Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s a story about a great new museum opening next week in Chapel Hill. The museum, located on the first floor of the new Ernie Williamson Athletics Center on Skipper Bowles Drive, is the first basketball-only museum for a university in the country. It’s on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill.
Just goes to show you how important basketball is in Chapel Hill, and in the Tar Heel state. I can’t wait to check it out.
It showcases memorabilia from every era of UNC basketball, including: 1950s legend Lennie Rosenbluth’s shorts (which featured a red stripe around the waistband), the floor from the 2005 championship game, Mitch Kupchak’s No. 21 socks, current coach Roy Williams’ collegiate textbooks, Bobby Jones’ 1972 Olympics jersey, and the protective facemask All-America forward Tyler Hansbrough wore last season after suffering a broken nose against Duke.
It also displays the evolution of the Tar Heels’ uniforms, Smith’s basketball innovations, a six-minute game day theater presentation, interactive videos of the 30 greatest plays in Carolina basketball history; and a database that will feature biographies, photos and statistics of every Tar Heels player. Eventually, every former coach and player still living will autograph a giant interlocking NC on one wall.
“It’s all designed to bring out emotion; not just to see the history, but to re-live the history,” said Steve Kirschner, UNC’s Associate Athletic Director for Communications and a member of the museum committee.
The idea for a new museum was forged about five years ago, when Smith decided to donate his extensive collection of memorabilia to the school. With 12 ACC trophies and 12 Final Four trophies divided between Carmichael Auditorium (where the team used to play) and the Smith Center, it seemed like a good idea to put it all in once place.
Dozens of former Tar Heels donated items, and offers for additional memorabilia keep coming in. And just in case, enough space in the “Championships” room was left for four more title trophies.
Admission is free, and the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (except on game days, when it will close 60 minutes before tipoff on weekdays, and open 3 1/2 hours before weekend games).
And while Hart’s watch, Vince Carter’s warmup jacket and Eric Montross’ massive hightop shoes will all appeal to UNC fans, there is even a reason for the Duke faithful to sneak a peek.
Showcased among Michael Jordan’s letters of intent, Dream Team jersey and game-improvement tips from Smith is a type-written letter signed by Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski. Dated Oct. 29, 1980, it begins: “I am sorry to hear that you no longer have an interest in learning about Duke University …”
but at the same time i know you were just quoting the story im not correcting you its just the only way i could air it out ya know
i was waitin for that.it doesnt matter where it is its hooked to our damn arena its part of our university….so that means its a university basketball museum…….university of kentucky basketball museum,so that means its not "the first basketball-only museum for a university in the country".
Chris, looks like the UK basketball museum is located in downtown. The UNC museum is on campus. Thus the explanation in the story and blogpost that UNC’s museum is the first "university" basketball-only museum.
Chris, i’m quoting the news story. take it up with them.
i love unc basketball after my wildcats but the truth is unc does not have the first basketball only museum.im so sick of see this everywhere!!if they have the first basketball museum why did they come to the university of kentucky to get ideas for theres…come on b4 you post something check up on it