History of UNC’s mascot Rameses

Posted Aug 18, 2016
This is what happened. Head cheerleader Vic Huggins noticed a lack of school spirit for the Tar Heels. So instead of making the school’s mascot a giant foot with black muck on the heel, he suggested that the team make its mascot a ram. The idea was based on UNC’s star football player, Jack Merritt, who was nicknamed, the “Battering Ram.” (Tar Heel Blog)

Related: Cheerleading

Audio: 100 Years of Kenan Stadium - Dancing the Night Away
The UNC spirit squads are an integral part of any Kenan Stadium gameday. That includes the UNC Dance Team, which includes Chatham County Public Information...
Tue Sep 8, 2026

This former Rameses is on a Rampage
Alex Floch grew up playing sports and never envisioned doing anything else. At UNC, he found a way to do that: Become a mascot. He...
Tue Sep 8, 2026

Video: Meet Seamus the ram, who greets UNC football fans in Ireland
Orla Hogan, an Irish farmer, describes the experience of introducing Seamus, the ram, to University of North Carolina fans who are in Dublin, Ireland for...
Sun Aug 30, 2026

UNC's 'Carolina Girls' dance team step up the spirit
Along with the sounds of the band and fans wearing Carolina Blue at UNC football and basketball games, the Carolina Girls dance team brings the...
Tue Feb 17, 2026