How c/o of '06 saved UNC Football

Among the many great locker room conversations from my four years as a member of UNC football, one of the most heated would definitely be who had the best class. As biased as my opinion may be because of my membership in the class of ’06 I will try to give an impartial argument as to how the c/o of ’06 saved UNC football.

When the 26 young men from across the country signed their Letter of Intent to attend the University of North Carolina, it was unknown the impact these student athletes would have on the football field but the last thing we were lacking was the confidence. From signing day, being UNC’s first nationally ranked recruiting class of the decade, we were a confident group. Just weeks on campus, we coined the slogan “0-6 we tha Shit”. Simple and to the point, but it was the confidence we came onto campus with that would change the mindset of Tarheel football forever.

Three members of the class (Morgan Randal, Zach Henderson, Logan Buchanan) never got the opportunity to lace them up in Kenan Stadium due to injury hardships but took advantage of their opportunity by finishing their academic careers at UNC. And then there were 23. Of the 23 members of c/o of ’06 that did get to participate in on field action at UNC, 8 were named starters for their first ever college football games. 17 of the 23 active members of the class of ’06 started at least one game during their time at UNC.

This class’s impact is a lot deeper than stats and records. With a 31-32 overall record, while members of the class were eligible, is not overwhelming. The impact this class made on the transition of UNC football from the laughing stock of campus to yearly ACC contender is more telling of the impact this class made. While enduring a 3-9 season with 23 of the 26 member class being red shirted and a 4-8 season the next with double digit freshman starters. Those two trying season’s laid the foundation for the next 3 years and really the future of Carolina football. With the excitement Butch Davis brought to the program, the on field production is what helped maintain the momentum.

I don’t want to get into singling out members of the class because I know I’ll forget people but from the 4 year starting QB to the practice squad MVP this class, my class, changed the direction of UNC football. After the 4-8 season mentioned before UNC went on to 3 straight 8-5 season’s along with 3 straight bowl appearances. This class was the backbone of the rebuilding process, and the start of the future. UNC next five recruiting classes have been nationally ranked and we have been in the AP top 25 at some point the last 3 seasons.

Class of ’06 has made an impact on more than just the football field. With a new community service imitative UNC football impacted the entire Chapel Hill community. In the 2009-2010 UNC football accounted for the most community service hours of all UNC athletic teams and even accounted for more hours than the entire NPHC (look it up). Also of the 26 members of the c/o of ’06 20 got the opportunity to wear a Carolina Blue Cap and Gown. As we coined back in the summer of ’06, I say loud and proud “0-6, we tha Shit”.



Just a thought.