North Carolina–NC State rivalry

North Carolina – NC State rivalry
Teams NC State Wolfpack
North Carolina Tar Heels
Basketball Series North Carolina leads 144-75
Last Winner North Carolina (2011)
Current Win Streak 10 - North Carolina - (2007–2011)
Football Series North Carolina leads 63-33-6
Last Winner NC State (2011)
Current Win Streak 5 - NC State - (2007–2011)
Baseball Series North Carolina leads 152-125-1
Last Winner NC State (2011)
Current Win Streak 3 - NC State - (2011)
NC State North Carolina

The North Carolina–NC State rivalry, also known locally as the Carolina–State rivalry, NCSU-UNC rivalry, or other similar permutations, is an ongoing series of athletic competitions between the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, both of which are located in the Research Triangle district of North Carolina. The intensity of the rivalry is driven by the universities' similar size and the fact that the schools are separated by only 20 miles. Both are charter members of the Atlantic Coast Conference and are part of the Tobacco Road schools. The most prominent sports in the rivalry are football and basketball. For most of the first half of the 20th century, both schools considered the other to be its main rival. While NC State still considers UNC to be its main rival, many UNC fans & alums view their rivalry with fellow Tobacco Road school Duke as a bigger rivalry, especially in basketball & olympic sports; however, comments made by football coaches of both teams has brought new heat to their rivalry.

In the sport of football, North Carolina and NC State were matched up as "permanent rivals";[1] NC State is in the conference's Atlantic Division and North Carolina is in the Coastal Division. The game is one of the biggest college football games in the state of North Carolina.

The two schools are also known for their basketball history. They have won 7 NCAA championships between them (North Carolina 5, NC State 2), and 27 of the past 57 ACC Tournaments (North Carolina 17, NC State 10).

Contents

Pranks

It was traditional for Wolfpack fans and Tar Heel fans to exchange pranks before and sometimes after important games between the two universities. One of the most notable pranks by Tar Heel fans is painting NC State's Free Expression Tunnel Carolina blue before big athletic competitions. In retaliation, NC State students traveled to Chapel Hill to play their Red and White Song or their Fight Song and occasionally dye water fountains red, the main NC State athletic color. However, before the 2008 basketball game, The Old Well was painted with red spray paint.[2] Groups of students, most recently police officers at UNC,[3] from both schools now camp out pre-game to prevent areas of their campus being painted by fans from the other. At NC State this is the "Ram Roast" near the Free Expression Tunnel,[4][5] while it is known at UNC as the "Old Well Watch" near the prominent campus landmark. Before the most recent meeting, Wolfpack fans painted some brick walkways on UNC's campus with spray paint.

Newspaper bashing

One day prior to the basketball game in Raleigh, Technician, NC State's student newspaper, publishes a spoof cover page for the day's edition with the title The Daily Tar Hell. Contained within are fake news stories poking fun at The Daily Tar Heel and the North Carolina Tar Heels.[6]

From 1994 to 1995, teams from Technician and The Daily Tar Heel played a football game called The Grudge Bowl on the Friday before the North Carolina-NC State football game. The game was played under standard college football rules but with none of the protective equipment. Technician staff members won both meetings in blowouts, claiming a prize called "The Golden Plunger" and, in 1994, declared themselves the National Football Champion of College Student Media.

November 20, 2009 the two newspapers rekindled the football rivalry, competing for a "Golden Plunger" replica. The staff of "Technician" shut out "The Daily Tar Heel" staff 40-0 on Miller Fields in Raleigh. Andrew Dunn, editor of "The Daily Tar Heel," said the two student newspapers will again meet on the gridiron in 2010, but in Chapel Hill.[7]

Men's basketball all-time series records

Listed by number of games won.

All-time series record

By location

By Titles

By Final Four appearances

By coach

North Carolina coaches

NC State coaches

By decade

Other

Listed by score.

Women's Basketball all-time series record

Football all-time series records

Listed by number of matches won.

Largest victory margins

Listed by score.

All time records

Baseball All-Time Series Records

All-Time Series Record

ACC Regular Season Championships

ACC Tournament Championships

College World Series Appearances

National Title Game/Series Appearances

References