Without a doubt, N.C. State used to have a more glorious record in basketball. Two national championships in two decades solidified the University as a part of college basketball history.
At the time, it seemed like the triangle – the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Duke University and N.C. State — completely dominated the sport and the rivalry spilled over into most other facets.
Today, some may think differently, especially our cross-town peers. From a UNC student, the rivalry seems to only be alive with Duke.
Michael Tobben, an undecided freshman at UNC, said he doesn’t see much of a rivalry between the two schools.
“It’s not that big of a rivalry to us. [N.C. State] cares about it more than we do. We care so much about Duke it’s hard to care about any other team. When you’re in one that is considered the biggest in sports, any others feel insignificant.”
He did admit N.C. State is not completely insignificant.
“I guess N.C. State would be the second biggest [rivalry]… in football anyway, in basketball not really. It hasn’t been much of a competition.”
Cathy McCormick, a senior in journalism at UNC, has had more time to evaluate the rivalry but had the same opinion.
“Duke is the biggest rivalry by far in basketball and next comes most ACC schools. I would say our second biggest would be State, but I think it is more of a proximity thing,” McCormick said.
McCormick explained that most inter-conference games are comparable in terms of a rivalry.
“I would say though that all ACC games have the same feeling. Football games [against N.C. State] are more intense because we feel a pressure to beat N.C. State — it’s been a while,” McCormick said.
Many might consider UNC and N.C. State academic rivals, but McCormick had a different perspective.
“It’s like comparing apples and oranges because N.C. State is so math and science minded and UNC is so strong in the humanities. Academically, they are so different,” McCormick said. “I wouldn’t compare the two… they are strong in different ways.”
N.C. State students seem to have a different perspective. Vasilios Dimopoulos, a junior in industrial engineering and a varsity soccer player, had strong feelings on the rivalry.
“The games are definitely the same in terms of preparation and hydration and the normal aspects,” Dimopoulos said. “[Playing UNC] is definitely a tougher game mentally but at the end of the game you are still playing soccer and bringing to the table what you’ve worked so hard to do.”
Dimopoulos said the rivalry is turning for the better.
” The athletic department has begun a new chapter and I think we are going upward from here,” according to Dimopoulos.
When asked what sports garner the most out of the rivalry he said soccer, but admitted that every sport is competitive from top to bottom.
Oliver Stahlman, a senior in industrial engineering, said that the rivalry is just as strong as it’s ever been.
“UNC is our biggest rival. I don’t know the history that well but I feel like it’s building. Our proximity to them and the history of competition makes it so,” Stahlman said. “Football is our foremost sport in the rivalry.”
Stahlman also sees more than just an athletic rivalry.
“I think UNC students compare how one school is better than the next and they do it on many different levels. UNC and State are usually compared with facilities, academics, sports and the overall campuses.”
Stahlman also considered who else students consider to be our rivals.
“I’ve heard many say ECU and sometimes Duke. I think Duke is a rival by default due to proximity and history between the schools,” Stahlman said.
From a historic perspective, Chapel Hill seems to have been the dominant rival. Ken Funderburk, a civil engineer who graduated in 1967, said UNC was the big rival in his day.
“At the time it was UNC Chapel Hill. Everyone watched basketball and football — probably more basketball though,” Funderburk said.
Funderburk said the rivalry has not changed much over the years and his feelings about UNC have only grown stronger.
“It was serious back then and probably more serious now. Primarily [the rivalry] was sports but maybe some other things too,” Funderbunk said. “If I were going from Raleigh to Greensboro, I wouldn’t be going through Chapel Hill…I would be reluctant to park my car if I was ever over there.”