Episode 57 - North Carolina Tar Heels

The North Carolina Tar Heels football program is one of the oldest and most successful in college football history. The Tar Heels have been playing football since 1888 and have won five conference championships (three Southern Conference titles and two Atlantic Coast Conference titles). They have also played in 37 bowl games, winning 15 of them.

The Tar Heels' most successful era came under the leadership of head coach Carl Snavely, who led the team from 1927 to 1956. Snavely is the winningest coach in school history, with 178 wins. He led the Tar Heels to their first conference championship in 1930 and to their first bowl game in 1946.

Some of the most notable Tar Heels players from the Snavely era include Charlie Justice, Kenan Memorial Stadium is named after him, and George McAfee. Justice was a two-time All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 1941. McAfee was a three-time All-American and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1941 NFL Draft. He went on to win three NFL championships with the Bears.

The Tar Heels have struggled to maintain their previous level of success since Snavely's departure. The team has had 16 different head coaches since Snavely left, and has not won a conference championship since 1980.

Some of the top players in Tarheel football history are:

• Lawrence Taylor - Pro Football hall of Fame linebacker with the New York Giants
• Jeff Saturday - NFL Super Bowl Champion center with the Indianpolis Colts
• Julius Peppers - Legendary NFL defensive end
• Don McCauley - Running back
• Willie Parker - Super Bowl winning Running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers (longest TD run is SB history)
• Vonnie Holliday
• Hakeem Nicks - NFL wide receiver
• Charlie Justice - Halfback

If you love the North Carolina Tar Heels football team then, toss on your favorite Carolina Blue gear, sit back, and enjoy a trip through their long and storied history in our collection of posts. From where the name Tar Heel came from to their best teams, players, logo history, and coaches...we have it all assembled in one place for your enjoyment.

Photo is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of the 1895 North Carolina Tar Heels football team picture.

Back row, left to right: Baird; Sharp; Trenchard; Brem; Haywood; Butler;
Second row: Stephens; Collier; White; Gregory; Hurley; Wright; Williams;
Third Row: Moore; McRae; Stanley; Whitaker; Winston; Nicklin; Steele

Sharing the greatest stories of ACC football team histories! The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina. These teams are among the best in the nation in football as they are mainly in the Eastern States of the US. Learn about the history of each team of the ACC as we collect the top stories from the internet on each to tell their story.