What is your favorite UNC radio call of all time?

TL;DR

Woody Durham, the iconic voice of the UNC Tar Heels, was honored with a plaque at Kenan Football Stadium and received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Recent events have sparked nostalgia for memorable radio calls in sports.

Key points

Woody Durham honored at Kenan Football Stadium
Received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine
Nostalgia for radio broadcasts among UNC fans
Changes in NHL broadcasting affecting fan experience

Mentioned in this story

Woody DurhamNorth Carolina Tar HeelsKenan Football StadiumBev PerdueDick Baddour

Jan, 10, 2012; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Former North Carolina Tar Heels voice Woody Durham is honored at half time. Durham will have his name on a plaque in the radio booth at Kenan Football Stadium and was given The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the Governor. From left to right is NC Governor Bev Perdue, wife Jean Durham, Woody Durham, and former Athletic Director Dick Baddour. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Everyone has a moment where nostalgia takes over, and a series of events over the past few days reminded me of the magic of the radio.

It started on Saturday. If you are a Carolina Hurricanes fan, you’re aware that the Stanley Cup Playoffs have moved to national broadcasts only, and while the NHL has a stable of pretty good to great announcers at the microphone, the fact is that they aren’t the pair of broadcasters fans are used to listening to. That pair moved to do radio only broadcasts, and that brought out a post on Bluesky that felt like it was speaking right to me:

As a UNC fan you should be nodding your head heavily right now.

The fact is that as much vitriol as I had for the likes of Dick Vitale and Billy Packer growing up, I barely listened to them because I always—and I mean always—muted my TV and turned on the radio to the Tar Heel Sports Network to hear the call from Woody Durham and Mick Mixon. It wasn’t until I actually got to Carolina that the practice stopped, and ultimately when I moved away from the area before a radio call was available on the Internet that I listened to national voices more.

So this bit of nostalgia was already in my brain when the sad news of legendary New York Yankees radio announcer came down on Monday. It brought back to mind when I had heard of Durham’s passing, and it helped me empathize with Yankee fans who must have had childhood memories opened up like a treasure chest, as he was the voice of the modern era of the Yankee title wins. He was quirky, and he was theirs.

Q&A

Who is Woody Durham and why was he honored?

Woody Durham is the former voice of the North Carolina Tar Heels, honored with a plaque at Kenan Football Stadium and awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine for his contributions.

What is The Order of the Long Leaf Pine?

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is one of North Carolina's highest honors, awarded for significant contributions to the state.

What recent events have sparked nostalgia among UNC fans?

Recent changes in NHL broadcasting, particularly the move of familiar announcers to radio-only broadcasts, have reminded UNC fans of their cherished radio moments.

How has radio broadcasting impacted sports fandom?

Radio broadcasting has created lasting memories for sports fans, often evoking nostalgia for iconic calls and moments associated with their favorite teams.