Falling in Love with the North Carolina Tar Heels

By Derrick Clyburn

That’s a great question. I fell in love with the North Carolina Tar Heels back in the early 1970’s. When players like Walter Davis, Bobby Jones, Mitch Kupchak, Phil Ford and Dudley Bradley were in a Tar Heel basketball uniform. Dean Smith was the maestro to many unbelievable Carolina Comeback wins. I remember the Duke game. UNC vs. Duke, 1974 Regular Season Finale. North Carolina was down by 8 points with 17 seconds left. Think about that for a moment. This comeback did not involve 3-pointers because the 3-point line was not yet a rule. UNC, with the help of two Duke inbounds turnovers and a missed 1-and-1, scored 8 points in 17 seconds to tie the game at 86 and take it to overtime. Walter Davis was the hero hitting the game tying shot. The Tar Heels would go on to win easily in overtime, 96-92.

I remember the 4 Corners orchestrated by Phil Ford. The opposing teams, media, and fans hated how UNC could control a game. I knew if Carolina got up by 1 point in the second half the game was over. No one could steal the ball from Phil Ford. In addition to the impossible task of trying to trap Ford or make him turn the ball over. He could shoot free throws above 75%.

The Innovator

I loved how Dean was such an innovator. The Secondary Break, The Trailing Big Man that Hits the 15-foot jumper, the Team Huddling at the Free Throw Line, The Pointing to the Assist Man after scoring a basket, and the Players on the bench standing and clapping when someone came out of the game. Dean Smith was a class act on and off the floor.

 

I loved the Tar heel uniforms with that beautiful Carolina Blue Sky color and North Carolina branded on the jersey. The white jersey is still my favorite. Also, the warmups with the UNC in blocks on the chest. I Remember those sweet White and Carolina Blue leather Chuck Taylors.

North Carolina

When I was in high school in 1982, I had a chance to visit the campus for a weekend. I was in the Latin Club and the Annual Latin Convention was held on campus at UNC. This was during the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels were in the Sweet 16 and they had just defeated Alabama 74-69 to advance to the Elite 8.

The aura around the campus was amazing. Toilet tissue decorated the trees all over campus. I could feel that something special was going on and that I wanted to be a part of it. My friends and I were walking around the campus just touring and shooting the breeze. Then, we said “Let’s go to see Carmichael Auditorium”. When we got there. We saw Michael Jordan standing outside on the steps of the front entrance. It looked like he was just gathering his thoughts. Across from him parked on the side of the driveway was his Blue Monte Carlo. We kept walking and everyone was saying repeatedly “There is Michael Jordan”. As we were walking past Michael I said “What’s Up Mike”? Jordan Replied “What’s Up”? Boy, did I feel special walking with my friends and Mike had spoken to me. UNC went on to win the NCAA Title that year. That was such a great experience. Two years later I was a freshman walking the campus. Starting my Carolina career.

Falling in Love with Dean

I fell in love with Dean Smith on a couple of occasions. That might sound crazy, but it’s true. One day I had a meeting with Roy Williams dealing with basketball. He was the JV Coach at that time. I was sitting in the hall way across from Dean Smith’s office waiting for Roy. Coach Smith peeked out of his office and saw me sitting in the hall way. He asked me to come into his office. I was so surprised and grateful that he asked me to come into his office. I told him that I was there to see Coach Roy. Dean brushed that off and told me to sit down. He started asking me how school was going and about my family. He acted like he knew me for many years. Coach Smith made me feel welcomed. He was so genuine. I appreciated that from a man that was so famous.

 

The second time I fell in love with Dean. No, you can’t distinguish Dean from North Carolina! They are one. Anyway, I saw how Dean took Phil Ford under his wing when Phil was down on hard times. He helped to clean Ford up, and Dean had him appear just about everywhere that he traveled. We heard whispers from the boosters. They were calling Phil Ford “Dean’s Son”. He gave Ford a job as assistant coach and allowed Ford to Coach the JV team. Dean was such a father figure to many of the players while I was in school. I appreciated seeing that in real time. Coach Smith created a family environment that still exist to this day.

 

I could go on and on about what made me fall in love with North Carolina.

 

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