Do you know what it's like watching the clock count down ten…nine…eight…knowing that you're about to win against your rival team for the second time? Do you know what it's like, knowing that this win is going to give you another ACC Regular Season Champion title?
Well, if you're a fan of any sports team, you've probably had similar feelings at some point or another.
But, if you were a fan of the Tar Heels on the night of March 9th, it was different.
The UNC boys battled hard for their 79-70 win against the Duke Blue Devils, a rivalry born almost 100 years ago (their first meeting on January 24th, 1920). The Tar Heels also beat Duke at their home court in Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20th, with the score 88-72.
Now, being born and raised in a household where you praise the Lord above and always root for UNC, this was the night of all nights.
My Uncle Lee played for—now head coach—Roy Williams when he first taught the JV team at the university. He still talks about how passionate Williams was about the game, not only about winning but the game as a whole.
My dad had been to Coach Williams' basketball camps when he was younger; after all, learning tips from the greatest coach of all time could only help you improve. He loves to tell the story from one of the years he attended the camp:
My dad had tried to pass the ball behind his back to another player, who justmissed it. Coach Williams yelled at my dad for the pass, to which my dad replied, "But Coach, it was right in his hands!" A whistle was blown and Coach Williams yelled for my dad to get outside. After what seemed like forever, the door opened and the two talked about what happened. "You only make a pass that your teammate can catch. You've got to play to the ability of who's on your team." Williams told my dad, and he never forgot it.
"The cool part about the story was that after playing time was over, we all circled back up and Coach Williams actually apologized to me," My dad says, "He was sorry for yelling at me in front of everybody."
If that doesn't show Coach Williams' character, I don't know what does.
In 2017, I watched from the stands in the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, as Justin Jackson made the layup securing our spot as the National Champions.
I'll never forget the tears of happiness running down my face as my cousins and I ran through the stadium chanting: "TAR!" And other fans screaming back to us: "HEELS!"
It was the greatest night of my whole life—and I'm not exaggerating this time.
As you can see, I've grown up in a family who are die-hard fans of Carolina Basketball; we have Carolina blue blood running through our veins, we know all of the players by name, and we have a passionate hatred for Coach K and his Duke basketball players.
So, yes, the night of March 9th was different for you if you're a fan of the Tar Heels. Being a part of this fan base means you put your blood, sweat, and tears into cheering for those boys—just as they put their blood, sweat, and tears into playing.
March 9th was different for the Tar Heels and their fans.
Being a Tar Heel fan is different, too.