UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL In October 1888, the University of North Carolina participated in one of the first known college football games south of the Mason-Dixon Line. From that humble beginning, UNC football has developed into a nationally recognized program with a huge fan base. University of North Carolina Football chronicles the long and distinguished history of the Tar Heels, from the teams of the early 20th century, to the glory days of Charlie Choo Choo Justice in the late 1940s, to excellent modern defensive players such as Lawrence Taylor and Julius Peppers.