After crash, UNC linebacker plays in memory of friend

Posted Oct 13, 2012
There were weeks when Tommy Heffernan couldn’t get out of bed, when his mom had to serve him meals in his room. He slept through some days. At night, dreams of the car crash and flames haunted him. Sometimes, those dreams fooled him into believing that his best friend, more like a brother, survived. Then Heffernan would wake up, and the real nightmare – the one he couldn’t escape – would begin again. (Raleigh News & Observer)

Related: Football, Football Recruiting

After Arriving at UNC at 17, Running Back Jaylen McGill Sees the Game Differently
Jaylen McGill's first season at UNC came a year earlier than it would have for most players. McGill arrived in Chapel Hill at 17 years...
Sun Aug 23, 2026

Where Former UNC Football Player Des Evans Is Now
Former UNC defensive end Desmond Evans went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and signed with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent. He appeared...
Sun Aug 23, 2026

UNC Offensive Line 'Seeing the Game Together' as Season Opener Nears
Of the six returnees on UNC's offensive line, four made starts for the Tar Heels last season. In a vacuum, that could give the Tar...
Sat Aug 22, 2026

The NCAA Has Won a Victory in the Class of 2022 Debate. What Does it Mean for UNC?
The Tenth Circuit stay does not affect potential fifth-year college athletes protected by a specific state lawsuit which has either been granted a total restraining...
Sat Aug 22, 2026