North Carolina Tar Heels: Ranking ALL the Bowl Games

Dec 28, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; A North Carolina Tar Heels helmet lays on the field prior to the start of the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

8. 1972 Sun Bowl

Coach Bill Dooley had won the ACC with the 10-1 Tar Heels and so the team went to El Paso for their third straight bowl berth. Waiting for them there were the Texas Tech Red Raiders. It seems odd to think of Texas Tech football before the days of Mike Leech, but this Red Raider bunch had finished their season with an 8-3 mark.

The Tar Heels struck first with a field goal, but the Red Raiders dominated the first quarter on their way to a 21-9 lead. It could have been worse too had a punt return touchdown not been called back because of a sideline infraction. Yes the Red Raiders were called for having a coach on the field of play during the run back.

Dooley opted to throw the ball more and relied on quarterback Nick Vidnovic to bring the team back. Vidnovic did just that, leading the Tar Heels to two more scores and taking a 24-20 halftime lead.

Though Tech captured the lead back in the third quarter, Vidnovic found Ted Leverenz a second time in the end zone for a 30-28 lead. The game was sealed when the Tar Heels got a safety against the Texas Tech offense.

Vidnovic threw for 215 yards and had a big 62 yard strike to Leverenz to spark the comeback.

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