For college football fans around the country, a few rivalries stand out as among the best of the best. Alabama versus Auburn. Ohio State versus Michigan. Notre Dame versus… well, everybody.
Residents of 49 of the 50 states might simply gloss over the more local feud between Carolina and NC State. But once you cross the border, the bad blood becomes very, very real. Take it from UNC edge rusher and native Georgian Kaimon Rucker, who grew up learning more about the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets than the Tar Heels and Wolfpack.
“For me, being from Georgia, I didn’t really hear a lot about the UNC-NC State rivalry until I got here,” Rucker said this week. “And then you really start to understand how much we don’t like NC State. First year, you’re just like, ‘I don’t like NC State because I’m not supposed to.’ Then after a while, once you get a couple reps with them in games, you start to feel like, ‘OK. I can see why.’”
Junior receiver and native South Carolinian J.J. Jones had a similar experience, although he said being a year younger than Rucker gives him a distinct disadvantage in bragging rights.
“I haven’t beaten State since I’ve been here,” Jones said, “so it’s always been a big goal for me to make sure I come out with a victory. I know they hate us as much as we hate them. So we’re excited.”
Each of Carolina’s last two losses to the Wolfpack have been decided on the final play, and seem to have been scientifically concocted to cause as much pain to Tar Heel fans as possible. Two years ago, UNC took a nine-point lead in Raleigh with less than two minutes to go. But thanks to two late touchdowns sandwiched around an onside kick recovery, NC State staged a miraculous comeback.
Last year, fourth-string quarterback Ben Finley outgunned Drake Maye in Kenan Stadium, with Noah Burnette’s missed field goal sealing State’s double-overtime win. Jones said it’s the memory of last year’s loss in particular which stings the most.
“We still remember some of the things they did after the games,” he said. “I know I took it personally; I wasn’t a fan of what they did.”
What the Wolfpack did, after the jubilation of the missed field goal, was plant an NC State flag in the middle of the Kenan Stadium turf. Photos of the gesture quickly circulated online and will likely make a reappearance in Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday.
Maye, who could very possibly be playing in his final game as a Tar Heel tomorrow night, said he also didn’t take too kindly to the flag plant.
“Any time someone does something like that on your home field, it’s disrespectful,” Maye said. “Our plan is to get back at them and try to come out on the right side this year.”
As prominent as the photo likely is in Raleigh circles, it may be even more so in Chapel Hill. Senior linebacker Cedric Gray, who will be authoring his regular-season swan song tomorrow, said the team used the Wolfpack celebration as fuel almost immediately.
“It’s something we’ve talked about, taking us into our offseason,” Gray said. “[Strength and Conditioning] Coach [Brian] Hess, on big squat days, he would put the picture up on screens around the weight room as motivation. It’s definitely something that’s been on our mind for a long time.”
Mack Brown is an even 7-7 in 14 games against the Wolfpack as Carolina’s head coach, which becomes more impressive when remembering he lost his first five against them. Rumors of the 72-year-old’s retirement began circulating last week, but this week Brown said he’s as ready as ever to once again send the Pack packing.
“Rival games are like a whole season,” said the Hall of Famer. “It’s something that heroes are made in. It’s something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Nothing matters this week except focusing on this game. It’s a great [rivalry]. And both teams are good.”
To Brown’s point, Carolina and State enter the game with identical 8-3 marks. But it’s the Wolfpack who have the high ground in the ACC standings at 5-2, compared to UNC at 4-3. It seemed implausible a few weeks ago – when Carolina was in the Top 10 and NC State was looking for answers at quarterback – that the Pack could finish with a better record.
Now, times have changed. No ACC titles are on the line in Carter-Finley. It’s something arguably even more valuable, and harder to hold onto: clean, old-fashioned bragging rights.
Featured image via The News & Observer/Ethan Hyman
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