UNC - University of National Champions

As you all know, Monday was the big game. What every college basketball fan lives for. 

Lee is NOT a college basketball fan, and therefore a boring game-watching companion. In fact, he sometimes pulls against Carolina, which infuriates me. So I told him I didn't want to watch the game with him. He said he didn't blame me. 

I made plans to watch the game at the Dean Dome with friends. When UNC won the national championship in 2005 I was a sophomore at Carolina and we all watched the game together at the Dean Dome, then ran up to Franklin Street for some revelry. I felt good about the game this year, and didn't want to be sitting home in Holly Springs if we won, regretting not being in Chapel Hill.

Needless to say, the energy at the Dean Dome was amazing: fans of all ages watching the big screens, dancing to Jump Around, doing all the UNC cheers together and hugging and celebrating as the game drew to a close. We were all moved and awed watching Hansbrough come off the court for the last time as a Tar Heel.

And my favorite part: swaying shoulder-to-shoulder singing the alma mater as we watched our boys in blue being showered with that wonderful confetti. Hark the Sound has never sounded sweeter.

Here's a pic of Sara, Chrissy and I before the game, hoping for a repeat of 2005:

After the game, we made our way to Franklin Street. Here's a shot of the whole group:

As tradition dictates, there were fires:

And people in trees:

And people on light poles:

And people in banana suits:

Ok, not sure about the banana suit but whatever. 

If you've ever been on Franklin Street on Halloween, after a Duke win, or after a national championship, you know that it's exciting and terrifying all at the same time. There are so many people crammed together and pushing and shoving that things can quickly turn south. We did get separated from part of our group but had picked a meeting spot beforehand in case we got split up, so everything worked out. 

It was a bit of a wakeup call however when after wanting to clock all of the drunk girls who kept falling into us, I realized that we used to be those girls. Maybe not that bad, but silly, giggly and naive. Oh, how I'm glad to be over that phase of life! 

Anyways, here's an awesome timelapse video of Franklin Street from The Daily Tar Heel:

Timelapse: Franklin Street after the victory from The Daily Tar Heel on Vimeo.

So, congrats to our boys, and thanks for such a great season and making us so proud to be Tar Heels!

(**Note: the above pictures were shamelessly stolen from photographer extraordinaire Emily Dawson, because I always forget my camera.)