The Patterson Medal speaks to the character of Carolina Athletics.
I wonder if those critics who have trashed UNC’s athletic program over the course of the academic scandal support a school that has given out a meritorious award such as the Patterson Medal since 1924, 93 years ago when three-sport star Monk McDonald won the inaugural honor.
To review the list of Patterson Medal winners over the years is not only a Who’s Who of Carolina Athletics, but clearly it includes Tar Heels of great character, sportsmanship, leadership and excellence in the classroom. Would a school that doesn’t care much about academics have such an award for almost 100 years?
This year’s recipients are typical. Women’s tennis player Hayley Carter won 168 singles matches, the most in ACC history, and was a seven-time ITA All-America, two-time ACC Player of the Year, two-time ACC Championship MVP, four-time first-team All-ACC and 2017 ITA Senior Player of the Year. She also was a first-team Academic All-America and twice ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and earned induction into Phi Beta Kappa. Carter is the only women’s tennis player to be named the ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, ACC Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP in consecutive seasons.
Justin Jackson is the 30th men’s basketball player to win the Patterson Medal, including the second in as many years (following Marcus Paige) and the fourth to play for head coach Roy Williams (after Tyler Hansbrough, Tyler Zeller and Paige). Jackson joined Lennie Rosenbluth (1957) and Ty Lawson (2009) as the only Tar Heels to win ACC Player-of-the-Year and an NCAA title in the same season.
Ryan Switzer is the 35th football player – the 10th in the last four decades and the third to play for head coach Larry Fedora (after Jonathan Cooper and Eric Ebron) to win a Patterson Medal. The Dallas Cowboys draftee had a dazzling career in which he earned All-America and All-ACC honors as both a kick returner and wide receiver. He set Carolina career records for receptions, receiving yards, punt return yards and took seven punt returns back for touchdowns. He also set the single-season school record in 2016 with 96 catches. Switzer is the ACC record-holder in punt returns for touchdowns and is second in NCAA history with seven.
These athletes continue the true tradition at the university.
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