1979 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1979

| team = North Carolina Tar Heels

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Atlantic Coast Conference

| short_conf = ACC

| CoachRank = 14

| APRank = 15

| record = 8–3–1

| conf_record = 3–3

| head_coach = Dick Crum

| hc_year = 2nd

| off_coach =

| oc_year =

| off_scheme =

| def_coach =

| dc_year =

| def_scheme =

| captain = Buddy Curry

| stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium

| champion = Gator Bowl champion

| bowl = Gator Bowl

| bowl_result = W 17–15 vs. Michigan

}}

The 1979 North Carolina Tar Heels football team was an American football team that represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Dick Crum, the Tar Heels complied an overall record of 8–3–1, with a conference record of 3–3, and finished fifth in the ACC.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1979

| poll = AP

| timezone = Eastern

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 8

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = South Carolina

| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = Raycom

| score = 28–0

| attend = 49,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-tar-heels-get-the/139715868/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Tar Heels get their kicks in 28–0 win|date=September 9, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 22

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Pittsburgh

| opprank = 13

| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC

| tv = Raycom

| score = 17–7

| attend = 50,550

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-north-carolina-u/139736329/|work=The Des Moines Register|title=North Carolina upsets 13th-ranked Pitt, 17–7|date=September 23, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 29

| time = 2:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank = 20

| opponent = Army

| site_stadium = Michie Stadium

| site_cityst = West Point, NY

| tv = Raycom

| score = 41–3

| attend = 32,157

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-lawrence-stars-as-unbe/139736408/|work=The Tampa Tribune|title=Lawrence stars as unbeaten Tar Heels rout Army, 41–3|date=September 30, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 6

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 18

| opponent = Cincinnati

| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC

| tv = Raycom

| score = 35–14

| attend = 49,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-heels-rally-avery-upset/139736487/|work=Durham Morning Herald|title=Heels rally, avery upset|date=October 7, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 13

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| rank = 14

| opponent = Wake Forest

| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ABC

| score = 19–24

| attend = 50,720

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-wake-forest-stuns-unc/139735828/|work=Daily Press|title=Wake Forest stuns UNC|date=October 14, 1979|accessdate=January 27, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 20

| time = 4:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 19

| opponent = NC State

| opprank = 15

| site_stadium = Carter–Finley Stadium

| site_cityst = Raleigh, NC

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ABC

| score = 35–21

| attend = 54,200

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-tar-heels-subdue-w/139719295/|work=Winston-Salem Journal|title=Tar Heels subdue Wolfpack|date=October 21, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 27

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = t

| nonconf = y

| rank = 15

| opponent = East Carolina

| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC

| tv = Raycom

| score = 24–24

| attend = 49,700

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72668167/smoocher-heels-bucs-tie-one-on/|work=The News and Observer|title=Smoocher! Heels, Bucs tie one on|date=October 28, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 3

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 18

| opponent = Maryland

| site_stadium = Byrd Stadium

| site_cityst = College Park, MD

| tv = Raycom

| score = 14–17

| attend = 35,618

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-tice-castro-lead/139735474/|work=The News and Observer|title=Tice, Castro lead Terps by Tar Heels|date=November 4, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 10

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| opponent = Clemson

| opprank = 18

| site_stadium = Kenan Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC

| tv = Raycom

| score = 10–19

| attend = 50,100

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-tigers-boot-heels/139734926/|work=The Greenville News|title=Tigers boot Heels|date=November 11, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 17

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Virginia

| site_stadium = Scott Stadium

| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = Raycom

| score = 13–7

| attend = 31,472

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-news-tar-heels-defeat-cavaliers-13/139736659/|work=The Sun-News|title=Tar Heels defeat Cavaliers, 13–7|date=November 18, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 24

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Duke

| site_stadium = Wallace Wade Stadium

| site_cityst = Durham, NC

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = Raycom

| score = 37–16

| attend = 39,800

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-lawrence-unc-rush/139736742/|work=Winston-Salem Journal|title=Lawrence, UNC rush past Duke|date=November 25, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 28

| time = 9:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| neutral = y

| opponent = Michigan

| opprank = 14

| site_stadium = Gator Bowl Stadium

| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL

| gamename = Gator Bowl

| tv = ABC

| score = 17–15

| attend = 70,407

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-michigan-loses-gator/42979943/|work=Detroit Free Press|title=Michigan loses in Gator, 17–15|date=December 29, 1979|accessdate=January 28, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}{{cite web|title=1979 North Carolina Tar Heels Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=January 28, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/north-carolina/1979-schedule.html}}

Roster

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1979

| team = North Carolina Tar Heels

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players =

{{American football roster/Player|num=51|class=Jr|first=Rick|last=Donnalley|pos=C|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=12|class=Sr|first=Matt|last=Kupec|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=20|class=Jr|first=Amos|last=Lawrence|dab= Amos Lawrence (American football)|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=25|class=Sr|first=Doug|last=Paschal|pos=RB|link=y}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=57|class=Sr|first=Buddy|last=Curry|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=98|class=Jr|first=Lawrence|last=Taylor|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=76|class=Jr|first=Donnell|last=Thompson|pos=DT|link=y}}

| special_teams_players=

}}

{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=

| head_coach = *Dick Crum

| asst_coach =

| accessdate=

}}

1979 team players in the NFL

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

class="wikitable" width="80%"
align="center" style="background:#99BADD;color:#FFFFFF;" \| Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Buddy Curry	Linebacker	2	36	Atlanta Falcons
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Doug Paschal	Running back	5	121	Minnesota Vikings
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Phil Farris	Wide receiver	11	297	Denver Broncos
align="center" bgcolor=""

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1980/draft.htm?redir|title=1980 NFL Draft|publisher=Pro-Football-Reference|access-date=October 21, 2012}}

References

North Carolina

Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football seasons

Category:Gator Bowl champion seasons

North Carolina Tar Heels football