The next several days give every Tar Heel loyalist a cornucopia of Carolina sports events to watch. You know that the football team will play NC State in Raleigh and that the men's basketball team plays Nevada in Chapel Hill on Sunday evening. A football win may or may not change the bowl venue in which the team will play in late December or early January. A basketball win will be the 7th for the 11th-ranked Tar Heels. The football and basketball games just mentioned are on TV and are likely sell-outs.
But there are other games that are critical to UNC teams, they are not televised, and these two teams badly need our attendance to cheer them on to victories that will send the women to the National Championship round (Final Four) in Women's Soccer at Texas A&M and will send the men to the Quarterfinal round of the men's NCAA Soccer Championship. The women are 20-3-1 and face Wake Forest at 2pm on Friday at Fetzer. Home field advantage? Maybe not, unless you and I are there. This is Thanksgiving break at the University meaning that the students won't be there. It is up to us to be there, to be loud in their support, and to "turn it blue!" By the way, parking will not be a problem and the weather promises to be sunny with temps in the 50's. What a great way to cheer off some of the food that you ate on Thursday!
On Sunday at 2pm at Fetzer, the men host Indiana. Our men carry a 14-2-3 record into the match. A win would send them into a quarterfinal match against either Drake or Boston College the next weekend. A win in the quarterfinal round would send them to the Final Four to be played at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. Again, while some of the students might be back in town from Thanksgiving break, it is likely that the support in the seats that the Heels need and deserve will come from you and me and others like us who love the Heels. I'll be there - how about you. Again, parking will not be a problem and the weather should be excellent!
But soccer, football, and men's basketball isn't all that is going on in the next several days. The 4th ranked Carolina Women play two games in that period. Today at 1pm, the women host Presbyterian, and on Sunday their opponent will be Charleston Southern at 12:30. Parking will not be a problem. Tickets will be on sale at the ticket office in the Williamson Building. Seating is fabulous (in the Dean Dome until late December when the games will return to a newly-renovated Carmichael Auditorium). This team also needs your support today and on Sunday. Last Sunday, they beat UNLV in Las Vegas and return home now to play two games before traveling to Michigan State on December 3. Remember, the students are away on break so it is up to us to cheer this team on. If you haven't seen them play this year, you have a real treat ahead of you. If you've never seen them play, you have missed an incredible team and an incredible sport! There is no time like the present to have the Carolina women's basketball experience!
The wrestling team is in action but in Troy, NY. If you, by some chance, are in Troy on the 28th, go by Lehigh University and pull for our Heels! By the way, in case you don't know, the men and the women both had overwhelming victories over the field in the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia last weekend. At this point in the season, the men are undefeated and the women have a single loss. Unfortunately, you will not be able to see these teams compete again in Chapel Hill until January 9 when the Clemson Tigers come to town.
In terms of sports, we Tar Heel fans have much to be thankful for. This fall season has been very good to us so far, and the soccer teams are likely to make it even better. My suggestion - show them how much you appreciate what they are doing for all of us and for our favorite university by being there for them on Friday afternoon (the women play at 2pm) and on Sunday afternoon (the men also play at 2pm). Between now and then, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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