We discuss the significance of Tar Heels and why North Carolina is dubbed the Tar Heels prior to today’s Final Four matchup between Duke and North Carolina.
The Final Four of the NCAA Tournament is quickly approaching, and there are several fascinating matchups. Duke and North Carolina will play for the first time in NCAA history in Coach K’s last game before his retirement.
Prior to the game, fans are unsure of what a Tar Heel is and how it links to UNC despite the rich history between the two programs.
Meaning Of Tar Heels
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Tar Heel is the nickname of the teams, students, and fans of the University of North Carolina, as well as the entire state. North Carolina is commonly known as the Tar Heel State.
But what does Tar Heel actually mean? Well, the phrase has strong roots in the early history of North Carolina, when the state was a significant producer of naval supplies.
During the Colonial era, North Carolina’s most important product was tar. It was developed by forest-walking laborers who gathered tar on their shoes and feet. Originally, calling someone a “rosin heel” or “tar heel” was an insult implying that they worked in a menial occupation.
Why is the University of North Carolina referred to as the Tar Heels?
After the American Civil War, however, the word “tar heel” became a pejorative and something better. North Carolinians wore the designation as a badge of distinction and a source of pride.
It finally gained so much popularity that North Carolina was dubbed the “Tar Heel State.” In the 1880s, when UNC began competing in intercollegiate athletics, it required a moniker.
It was evident from the beginning that “Tar Heels” was the most fitting and representative moniker, capturing the spirit and history of the region.
Since then, North Carolina has been known as such.
How North Carolina Reached Fourth Place
Duke vs. North Carolina is the greatest rivalry in collegiate sports. Hubert Davis, who followed Roy Williams at North Carolina, and Mike Krzyzewski, a legend at Duke, are the current head coaches of their respective programs.
The eighth-seeded Tar Heels entered the tournament having defeated Duke in Coach K’s final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. In this year’s tournament, they defeated No. 1 Baylor, No. 4 UCLA, and No. 15 St. Peter’s.
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