Old North Banter
Fansided

North Carolina Tar Heels: Looking Back at 33 Bowl Games

By John Woodcock

Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Jordon Brown (2) scores a touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal defense at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; El Paso, TX, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Jordon Brown (2) scores a touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal defense at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
21 of 34
Next
north carolina tar heels
Oct 17, 2015; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels fans hang out with mascot Ramses during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Kenan Memorial Stadium. North Carolina won 50-14. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

14. 1963 Gator Bowl

The first bowl victory in North Carolina Tar Heels history was not won by Snavely or Dooley. It was won by Coach Jim Hickey, who brought the co-ACC Champions to Jacksonville with an 8-2 record to face the Air Force Falcons.

North Carolina was led by quarterback Junior Edge and tailback Ken Willard. It was Willard who hit the Air Force defense early and often. He was the mainstay of the first North Carolina scoring drive that got the ball into the end zone on fourth down from the one yard line for a 6-0 lead. After that there was no looking back for the Heels.

Quarterbacks Edge and Gary Black led the Heels to their next two scores, both with big doses of Willard to expand the lead. With the lead at 28-0 after a couple of two point conversions, the Tar Heels had the game in full control. The final scoring drive was kept alive by Bob Lacey, but Black got into the end zone one final time for the final 35-0 margin.

The 1963 Gator Bowl was the first bowl game the Tar Heels had seen in thirteen years. It would also be the last one they saw for another seven.

Next: 13

Home/North Carolina Tar Heels