1981 meeting flattened Heels

Posted Oct 11, 2007

When Rod Elkins enters Kenan Stadium for Saturday's North Carolina vs. South Carolina football game, his thoughts will race back 26 years to another Carolinas confrontation. It will be the same for probably thousands of UNC fans who remember when their football team was almost as good as the basketball program. It was Oct. 24, 1981 -- the day the Tar Heels dropped a shot at the national championship for the second straight year. (Raleigh News & Observer)

Related: Football, Football Recruiting

Newsletter: Henri Veesaar to NBA Draft, 3 UNC Basketball Commitments, New Transfer Portal Targets
Henri Veesaar declared for the NBA Draft as UNC Basketball landed three transfer portal commitments. Carolina Football hosted recruits and signed four players to NFL...
Mon Apr 27, 2026

UNC alumni, HBCU coaches join Chicago State football start-up
Chicago State football will have a lot of HBCU and UNC flavor on its inaugural football coaching staff. Head coach Bobby Rome, a former UNC...
Sun Apr 26, 2026

Four Tar Heels Signed As Undrafted NFL Free Agents
For the first time since 2016, no UNC football players were drafted following the program's debut season under Bill Belichick. But four Tar Heels found...
Sun Apr 26, 2026

Bill Belichick’s UNC program had no players drafted
Last year, UNC Football G.M. Mike Lombardi proclaimed the Tar Heels as the NFL’s 33rd franchise. The other 32 teams had no interest in any...
Sun Apr 26, 2026