The pioneer: Ricky Lanier reflects on being UNC's first Black football player
Posted Feb 28, 2023
The story goes that starting quarterback John Swofford went down early with an injury, meaning North Carolina coach Bill Dooley had to turn to his bench for a replacement in the 1969 game against VMI. It then became time for Ricky Lanier to show he was more than capable of directing an offense and better than the stereotype that said he couldn’t.
(Winston-Salem Journal)
Related: Football, Football Recruiting
North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez plans return to Tar Heels in 2026Quarterback Gio Lopez is expected to remain at UNC for another season in 2026. Last season, Lopez completed 65% of his passes for 1,747 yards,...
Fri Dec 26, 2025Alijah Huzzie Promoted to Houston Texans' 5-Man Roster
The Houston Texans have promoted rookie cornerback Alijah Huzzie to the active roster from the practice squad. A North Carolina standout who transferred from East...
Fri Dec 26, 2025
Patriots' Drake Maye Reacts to Pro Bowl Selection
New England quarterback Drake Maye is enjoying the type of NFL season of which most of his peers may only dream. In addition to leading...
Thu Dec 25, 2025
That Time UNC Football Played on Christmas Day
The only time a UNC football or basketball team ever played a game on Christmas Day was in 1982, when the football Tar Heels upset...
Thu Dec 25, 2025
