Tar Heels Bring Back Helmet Decals for 2024 Season
This fall, the Carolina football team is bringing back a beloved tradition that dates back to the late 1970s: the Tar Heel foot decals on their helmets. Originally introduced during the Bill Dooley era, these decals serve as a visible reward for players who excel on the field, and they're making a comeback under Coach Mack Brown’s leadership.
The idea is simple yet powerful—players earn decals for hitting specific performance benchmarks during games. For example, if the Tar Heels open their season with a win against Minnesota, every player will add a decal to their helmet for the September 7th home opener against Charlotte. Individual achievements like rushing for 100 yards, executing a pancake block, or making 10 or more tackles will also be recognized with a decal.
Special teams players aren't left out either. If the kickoff team stops the opponent inside the 20-yard line, everyone on the unit earns a decal. Additionally, players named Offensive and Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week will receive decals, reinforcing the idea that every role on the team is vital.
This system is a nod to Brown’s first tenure at Carolina from 1988-97, when the program transformed from struggling with back-to-back 1-10 seasons to making six straight bowl appearances and securing Top 10 finishes in 1996-97. Brown saw the value in visible rewards back then, and he’s bringing them back now as the team looks to build on its recent success and push past the eight- to nine-win seasons that have become the norm.
"Everything we're doing now is trying to get from winning eight or nine games to winning every game," Brown said. "So, we're pulling out every little stop we feel might help our guys get better."
The helmet decals will be applied to both the Carolina blue and white helmets the team alternates throughout the season. White stickers will be used for the blue helmets, and blue stickers for the white helmets, creating a striking visual contrast that stands out on the field.
Graduate rush end Kaimon Rucker is particularly excited about the return of the decals. "There are some other teams in college football who do it, I like the way the decals pop out on their helmets," he said. "It gives them a little extra swag and style. We have a classy look—the Tar Heel foot and the black mark on the heel. It’s a little extra motivation and incentive."
As the Tar Heels gear up for the 2024 season, the return of the helmet decals is more than just a nod to the past—it’s a way to inspire the future. By recognizing individual and team achievements, this tradition adds an extra layer of competition and camaraderie, pushing the players to excel and proudly display their hard-earned accolades.
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