Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Football program receives record-setting donation

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 07: General view of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Miami Hurricanes at Kenan Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 07: General view of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Miami Hurricanes at Kenan Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The UNC Football program received a record-setting donation earlier this week and will now re-name the field at Kenan Memorial Stadium

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ football program is trending upwards following a 7-6 season and their first bowl win since 2013.

In Mack Brown’s return to the program, UNC showed signs of turning things around after two dismal years in 2017 and 2018 in which they won a combined total of three games. Things were bleak, but Brown has started to work his magic and put some excitement back into the program.

While we await the decision on the 2020 college football season among this COVID-19 pandemic, the football program received some more good news this week. On Monday, the University along with the Rams Club announced the largest gift in history dedicated to supporting the UNC football program with new resources.

The donation of a multi-million dollar gift from the Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation will go to the continued support of the football program. It’s now the largest single donation in University history, surpassing gifts of $10 million from Ken and Cheryl Williams in 2016 and Steve and Debbie Vetter in 2017 per the school.

With the new donation, the program will officially rename the field at Kenan Memorial Stadium to “Chris Smith Field” honoring their son, Chris, who is an alum as part of the ’87 class. Chris also serves as member of The Rams Club’s Executive Board of Directors.

In addition to the field being re-named, the money will go to staffing needs, fund facility improvements and help build an endowment to cover future operating costs.

The Smith’s also released this statement with the donation:

"“Our family believes in the positive impact the University of North Carolina and its athletic program can have on our communities,” said Eddie Smith. “Watching the Tar Heels play in Kenan Stadium has been a family affair for over 60 years, and it was important to us to support Coach Mack Brown and his vision for Carolina Football. To be able to honor my son Chris – someone who has shared my passion for Carolina and for promoting positive leadership qualities – is very special. It’s a blessing for us to be able to provide a lasting legacy for Carolina and its football program.”"

Following the success of the 2019 team, UNC will welcome in a Top 20 recruiting class for the 2020 circuit. To build off of that, Brown and his staff have a Top 3 class for the 2021 recruiting cycle as well.

Exciting times in Chapel Hill are ahead.

Next. UNC linebacker receiving some early NFL Draft praise. dark

For more on the UNC Football program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

Home/UNC Football