By: Asheebo Rojas (’23), Staff Writer
Greear Webb and his friends get to Kenan Stadium early on game days. He tries to sit on the front row of the student section — or as close as possible — and takes in the atmosphere while interacting with coaches and players that walk by.
When the section is full right before kickoff, Black students like Webb appear to be the minority, as expected. According to Data USA, Black students made up 8% of the enrolled population at UNC in 2020 and only 10% of the 2022 first-years per UNC undergraduate admissions. Limited seating doesn’t make it better with only a portion of the student body represented in the stands.
Despite that, Black students are still front and center on Saturdays, making themselves seen while cheering on the Tar Heels amongst their classmates. Reasons for such dedication include fun and fandom, but also, the Black student football experience just means more.
On the surface, some Black students are like many Tar Heel fans, making the game an all-day outing. Junior Taylor Dixon starts game day at her residence, helping her roommate on the dance team with her hair and makeup. Then, she arrives at Kenan as early as two and a half hours before kickoff and stays through the entire game.
Some students pre-game by joining the Greeks at tailgates hosted by the Divine Nine, or they go to events presented by Black UNC alumni.
“I’ve definitely stopped by some of the Black alumni tailgates, and those have been a great experience,” Webb said. “Not being D9 myself, I don’t necessarily go to the D9 tailgates, but I have friends who I know stop by or help put those on before the game. It’s another way to build a sense of community, build a sense of Black community here at Carolina around athletics.”
That sense of community travels to the student section during the game — the time and place in which the Black student football experience becomes unique. At that moment, Black students aren’t just having fun. They’re simultaneously supporting athletes who are Black students at a PWI just like them.
According to the NCAA, Black athletes were the largest demographic amongst Power Five conferences in the Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision in 2021. More than half of the 2022 football roster at UNC is Black. Off the field, those players are part of a much smaller percentage.
“We often kid around with the statement ‘strength in numbers’, but I genuinely feel that is also the case when it comes down to Black people at PWIs,” defensive lineman Kaimon Rucker said. “There’s times where we feel like there’s not a lot of us around.”
Rucker acknowledges the importance of seeing and connecting with Black students on campus mostly due to the support such interactions provide.
“You don’t want to be on campus and feel alone and feel like you don’t have a support system,” Rucker said. “You want to be involved with familiar faces, familiar company. So, it’s just when you have people like us around campus, it brings you a sense of comfort, and you want to try to get to know them. Once you get to know them I feel like the support is very strong in that sense.”
Bringing that support with a familiar face is a significant reason why Webb prioritizes his participation in game day.
“To be able to support them as Black Students, I think, is very powerful,” Webb said. “I definitely encourage other Black students to support athletics, to support the football team, to come out early, especially for those bigger games. Because, it’s important that the team, especially the Black players, see that support from students that are also Black. I think that’s key.”
When Rucker sees his Black peers in the student section from the field, it brings him joy and happiness because they are just like him. Rucker can relate to the Black student fans because they both put in work to attend UNC and are striving for success at a PWI.
For any Black students making their first appearance at a football game this season, Dixon provided some tips for a good experience in the loud and rowdy student section.
“Plan to get there early because there will be a line. There’s always a long line,” Dixon said. “Eat, drink, stay hydrated, be prepared for any weather, and just have fun.”
Image Source: https://goheels.com/news/2020/9/8/football-tar-heels.aspx
