Omaha, Nebraska, on short notice. But there they were, from the rosters of multiple Tar Heel CWS squads. Vaughn Bryson represented the 1960 team. Mike Fox was present from the 1978 team, of course. Bobby Honeycutt and several of his 1989 teammates were on hand. A healthy group from the era that made five appearances in six years from 2006-2011 were there.
                 Â
After they took the photo, they started to return to their seats for the remainder of the tight game. But Fox just couldn't resist coaching them up one more time.
                 Â
"Hands in!" he said. And that's why, on the count of three, a giant shout of "Tar Heels!" echoed around the concourse.
                 Â
That's the kind of day it was in Omaha on Friday. But it wasn't all just telling old stories. It was also a whole lot of fun.
                 Â
Dustin Ackley sat in the stands with his wife and kids. Right next to him was Fox, and the two carried on a game-long conversation at the same event (if not the same stadium) where Ackley once set the College World Series record for hits.
                 Â
Former catcher Mark Fleury roamed the stands with a cup from He's Not Here, the iconic establishment on Franklin Street. He'd imported 100 of the cups from Chapel Hill, following a tradition he began at the 2022 basketball Final Four.Â
                 Â
"You know the one," he said, "where we beat that other team."
                 Â
So it wasn't unusual to see former players throughout section 116 and 222 holding the cups. There was Tim Fedroff. Over here was Garrett Gore and Tyler Trice. Chad Flack was in attendance. No matter when they played, they had an immediate bond.
                 Â
"We never got to do this as players because we were always down there," said Fleury, gesturing to the field. "This is so much fun."
                 Â
You could rely on Fleury to bring just as much fun now as he did as a player. Remember—in addition to being a key part of the 2009 team's run to Omaha and a fourth round pick of the Cincinnati Reds, Fleury was also occasionally known to entertain teammates by wearing his uniform upside down during rain delays.Â
                 Â
It was a little jarring to see them in the stands. Seeing Ackley as a normal ticketholder in Omaha is a little like stumbling across Eric Church in the crowd at Lollapalooza. What are you doing…here…when you should be…there?
                 Â
But it ended perfectly, with Vance Honeycutt—the son of Tar Heel letter winners Bobby and Leah Ann—smacking a walk-off single. The immediate aftermath was a blur, but two images will remain indelible: Andrew Carignan, hat turned backward, standing on the seats leading the cheers and Fleury, shirtless, walking up the aisle high-fiving fans.
                 Â
"This," Fleury screamed, "is the greatest thing ever!"
It's been a thrill watching Vance and Dalton and Parks take us on this ride. But Friday was also a nice reminder that if we're all very lucky, they'll be right back here in the stands doing this exact same thing--and maybe even watching a son or two--a few years in the future.
                 Â
The former Tar Heels were still telling stories late into the night, where they met at—where else?—The Drover.
                 Â
"We were all reminiscing and telling stories," Fox said. "They have such great memories of Omaha, as you can imagine. It's so special to have them here."
Â
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