UNC football to battle for victory bell in Durham

It’s simple in form — a brass bell, held up by four rubber wheels, rung by a slew of overly excited college students.

But it’s more than that. It determines bragging rights for 365 days, 52 weeks a year.

“It’s nothing you can really explain to (the younger guys),” senior safety Tim Scott says. “At the end of the year, you want to have the bell on campus.”

The Victory Bell is given to the winner of the annual matchup between the North Carolina (5-5, 3-3 ACC) and Duke football teams. For 21 of the past 24 seasons, the blue paint covering the shell has been on the lighter side and the prize has nestled into a home in Kenan Memorial Stadium.

But for the past two seasons, the bell has been in Durham painted royal blue.

In 2012, the Blue Devils won on a touchdown in Durham with 13 seconds remaining. A year later in Chapel Hill, UNC’s unlucky number was 13 again, as quarterback Marquise Williams threw an interception with 13 seconds left in the Tar Heels’ two-point loss.

“Oh my gosh,” Scott said he remembered thinking. “We just lost to Duke again. We’re not used to saying that.”

Now, Williams, Scott and the Tar Heels are out for revenge when they head to Wallace Wade Stadium tonight to retrieve what they think is rightfully theirs.

“We’re just ready to get the bell back,” Williams said. “We want to be known as the team to remember in November. Duke’s in the way trying to stop us.”

The Tar Heels, coming off a 40-35 victory over Pittsburgh Saturday, have only had a few days to prepare for what very well could be their most important game of the season, as they’re one game away from becoming bowl eligible.

Coach Larry Fedora said the team practiced at full speed on Monday but only went about 75 percent Tuesday, without shoulder pads.

“It’s not normal. It’s not normal because the whole week is different for you,” he said. “As the players, they’ve got to do a great job of staying in the moment, making sure they’ve done a great job of adjusting their minds to what day of practice it is and the way it works. It’s a different situation.”

Outside of the mental aspect, the key for UNC will be to limit the production of quarterback Anthony Boone and wide receiver Jamison Crowder.

Together the duo accounted for two of Duke’s three touchdowns in 2013. They currently lead the Blue Devils in passing and receiving.

The Tar Heels know this. They’re not ignoring the fact that Duke is 8-2, 4-2 ACC and one of the most dynamic teams in the Coastal Division. They’re also not ignoring what’s on the line when the sky turns black in Durham tonight.

“We have a lot going for this game,” Scott said. “This game could get us bowl eligible, we could get the bell back again and we could beat Duke. Three things in one game.”

sports@dailytarheel.com