On This Day in UNC History: September 7
Posted Sep 7, 2013
September 7, 1996: UNC 27, Syracuse, 10 - On a weekend when Hurricane Fran was battering the Triangle area, Mack Brown's 24th-ranked Tar Heels were in the safe confines of Syracuse's Carrier Dome delivering a battering of their own to the 9th-ranked Orangemen.
The Tar Heels stormed out to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter while holding Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb without a completion until late in the first half. North Carolina quarterback Chris Keldorf finished the game with 22 completions in 32 pass attempts for 218 yards. McNabb, on the other hand, was just 11 for 32 with 125 yards passing.
It was UNC's first road win over a top-10 team in 30 years, and the Tar Heels would finish the 1996 season with a 10-2 record, including a 20-13 Gator Bowl win over West Virginia.
Related: 1996 UNC Football Schedule & Results
Related: Football, Football Recruiting
Michael Lombardi's Attorney Releases Statement Amid UNC InvestigationAs UNC Football general manager Michael Lombardi remains on paid administrative leave, his attorney released the following statement Friday. "Michael hasn't been told anything about...
Fri Jul 31, 2026Benjamin Hall Emerging as Leader of UNC Backfield
Benjamin Hall returns for his second season at UNC after his first full offseason with the program, having emerged as the leader among the Tar...
Fri Jul 31, 2026
UNC Football's Biggest Roster Weaknesses Entering 2026 Season
UNC's biggest weakness last year was the quarterback position, and it will remain so this season. The position is expected to be led by Billy...
Fri Jul 31, 2026
The Layering Process of Football Training Camp
Football training camp has changed over the years. Coaches used to take the first week to get their players in shape with two practices a...
Fri Jul 31, 2026