If there is one thing UNC is known for, it's the infectious sports culture.
But for students coming to the University for the first time, the sports scene can sometimes be overwhelming.
Imagine this: The fall semester has just begun, your first week of classes have been completed and you’ve started making some friends on campus. You manage to score some tickets to a football game through the student ticket lottery system, and you’re excited. That fateful day arrives and everyone's flooding Kenan Stadium, but a few thoughts enter your mind upon arrival.
This is awesome — followed by — how does this work and what should I know?
To get inside the stadium, students need to pass a security checkpoint. The Carolina Athletic Association recommends that fans leave bags at home. If someone needs to bring a bag in, small clear bags are allowed. Items that may cause excessive distraction to the players are prohibited, such as artificial noisemakers, explosives, fireworks and laser pointers.
Although outside food and drink isn't allowed, students can purchase food at the stands inside Kenan Stadium. All transactions are cashless, so cards are needed to buy concessions. Fans are limited to two alcoholic beverages per transaction and alcohol sales are open until the fourth quarter begins.
When the game starts, the Marching Tar Heels will hype up the crowd with their pregame routine.
There are many cheers and chants that are must-knows when you are at the football game. When the team receives a first down, the announcers will say "First down Tar..." to which everyone in the stadium will respond "Heels!" The chant is simple but effective; it’s easy to pick up on without much direction and incredibly powerful when the stadium is filled to capacity.
