Stars and Stripes Adorn North Carolina Tar Heels' Military Appreciation Day Helmets

 

The North Carolina Tar Heels will pay tribute to current and former members of the military at this weekend’s game against Idaho. The Tar Heels debuted photos of the special helmets players will wear during the game, which are Carolina blue with a stars and stripes pattern on the “NC” logo.

On Monday, UNC head football coach Larry Fedora told InsideCarolina.com: “We thought one of the ways we would honor them is by wearing the flag on the interlocking N.C. that’s never been done before here at Carolina. We’re excited about doing that and hopefully we’ll be able to honor them also with the way we play the game.”

The Tar Heels have a 2-2 record heading into the game, with losses to Louisville and ACC opponent Wake Forest, but they haven’t had any trouble against struggling teams like the Vandals, who’ll come into Chapel Hill looking for their first win of the season.

The UNC athletic department partnered with the campus Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC units to plan Saturday’s events to honor military and emergency service personnel.

There will be a flyover, and Golden Knights will parachute onto the field before the game. The school will also pay special tribute to veterans.

Tickets to the game for current and former military members and emergency services (police, fire, EMS) personnel are available for $20. Fans can also purchase $20 to be donated to active military personnel.

UNC is also selling Carolina Football Military Appreciation Day t-shirts on the athletic department site. Shirts are available in green or blue camo or solid Carolina blue, and feature a logo of a saluting Tar Heel football player, with the interlocking stars and stripes “N.C.,” the date, and the branches of the armed forces.

Shirts are on sale for $14, and for every shirt sold, the athletic department and Chapel Hill Sportswear will donate $2 to the UNC ROTC program.

The UNC Military Appreciation Day is part of a conference-wide initiative among ACC schools to support the brave men and women who serve in the United States military. Each school will host and honor a member of the Wounded Warrior Project at the game and will promote the initiative with ACC Military Appreciation Day video board displays.

For more information, visit GoHeels.com.