Keeping It Heel
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UNC Football: Top 5 Tar Heel Teams In The Last 40 Years

By Richard Adkins

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 21: North Carolina Tar Heels players take the field during their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kenan Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Mountaineers won 34-31. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 21: North Carolina Tar Heels players take the field during their game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kenan Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Mountaineers won 34-31. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 31: Kelvin Bryant #24 of the Washington Redskins look on during Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos on January 31, 1988 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 31: Kelvin Bryant #24 of the Washington Redskins look on during Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos on January 31, 1988 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) /

1981 North Carolina Tar Heels

Coming in 3rd on the list the 1981 Tar Heels led by head coach Dick Crum.

This 1981 Tar Heel team went 10-2 while going 5-1 in the conference thanks to their balanced play on both sides of the ball. They averaged 31.2 points per game which ranked 8th out of 137 schools while giving up an average of 12.5 points per game ranking 12th out of 137 schools. This was Crum 4th season as head coach and his 3rd season in a row being ranked with this season-ending with a 9th ranking on AP.

This season included a bunch of talented players such as running back Kelvin Bryant who rushed for 1,015 yards and had 18 touchdowns on the season. On the defensive side of the ball, Walter Black and Greg Poole were locked down defensive backs with Black catching and leading the team with 6 interceptions and Poole having 3 interceptions with 2 of those being pick-sixes. 8 players on this 1981 roster ended up playing in the NFL to just put a stamp on how talented and special this 1981 team truly was.

The 1981 Heels ended their season on a 3 game win streak including a Gator Bowl victory over Arkansas 31-27 making them one of the best Tar Heel football teams in the last 40 years.

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