CHAPEL HILL — The Tar Heels will trade in their signature Carolina-blue-and-white uniforms for silver-and-white tonight, a team spokesman confirmed, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Nike's Jordan brand.
UNC twice this season has donned white-blue-and-red uniforms to commemorate the 1957 national championship team; but the silver will mark a new look.
Photo: Robert Willett - rwillett@newsobserver.com
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
Man! So much venom..
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 11:19 — UNC1998Can't we all just get along? That said, while I understand the uni's I hope they put them away. It's a shame the team is performing so poorly during what should be a fantastic celebration of sustained excellence. Oh well, it just goes to show how fragile hopes and dreams are. I'm confident this will look better:
http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/682181.html
Looking better
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 14:17 — SurferAgree that that line up does looks better. In addition, I think that, after this year, expectations for next year will be somewhat tempered, and rightly so. If next year's team can jell and produce, then the following year, with McAdoo and Hairston, expectations will be back (up) to normal.
THE BIG "IF"
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 15:03 — JPDOhioThe wealth of talent on UNC's probable roster next year is undeniable. The big "if" in my mind is who will step up to be the leader on the floor. Besides the injuries, I think UNC's biggest problem this year is the lack of anyone willing or able to put the team on its back and carry it when things aren't going well.
Roy can (and probably will) work 24/7 to avoid a repeat of this season. But he can only do so much. As good as the new freshmen may be, you can't expect any of them to assume a leadership role. So it is going to have to be someone on the current roster. Who that is (if anyone) is going to be one of the more interesting questions going into next season.
All that said, looking at that roster, I would bet that the Tar Heels will be a preseason Top 25 team.
Right
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 16:36 — SurferAgree 100%. Without T. Hansbrough around this year, I am confident that Coach Williams has identified Leadership as a key missing ingredient on this year's team.
As a senior, Graves may be the man. Although, I wouldn't completely write off one of the Freshmen. Barnes or Bullock might be tough enough to step into that role.
Regardless it is all "iffy" at best.
As far as preseason goes, I hope they are not ranked at all. They need to prove something first.
Two things
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:09 — JPDOhio1. I agree with you that the Tar Heels should have to prove themselves before they get Top 25 consideration. And it would be better for the team if they are not. Maybe that helps get them to the competitive edge that they seem to be missing this year. I just have this feeling the media won't be able to avoid voting them in, based on program reputation.
2. Your Hansbrough reference is dead on. That kid came to play every minute of every game. Love him or hate him, you can't deny the effort. UNC misses him in a number of ways, but the way he led by example isn't given enough attention, IMHO.
Leadership doesn't always...
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 20:31 — UNC1998come from the PG spot. Hansbrough was tremendous. Lawson was no slouch. When the team needed it, they could both produce.
It wouldn't surprise me to see that position be the one out front next season. Although, Barnes has all the makings of a "sure thing".
Regardless, I agree UNC should have to earn a return to the top 25. In this era of college ball that shouldn't be too tough, though.
Just Wondering
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 14:18 — YAR8packI understand the reason for the silver uniforms for the men's basketball team. However, will some please let me know why unc's gonna be wearing a silver football helmet in a few games this upcoming season? Just wondering if there is a significant 25th anniversary coming up for that program.
finally
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 15:23 — gvillegatran ABC fan who acknowledges WHY UNC was wearing the silver jersey.
And I ASSume you are joking aout the football team wearing silver helmets. that would be stupid. of course ...
You said it...
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 16:01 — YAR8pack...stupid is as unc has done.
The helmet looks more pewter than silver. Oh well. Maybe someone in the art department will figure that out. Plus, the paint looks like it's of the dayglow variety. I bet some teams will gripe about that.
Here ya go. I figured you would've had the whole issue memorized by now: http://www.dailytarheel.com/press-box/football-may-have-silver-helmets-next-season
unfortunatley
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 23:23 — gvillegatrI do not go to the Daily Tar Heel like you do.
Tell us again why you go there?
Do you have a mouse in your pocket?
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 10:35 — YAR8packWho the hell are "us." Don't let your sociopathic emotions get in the way of clarity when you type.
One of my dear friends is a unc fan. He emailed me that link to check out what he says are "butt ugly helmets." He's a tried and true blue fan but nowhere near the homer that you are. I don't know what the hell he's thinking. Maybe his acquiring an undergraduate degree from unc has something to do with it.
Yes, that last statement is sarcasm, gaytr. We, the readers of N&O blogs, know you have trouble seeing that sometimes.
Toodles.
Yup
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 19:40 — Heels20Those awful UNC undergrad degrees. As overrated as they come...
heels20 and gatr: Both of you...
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 12:52 — YAR8packGo stand in a corner and pout. Geesh. Take a joke. Of COURSE having an undergraduate degree from unc is nothing to be ashamed of, but you two nincompoops didn't get that I'm being SARCASTIC when I make the remark about my friend graduating from there. Damn. Let the hot air out of your puffed up chest and you may get enough oxygen in your penile brains to entertain some humor.
Sorry, gaytr, but I really doubt my friend would want his personal information put on blast because your butthurt demands attention.
Yes, I have several close friends who are unc fans. The main difference between them and you two dolts is how they don't get butthurt over any comment that may or may not be a jest aimed at unc. They take it for what it is, just good old watercooler jousting.
You two sentient drones have fun clamoring to assault anyone who mentions unc in any post. Don't even bother to read a post with sarcasm. You two are a couple of old asshats. Good luck with your butthurt.
OK GO STATE!!!
dude
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 01:25 — gvillegatrlets face a little reality, ok?
your UNC buddy's wouldn't give two sh*ts about you if they were in my position and did not know you other than yar8pack. that can be cut (or sliced) both ways.
You don't think myself or Heels20 or any other Tar Heel fan/graduate doesn't have ncsu buddy's?
we do.
and you know what? they wouldn't give two sh*ts about us if they only knew us as gatr or Heels20.
you get what i'm getting at?
we're just a bunch of guys with (maybe) too much time on our hands who like to have a little funny via the internet.
no harm. no foul. move on.
g-alligator!!!
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 13:00 — bluecat69bluecat69very well put! if u good ol boys really knew me, u would think i was the greatest guy in the world, which i am of course!!!! go duke!!!!!
Ha, there you have it
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 14:13 — Heels20Does any one else find it funny that YAR8pack just cried through his keyboard with the over-reaction of the century in response to MY sarcasm?
YAR8, aren't you a little old to use the term "butthurt"? Let alone 40 times in a single post? I mean, I know that "butthurt" isn't in a thesaurus, but take it easy, big guy.
Any way, I'll be understanding of your unusually high level of sensitivity. I wouldn't be jubilant either if my football team hadn't had a winning record since Lindsay Lohan was hot, or my basketball team hadn't won a conference title since Michael Jackson was alive and black.
Enjoy a nice afternoon of basketball, and I wish you the best of luck in your apparent obsession of becoming a proctologist. Stay classy, Mr. 8pack.
whats your problem? (like I really have to ask!)
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 14:39 — gvillegatrFirst off, I thought you were joking about the helmets being silver. No one in their right mind would want to see UNC playing football in those helmets. i felt that it was inferred with my response that you were joking about it.
The word "us" refers to the posters here at ACCNow, but you already knew that.
one of your dear friends sent me a link ... HA! How am I supposed to believe that when you don't believe others, here, when they try to say someone told them this or sent them that?
I know thats BS by the way you talk to other Tar Heel fans in here. You'd soon spit on a Heels fan than shake his hand. let alone tell them "good game."
you are becoming so old hat. your game is old. please go play in the road.
yard-sax!!
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 11:27 — bluecat69bluecat69very well put!! g-alligator is like a burr up your a-s , right?did u know for a fact that g-alligator is a homo-sapien?? go duke!!!!
Hideous
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 23:50 — Heels20Maryland's uniforms are awful. VT's now look like someone threw up on a pumpkin. And now, we come out with this? Please go back to the '05 uniforms for good.
Wow
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 14:19 — willncsuThose are really reallty bad. Still not as bad as Butch making the team wear Duke blue though (and wearing it himself constantly).
Obviously
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 14:58 — SurferColor blind, it's navy, not puke blue.
sufer-girl.
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 15:35 — bluecat69bluecat69give it up man!! it is baby-sh-t blue!, ok go duke!!
all that was missing after that debacle
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 22:01 — TheMambaSTRIKESwas a Lone Ranger mask ......for complete anonymity.....
mamby!!!!
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 12:23 — bluecat69bluecat69GREAT COMMENT!!!
I bet
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 21:18 — gvillegatrstate fans, who claim Butch Davis is a bad game day coach, could field a bball team and beat this current batch of Heels. I'd put money on it.
blood in the water
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 21:05 — gvillegatrwhen you are as good as the Heels have been since 1910 and you happen to suck one year, well, evcery team you play is just that more chraged to play ya.
Just pound you into the gorund if they can and thats exactly what the "Noels are doin'.
Absolutley this team is garbage. no question. but I feel teams will get up for you more during one bad season as opposed to when you are good.
case in point is the effectiveness of the 3 pt shot by every team they play.
G-ALLIGATOR!!
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 12:28 — bluecat69bluecat69GREAT COMMENT, YOUR TEAM IS GARBAGE, SO IS YOUR COACH , OK, DO U KNOW WHAT A 3 PT. DEFENSE LOOKS LIKE, BECAUSE YOUR LOUSY TEAM DONT, OK, GO DUKE!!!!!
Solution to the Heel's problems
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 21:56 — JPDOhioMaybe they can petition the ACC to play half their games against NC State. That would assure them of finishing no worse than .500 in conference play.
ditty
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 12:43 — bluecat69bluecat69U ARE NOW A BOTTOM FEEDER, LIKE THE COW COLLEGE, HOW IS THAT WORKING OUT FOR U? DUKE IS THE ONLY GOOD TEAM IN THE ACC, WHY DONT U BECOME A DUKE FAN? GO DUKE!!!!!!!!
whats that say about DUIke!?
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 14:15 — gvillegatrwhen DUIke is the only good team in the ACC, that says more about DUIke than anyhting else.
DUIke can only be good when the ACC is not.
For example: The Matt Dohrtey years.
g-alligator
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 16:13 — bluecat69bluecat69your rationalization makes no sense at all , your team is a bottom feeder like the cow college, right! duke is the best team in the acc, right! holes are bad , right! even with those 10 mickey-d's and a coach that is getting ready to explode, ok. go duke!!!!!!!!!!
maybe
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 22:57 — gvillegatrSwofford could look into that!?
Apparently Swofford and the other ACC execs are always looking out for the boys in light blue!
also
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 21:16 — gvillegatrit doesn't hurt when you have a team full of (mostly) quitters.
G-ALLIGATOR!!
Thu, 02/25/2010 - 12:49 — bluecat69bluecat69U ARE CORRECT, AND I HATE TO ADMIT THAT, BUT THE HOLES ARE QUITTERS, I WOULD BE ASHAMED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A TEAMOF QUITTERS, MAYBE COACH K WILL LET THEM ALL BECOME BLUEDEVIL FANS, OK, GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!