North Carolina's football season will end the same way it began with a game against an SEC opponent.
The Tar Heels accepted a bid to the Music City Bowl on Sunday to face the University of Tennessee at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 30 on ESPN.
UNC opened the season with a 30-24 loss to LSU in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta. Despite an NCAA investigation, which claimed 14 players for at least one game and seven for the entire season, the Tar Heels went 7-5 in coach Butch Davis' fourth season to reach a third straight bowl game.
"I congratulate our student-athletes and coaching staff for their hard work, determination and perseverance this season," UNC athletic director Dick Baddour said in a statement released by the school.
It's the first time since a seven-year bowl run under Mack Brown and Carl Torbush, from 1992 to '98, that UNC has been to three straight bowls.
The Volunteers went 6-6 under first-year coach Derek Dooley and finished the season with four straight wins.
The Vols went 3-5 in the Southeastern Conference record and won only one game against a team with a winning record, Tennessee-Martin (6-5), a Football Championship Subdivision team.
Comments
I'm looking forward to the game.
Tue, 12/07/2010 - 15:55 — UNC1998Should be a good one.
Obviously, Carolina was only
Mon, 12/06/2010 - 15:40 — mad_maxObviously, Carolina was only picked for this bowl because Coach Davis has a fraction of Cherokee in his blood. Have fun in the affirmative action bowl!!
Nah, but seriously, this bowl game is the perfect choice. It's close by, against the flagship of a neighboring state, and of course the storyline behind this one is so juicy. Looking forward to watching this one.
Close by
Mon, 12/06/2010 - 16:26 — gvillegatrI can get to Orlando ( a long with many other Heels fans ) faster than I could get to Nashville. So with that being said, congrats on your alls bowl bid. You are not far from Orlando and your storyline is not juicy in playing WVa. I look forward to watching this game!
One back hand deserves another in cyber space !
GATR
Wed, 12/08/2010 - 10:32 — unc098great flights outa RDU on Southwest to Nashville non stop. might want to snag one soon. Great town and bunches of fun stuff to do. Unfortunately I will be in Vermont with my son who lives in Nashville. Guess we have to watch it on tha tube. GO HEELS
Yes sir
Wed, 12/08/2010 - 12:57 — gvillegatrAppreciate the heads up, but with two kids under five and a wife who works a the hospital, I'd be the only able to go and that simply will not fly during the holidays !
And, yes, I've spent two long weekends in Nashville before. Very underrated town. Tons to do downtown.
Have fun in Vermont with the family. Ought to be plenty of snow for skiing and snow mobile riding. Maybe even a nice outdoor fire ( with beverages of course) if you dare ! ...
Gatr
Sat, 12/11/2010 - 16:27 — unc098I hear that......And believe me, we will do all of the above in Vermont. Can't wait for some real winter.
Nashville is an absolute blast. Lots to do, as you say...great food, friendly folks and of course music.
I hope your holiday season is great. It ought to be fun with Gatr junior on board.
Back hand?
Mon, 12/06/2010 - 16:45 — mad_maxDon't be so defensive gatr. I delivered no back hand...not towards the Heels, at least. As a football fan, I think this is a great bowl selection.
The Cherokee reference was for the wacko (Maryland fan?) who posted on the thread about the Champs bowl.
Well
Mon, 12/06/2010 - 17:08 — gvillegatrNormally, with you, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is typically a duck.
Should be a great story
Sun, 12/05/2010 - 22:24 — unc098Should be a great story line...It will basically be a Tenn. home game though..even with a few thousand of our fans traveling. Doesn't matter though because I think the Heels are going to win this one.
Before this season began
Sun, 12/05/2010 - 18:56 — DukeAlumniBefore this season began didn't Tennessee back out of a commitment to play Carolina? This should make for good bulletin board material in the Carolina locker room.
Yes sir
Sun, 12/05/2010 - 19:56 — Heels20You are correct.
Nice
Sun, 12/05/2010 - 18:22 — Heels20Can't complain about this considering the circumstances. Let's send these guys out the right way.