I own a UNC hat that is completely navy blue with the interlocking NC in Carolina blue on the front. Duke’s blue is more of a royal blue and closer to UK than it is the navy blue UNC sometimes employs.
I agree the basketball team should NEVER wear anything other than the home white with Carolina blue and the road Carolina blue with white. There might be an argument for at least a special navy blue jersey in football for certain games.
This was raised last season and he vehemently denied they would change the colors but give it 2 more years and I bet you see navy blue on occasion.
THF is correct — Duke’s colors are royal blue and white, something I can’t seem to get across to my ABC brother. But I read it once in a football program.
While I’m practically ancient, I don’t go back quite as far as the Choo Choo Justice days, but I’ve seen black-and-white film of that team in which they appear to be wearing navy blue, or some really dark color. It certainly wasn’t Carolina blue. I think the basketball team also once wore a darker shade. I’d like to know when UNC adopted the light blue and white. I know the colors came from the two debating teams on campus, one with white and the other light blue. But I don’t know when the athletic teams began wearing the lighter shade of blue. Any UNC historians out there?
The official story from UNC is the light blue and white has been used since intercollegiate athletics started at UNC in 1888. They actually date the colors back to 1800. No word is given on the official site about the use of navy.
THF, I found a book by Adam Powell on the history of UNC football. It has lots of photos of the early Tar Heels (black and white). In some of the photos the players are wearing a lighter shade but in others the color is definitely dark. I wonder if the teams did like the baseball team does today and changed uniforms from one game to the next.
The only time there is too much Carolina Blue in Kenan is during graduation. Those undergrad caps and gowns are hideous. (I say this with all due respect as someone smart/lucky enough to get to wear the outfit once upon a time.)
As far as the history of the uniform color, without any real knowledge of the subject, I’d hazard a guess that economics played a part in it back in the day, and that dark blue was more common–as well as a better contrast to white, or maybe gray–than what Woody Durham calls “powder blue,” and therefore easier to find and purchase. Like I said, just a guess though.
We have got to stop this UNC football hype machine that has come to power. There are some out their saying UNC is going to “shock the world”, some are also saying that UNC will win the ACC. Let’s be real. We are only setting ourselves up for dissapointment with any expectation of going over .500. This should be a season that going .500 allows us to restore pride in our football program by being competetive in each & every game. I’m saying that by having unruly expectations, we are diminishing the joy of what this season is meant to bring to us. Imagine how much less we would have enjoyed the 2006 basketball team if we thought they should have finished 1st in the ACC because of all of the overhype. But we enjoyed it because we were realistic about what they should have accomplished, and they delivered an even better result. Just my thought. Let me know if I am being out of hand.
Needless to say, Coach probably snuffed that out with a few kind words.
And JBowling, I think 7-5 is a reasonable expectation for the season, given the winnability of every game. The absolute KEY is to be at least 2-2 after the first 4 games. We can’t be 1-3 and expect great things.
As long as we a keeping it real, the football team has been bad since Mack Brown left. Let’s let Butch change the uniforms to navy and get this thing turned around!
I personally like the lighter shade of blue that we used to have. To me, it illuminates much better and is brighter. And despite being a lighter shade, I think it looks more intimidating because it is screaming out at you. It seems that with Matt Doherty the shade was a tad darker, but that may just be me. I like the lighter pale/pastel version that it seemed we had during the early 80′s.
That was a good link WB3. I still challenge that Carolina Blue is an intimidating color. It is so damn bright that it illudes beyond just the color. It is eye capturing. Darkening the color just a little, evades that illumination. Going real dark like navy just looks plain & boring. To me, the very pale UNC blue that we seemed to have in the early 80′s, is the most intimidating blue by far. Thanks for sharing that WB3.
I think the continuation of baby blue will aid in the efford to create that winning culture in UNC football your alluding to WB3. We have won with it before. We will do it again.
Well, I guess if I have to learn to live with it. To me, I love the traditional UNC color. It has endured throughout the years and has aided in a lot of UNC fanhood. I hate to see a good thing go, but I will like the team nonetheless. I guess I should be thankful the colors have hung around for so long.
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They really need to switch to navy jerseys. The light blue does not look good for football in my opinion. The helmets should stay though.
NAVY jerseys????? Surely you jest. You know there is a little university in Durham that uses Navy blue?
There’s nothing cooler than Carolina Blue jerseys in Kenan under Carolina Blue skies.
I’m pretty sure Butch Davis wants to switch to navy.
http://www.850thebuzz.com/blog/?p=3382
I like Butch, but I just can’t see going darker. Just plain stupid. It’s called Carolina Blue for a reason.
I own a UNC hat that is completely navy blue with the interlocking NC in Carolina blue on the front. Duke’s blue is more of a royal blue and closer to UK than it is the navy blue UNC sometimes employs.
I agree the basketball team should NEVER wear anything other than the home white with Carolina blue and the road Carolina blue with white. There might be an argument for at least a special navy blue jersey in football for certain games.
This was raised last season and he vehemently denied they would change the colors but give it 2 more years and I bet you see navy blue on occasion.
THF is correct — Duke’s colors are royal blue and white, something I can’t seem to get across to my ABC brother. But I read it once in a football program.
While I’m practically ancient, I don’t go back quite as far as the Choo Choo Justice days, but I’ve seen black-and-white film of that team in which they appear to be wearing navy blue, or some really dark color. It certainly wasn’t Carolina blue. I think the basketball team also once wore a darker shade. I’d like to know when UNC adopted the light blue and white. I know the colors came from the two debating teams on campus, one with white and the other light blue. But I don’t know when the athletic teams began wearing the lighter shade of blue. Any UNC historians out there?
The official story from UNC is the light blue and white has been used since intercollegiate athletics started at UNC in 1888. They actually date the colors back to 1800. No word is given on the official site about the use of navy.
http://www.unc.edu/about/traditions.html#blue
But how do we think it looks?
A lot of interesting aspects to look at…and I happen to like the Carolina Blue!
THF, I found a book by Adam Powell on the history of UNC football. It has lots of photos of the early Tar Heels (black and white). In some of the photos the players are wearing a lighter shade but in others the color is definitely dark. I wonder if the teams did like the baseball team does today and changed uniforms from one game to the next.
The only time there is too much Carolina Blue in Kenan is during graduation. Those undergrad caps and gowns are hideous. (I say this with all due respect as someone smart/lucky enough to get to wear the outfit once upon a time.)
As far as the history of the uniform color, without any real knowledge of the subject, I’d hazard a guess that economics played a part in it back in the day, and that dark blue was more common–as well as a better contrast to white, or maybe gray–than what Woody Durham calls “powder blue,” and therefore easier to find and purchase. Like I said, just a guess though.
We have got to stop this UNC football hype machine that has come to power. There are some out their saying UNC is going to “shock the world”, some are also saying that UNC will win the ACC. Let’s be real. We are only setting ourselves up for dissapointment with any expectation of going over .500. This should be a season that going .500 allows us to restore pride in our football program by being competetive in each & every game. I’m saying that by having unruly expectations, we are diminishing the joy of what this season is meant to bring to us. Imagine how much less we would have enjoyed the 2006 basketball team if we thought they should have finished 1st in the ACC because of all of the overhype. But we enjoyed it because we were realistic about what they should have accomplished, and they delivered an even better result. Just my thought. Let me know if I am being out of hand.
I do have the poster and I think it’s interesting that TJ was on the poster (not knowing when it was produced) given that his health was in question.
Any scuttlebutt about Paulus being unhappy?
I’m not delusional at all but still very psyched about this season. Good post JB.
“Any scuttlebutt about Paulus being unhappy?”
Yea, this. (registration required
)
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/sports/unc/42-977987.cfm?
Needless to say, Coach probably snuffed that out with a few kind words.
And JBowling, I think 7-5 is a reasonable expectation for the season, given the winnability of every game. The absolute KEY is to be at least 2-2 after the first 4 games. We can’t be 1-3 and expect great things.
Thanks for the link. I like Paulus’ competiveness and I like the idea we have at least 2 decent backups. Doesn’t take much to injure your starting QB.
As long as we a keeping it real, the football team has been bad since Mack Brown left. Let’s let Butch change the uniforms to navy and get this thing turned around!
I agree Wilson, I think that is probably a reasonable assessment.
What are you referring to WB3?
Your saying: “Let’s be real.”
I personally like the lighter shade of blue that we used to have. To me, it illuminates much better and is brighter. And despite being a lighter shade, I think it looks more intimidating because it is screaming out at you. It seems that with Matt Doherty the shade was a tad darker, but that may just be me. I like the lighter pale/pastel version that it seemed we had during the early 80′s.
I gotcha WB3. It takes me a while sometimes! I don’t swat the bee until after I am stung.
That was a good link WB3. I still challenge that Carolina Blue is an intimidating color. It is so damn bright that it illudes beyond just the color. It is eye capturing. Darkening the color just a little, evades that illumination. Going real dark like navy just looks plain & boring. To me, the very pale UNC blue that we seemed to have in the early 80′s, is the most intimidating blue by far. Thanks for sharing that WB3.
I just want to team to start winning.
I think the continuation of baby blue will aid in the efford to create that winning culture in UNC football your alluding to WB3. We have won with it before. We will do it again.
No, we need a change. This this uniform is looks way better.
http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/779772.html
Well, I guess if I have to learn to live with it. To me, I love the traditional UNC color. It has endured throughout the years and has aided in a lot of UNC fanhood. I hate to see a good thing go, but I will like the team nonetheless. I guess I should be thankful the colors have hung around for so long.