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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 /
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Dec 28, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Ryan Switzer (3) holds up the MVP trophy after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina defeated Cincinnati 39-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

13. 2013 Belk Bowl

North Carolina was made ineligible for the 2012 postseason as a result of NCAA violations levied back in 2011. As a result the ACC Coastal Champion Tar Heels of Coach Larry Fedora’s first season were unable to play in either ACC Championship or a bowl game.

Fedora’s bowl debut with the Tar Heels would be the next year as the Tar Heels had to deal with another emotional season in 2013. This time the year was difficult because starter Bryn Renner, a fifth year senior, was lost for the season to injury. Redshirt sophomore Marquise Williams was pressed into service to fill the void.

The 1-5 Heels finally turned things around and made a run to 6-6 and bowl eligibility. Their proximity and the time made Charlotte a good landing spot although it meant taking on the 9-3 Cincinnati Bearcats under Coach Tommy Tuberville. Strangely enough the Heels would ultimately own a 2-0 record against Tuberville coached bowl teams.

One of the sparkplugs of the 2013 season was return man Ryan Switzer who had started running back punts for touchdowns with regularity at the end of the season. After returning punts for touchdowns to win games like Pitt, Switzer once again answered the call here with a punt return touchdown in the second quarter.

By that time the North Carolina offense and defense had scored. The 29-3 lead at the half included a safety from Kareem Martin and offensive touchdowns by tight end Jack Tabb and running back Romar Morris. Martin’s safety led to T.J. Logan bringing back the ensuing punt for another score. The game seemed well in hand for the Heels.

The Bearcats would make a comeback in the second half to get the score to 29-10, but that was as close as it got with the Heels answering with ten more points to win the game 39-17. The Heels had won their first and so far only bowl with Fedora and broke a losing streak in Charlotte based bowl games dating back to 2004.

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