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Can Scott Forbes ignite the same magic as Mike Fox?
The Diamond Heels have been to the College World Series seven times in this century. They began with a four-peat from 2006 through 2009 and went back to Omaha in 2011, 2013 and 2018.
In the last six of those seven trips, Carolina played the NCAA Regional and Super Regional at friendly Boshamer Stadium. But making that first CWS under Fox was something akin to the Tom Brady “tuck game” in 2002. If what looked like a sack had not been overturned into an incomplete pass, the Patriots would not go on to the Super Bowl and maybe not turn into a dynasty team.
The Tar Heels were not quite a dynasty from 2006 to 2018, having never won the NCAA championship at the College World Series. But how they got there the first time under Fox is one of the most magical stories in UNC sports history. Here is how it happened.
Carolina was nationally ranked much of the season but not among the top eight seeds invited to the NCAA Tournament. In the Regional at the Bosh, the Diamond Heels beat Maine and Winthrop twice to advance to the Super Regional at Tuscaloosa against the Alabama Crimson Tide of the powerful SEC.
In the best-of-three Super Regional to reach the CWS, they stunned Bama in the first game 11-5. But the next night, the Tide jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning before clean-up hitter Chad Flack carved a place in Tar Heel history. His three-run bomb helped Carolina take a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth.
Alabama, playing as the visiting team, scored three runs in the top of the ninth to go back ahead 7-6.
Reid Frank walked with one out in the ninth and was replaced by Matt Spencer, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Shortstop Josh Horton struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch, bringing Flack back to the plate with two outs.
The clutch first-baseman already had two hits and those three runs-batted-in from the eighth-inning blast. With the count at one strike, Flack launched another ball, this one to right field, that just cleared the fence to give Carolina an 8-7 victory and a ticket to Omaha, where the Diamond Heels reached the championship series against Oregon State before losing.
Fox said he “felt like there was something special about this group all year long” after the dramatic win. “Chad Flack is about as clutch of a player I have ever coached.”
Forbes had rejoined the UNC coaching staff that season and was with Fox for all seven of his trips to the CWS as a head coach. Hopefully, in his fourth season as head man, Forbes will start his own string of memorable NCAA victories on the way to Omaha.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Remember it well, happy to hear that story repeated.
Another 10 years taken from my lifespan tonight. Never ever give up.