MY MEMORABLE STATE-UNC MOMENT: Nate Irving
Wolfpack legend Nate Irving recalls playing the Tar Heels and his most memorable moment from the State-Carolina rivalry.
I didn't grow up in North Carolina, so I didn't know a lot about this rivalry before I came here in high school, but what sticks with me about State-Carolina is the license plate you'll see around Raleigh, a House Divided. Your Mom may have went here, or your Dad may have went there. You always hear about it and even with families it's a big deal.
I knew how big it was after I signed my letter of intent with NC State. You hear about beating them, and you start feeling a disdain for UNC. Even before I got to Raleigh I knew how important winning that game every year was.
After I got to State, I felt it even more. It's just how they carry themselves. When you talk to somebody from that school it's "I'm better than you because I go to UNC" or "You go to State, it's just a bunch of farmers."
It got to me, it got under my skin.
The year I missed, it was really tough not playing them. I was injured and we played them in Raleigh, coach Bible was sick, and we didn't have a good year. I went through a lot, and then with coach, it was tough. I always felt like I let the team down, by being out and not playing, but we went out and still beat those guys. It wasn't by a lot, but we ended that year with the win over them, and it didn't make up for the season, but it definitely felt good.
I came back my last year in 2011, and that was probably the biggest game in my career, playing them right before Maryland. I remember leading up to that game they talked about how we weren't rivals, and NC State wasn't a big game for them. That's our known rival and they were downplaying the game. To me, I felt like that was them quitting. I felt like they were quitting because we were kicking their asses every time we played. From the time those guys got there until they left, we kicked their asses.
We all know damn well that's the big game in the state, so for them to admit things like that and for us to go out and beat them, it felt good. After the game there was nothing better than celebrating in their empty stadium and completing a sweep.
It felt so damn good.
My most memorable moment from the series was that game. Like I said, it felt so good. The touchdown pass from Russ, the fight in the back of the endzone, TJ's punt return, the defense kicking their asses at the end after we got the lead... I'd pick that whole game as my memorable moment because I don't think I could pick just one.
Our seniors get to play them on Senior Day, and for me I played Wake Forest on my Senior Day, not North Carolina. It's emotional, but you have to flip that switch and be ready to play right away. You need to be in the right mindset because what's important is getting that win and going out with a win your last game in Carter-Finley Stadium.
If you can do that against them, that would be really special.
When I was in the league and came across guys from UNC, you'd hear this and that about the rivalry, but I never lost to them. I'm going to have to that forever, and I'll mention that anytime I come across a UNC football player, a UNC coach, or a UNC fan.
I'll gladly celebrate that I never lost to them when I was on the field.
