South's Oldest Rivalry

This article is about the football game between North Carolina and Virginia. For other uses, see South's Oldest Rivalry (disambiguation).

South's Oldest Rivalry
North Carolina Tar Heels	Virginia Cavaliers
First game played	1892
Played annually since	1919
Games played	117 (through 2012)
Series record	North Carolina leads, 59–54–4
Largest margin of victory	Virginia 66–0 (November 26, 1912)
Highest scoring game	Virginia 56-24 (September 11, 2004)
Lowest scoring game	Tie 0–0 (November 29, 1923)
Most recent game	North Carolina 37–13 (November 15, 2012)
Next game	TBA
Current win streak	North Carolina 3

The South's Oldest Rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Virginia Cavaliers football team of the University of Virginia and the North Carolina Tar Heels football team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Both universities are currently members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), but the Cavaliers and Tar Heels played their first football game in 1892, over sixty years before the formation of the ACC.

Series history

Long being the most played game among all Football Bowl Subdivision series in the Southeastern United States, it has become known over the years simply as the South's Oldest Rivalry. It is also the oldest series in this highest division on the Atlantic coast. The 2010 meeting marked the 115th edition of this game (played continuously since 1919), five more than the Army–Navy Game (played continuously since 1930), and one more than the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry" (Georgia–Auburn, played continuously since 1944).

The game was first played in 1892, twice (Virginia won the first, and North Carolina the second). It is the 4th most played rivalry game among college football's BCS conference schools, behind three midwestern or Texan rivalries: Paul Bunyan's Axe (Minnesota–Wisconsin), Border War (Kansas–Missouri) and Lone Star Showdown (Texas–Texas A&M).

Virginia and North Carolina have faced each other more times, 116, than they have faced any other program. Second-most played is 103 for North Carolina versus Wake Forest University who North Carolina first played on October 18, 1888 losing by a score of 6-4. North Carolina leads the all-time series, 59–54–4, but Virginia is 20–9–1 in the rivalry since 1983. In 2010 UNC broke a long losing streak in Charlottesville with a 44-10 victory. It was UNC's first road win in the series since 1981, ending what many UNC fans mockingly described as the "Charlottesville Curse." In 2011 UNC posted a 28-17 victory in Kenan Stadium and Beat Virginia in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1982. The teams recently renewed their rivalry on November 15, 2012 in Charlottesville. UNC broke up a close game in the 4th quarter to win 37-13. It was UNC's second consecutive victory in Scott Stadium and third straight over all in the series. UNC currently leads 59-54-4.

Nature of the Rivalry

There is considerable historical lineage and academic standing between the two universities involved. The University of Virginia was founded by third President of the United States and founding father Thomas Jefferson whereas the University of North Carolina was the first operational state university in the United States & alma-mater of U.S President, James K Polk and literary writer Thomas Wolfe. When the Richard Moll book listing the original eight "Public Ivies" (public colleges with high academic and tough admissions standards) was published in 1985, there were only two sharing a common athletic conference: the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina.

In addition, the rivalry is also nicknamed the "Gentlemen's Rivalry." One reason for this moniker is the prestigious image, both academically & socially, of both universities. Both institutions' student bodies tend to mirror one another from a social & academic standpoint. As for today and recent decades, the rivalry has been lackluster and less heated despite a few recent historical wins by UNC. In 2010, former coach Butch Davis [UNC] ended a 14 year drought and won in Charlottesville (44-10), officially ending "the Charlottesville Curse" (commonly referred to by Carolina fans), and was UNC's first victory in Charlottesville since 1981. UNC also beat UVa the following season in 2011 to win 2 straight in the series, which had not been done by a UNC football team since the mid '70's into the early '80's, when Carolina won 9 straight and dominated the series. In addition, when UNC coach Mack Brown took over the Carolina program in the late 1980s and had very successful recruiting efforts, especially in the talent rich Tidewater (VA) area throughout the '90's, the rivalry really hit its peak when highly rated (VA) prospect Ronald Curry committed to North Carolina over Virginia.

Contributing factors

"Benedict Ronald"

Ronald Curry is sacked by the Virginia defense in 2000. This game was the third loss for Curry against the Cavaliers, and he completed his career with a 1–3 record in the South's Oldest Rivalry.

Widely considered the best high school football player of all time from the state of Virginia, and the only junior ever to be named the nation's top high school quarterback by USA Today, Ronald Curry announced a verbal commitment to George Welsh's Virginia program on September 4, 1997 during ESPN coverage of that night's game between Virginia and Auburn. With the commitment from Curry, Welsh was not able to recruit Michael Vick, whose stellar career in the same high school district was largely overshadowed by Curry's. While Curry's high school football coach, 12-time state champion Mike Smith, was happy that Curry would attend Virginia, Curry's AAU basketball coach Boo Williams told Curry he should decommit and go to a "basketball school" like North Carolina to get a better shot at the NBA.

Curry decommitted from Virginia and signed a letter of intent to North Carolina in April 1998. Meanwhile Michael Vick had signed with another major football rival of Virginia, Virginia Tech. This made Curry a very unpopular figure among Virginia fans, who referred to him by such terms as "Benedict Curry", "Benedict Ronald", or "WHN" (an abbreviation of "What's his name?"), and he won the "Sports Jerk of the Year" award for his actions in the nationally syndicated Tank McNamara comic strip.

Curry went on to become the career passing yards and total yards leader at UNC, but he was 1–3 against Virginia in the South's Oldest Rivalry. Curry's first trip to Charlottesville was greeted by much pre-game hype. Curry was soundly booed by the Scott Stadium crowd during his time on the field, and senior Oscar Davenport took most of the snaps at quarterback for UNC, going 18-of-33 for 227 yards in a 30-13 loss. UNC's sole victory against Virginia during Curry's time as a Tar Heel came when he was a senior in 2001, when he also split time at quarterback (with freshman Darian Durant). Curry did contribute one of the biggest plays in the 2001 game, a 66-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Sam Aiken that gave UNC a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. Curry finished 3-of-5 passing for 81 yards and rushed seven times for 39 more. Since the day Curry decommitted from Virginia and signed with UNC, the Heels have a 5–10 record (as of 2012) against the Cavaliers.

Curry also started two years at guard for North Carolina's basketball team and reached the Final Four with the Tar Heels in 2000. But he never played in the NBA. He spent seven seasons in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders as a wide receiver, catching 193 career passes for 2,347 yards and 13 touchdowns and played in one Super Bowl.

Famous Spectators

President Calvin Coolidge attended the 1928 game held on Thanksgiving Day in Charlottesville.

Probably the most famous spectator of this rivalry was present on Thanksgiving Day 1928. United States President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge were among the 20,000 spectators watching the game at Charlottesville to see North Carolina win 24–20 over Virginia.

Game results

Below are the results of all 115 meetings.

South's Oldest Rivalry
Date	Year	Location	Winner	Score	Series
Oct. 22	1892	Charlottesville	Virginia	30–18	UVA 1-0
Nov. 26	1892	Atlanta, GA	North Carolina	26–0	tie 1-1
Nov. 30	1893	Richmond, VA	Virginia	16–0	UVA 2-1
Nov. 22	1894	Richmond, VA	Virginia	34–0	UVA 3-1
Nov. 28	1895	Richmond, VA	Virginia	6–0	UVA 4-1
Nov. 26	1896	Richmond, VA	Virginia	46–0	UVA 5-1
Nov. 22	1897	Richmond, VA	Virginia	12–0	UVA 6-1
Nov. 24	1898	Richmond, VA	North Carolina	6–2	UVA 6-2
Nov. 24	1900	Norfolk, VA	Virginia	17–0	UVA 7-2
Nov. 23	1901	Richmond, VA	Virginia	23–6	UVA 8-2
Nov. 27	1902	Richmond, VA	Tie Game	12–12	UVA 8-2-1
Nov. 25	1903	Richmond, VA	North Carolina	16–0	UVA 8-3-1
Nov. 24	1904	Richmond, VA	Virginia	12–11	UVA 9-3-1
Nov. 30	1905	Richmond, VA	North Carolina	17–0	UVA 9-4-1
Oct. 26	1907	Richmond, VA	Virginia	9–4	UVA 10-4-1
Nov. 26	1908	Richmond, VA	Virginia	31–0	UVA 11-4-1
Nov. 24	1910	Richmond, VA	Virginia	7–0	UVA 12-4-1
Nov. 30	1911	Richmond, VA	Virginia	28–0	UVA 13-4-1
Nov. 26	1912	Richmond, VA	Virginia	66–0	UVA 14-4-1
Nov. 27	1913	Richmond, VA	Virginia	26–7	UVA 15-4-1
Nov. 26	1914	Richmond, VA	Virginia	20–3	UVA 16-4-1
Nov. 25	1915	Richmond, VA	Virginia	14–0	UVA 17-4-1
Nov. 30	1916	Richmond, VA	North Carolina	7–0	UVA 17-5-1
Nov. 27	1919	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	6–0	UVA 17-6-1
Nov. 24	1920	Charlottesville	Virginia	14–0	UVA 18-6-1
Nov. 24	1921	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	7–3	UVA 18-7-1
Nov. 30	1922	Charlottesville	North Carolina	10–7	UVA 18-8-1
Nov. 29	1923	Chapel Hill	Tie Game	0–0	UVA 18-8-2
Nov. 27	1924	Charlottesville	Virginia	7–0	UVA 19-8-2
Nov. 26	1925	Chapel Hill	Tie Game	3–3	UVA 19-8-3
Nov. 25	1926	Charlottesville	Virginia	3–0	UVA 20-8-3
Nov. 24	1927	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	14–13	UVA 20-9-3
Nov. 29	1928	Charlottesville	North Carolina	24–20	UVA 20-10-3
Nov. 25	1929	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	41–7	UVA 20-11-3
Nov. 27	1930	Charlottesville	North Carolina	41–0	UVA 20-12-3
Nov. 26	1931	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	13–6	UVA 20-13-3
Nov. 24	1932	Charlottesville	Virginia	14–7	UVA 21-13-3
Nov. 30	1933	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	14–0	UVA 21-14-3
Nov. 29	1934	Washington DC	North Carolina	25–6	UVA 21-15-3
Nov. 24	1935	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	61–0	UVA 21-16-3
Nov. 26	1936	Norfolk, VA	North Carolina	59–14	UVA 21-17-3
Nov. 25	1937	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	40–0	UVA 21-18-3
Nov. 24	1938	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	20–0	UVA 21-19-3
Nov. 30	1939	Norfolk, VA	North Carolina	19–0	UVA 21-20-3
Nov. 23	1940	Norfolk, VA	North Carolina	10–7	tie 21-21-3
Nov. 20	1941	Norfolk, VA	Virginia	28–7	UVA 22-21-3
Nov. 21	1942	Norfolk, VA	North Carolina	28–13	tie 22-22-3
Nov. 27	1943	Charleston, WV	North Carolina	54–7	UNC 23-22-3
Dec. 2	1944	Norfolk, VA	Virginia	26–7	tie 23-23-3
Dec. 1	1945	Charleston, WV	North Carolina	27–18	UNC 24-23-3
Nov. 30	1946	Roanoke, VA	North Carolina	49–14	UNC 25-23-3
Nov. 29	1947	Roanoke, VA	North Carolina	40–7	UNC 26-23-3
Nov. 27	1948	Roanoke, VA	North Carolina	34–12	UNC 27-23-3
Nov. 1	1949	Roanoke, VA	North Carolina	14–7	UNC 28-23-3
Dec. 2	1950	Roanoke, VA	Virginia	44–13	UNC 28-24-3
Nov. 10	1951	Charlottesville	Virginia	34–13	UNC 28-25-3
Nov. 4	1952	Chapel Hill	Virginia	34–17	UNC 28-26-3
Nov. 21	1953	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	33–7	UNC 29-26-3
Nov. 20	1954	Charlottesville	North Carolina	26–14	UNC 30-26-3
Nov. 21	1955	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	21–14	UNC 31-26-3
Nov. 10	1956	Charlottesville	Virginia	Forfeit	UNC 31-27-3
Nov. 30	1957	Chapel Hill	Virginia	20–13	UNC 31-28-3
Nov. 8	1958	Charlottesville	North Carolina	42–0	UNC 32-28-3
Nov. 14	1959	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	41–0	UNC 33-28-3
Nov. 26	1960	Charlottesville	North Carolina	35–8	UNC 34-28-3
Dec. 2	1961	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	24–0	UNC 35-28-3
Nov. 10	1962	Charlottesville	North Carolina	11–7	UNC 36-28-3
Sep. 21	1963	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	11–7	UNC 37-28-3
Nov. 14	1964	Charlottesville	Virginia	31–27	UNC 37-29-3
Oct. 2	1965	Chapel Hill	Virginia	21–17	UNC 37-30-3
Nov. 26	1966	Chapel Hill	Virginia	21–14	UNC 37-31-3
Nov. 11	1967	Charlottesville	Virginia	40–17	UNC 37-32-3
Nov. 9	1968	Chapel Hill	Virginia	41–6	UNC 37-33-3
Nov. 1	1969	Charlottesville	North Carolina	12–0	UNC 38-33-3
Oct. 31	1970	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	19–0	UNC 39-33-3
Nov. 1	1971	Charlottesville	North Carolina	32–20	UNC 40-33-3
Nov. 11	1972	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	23–3	UNC 41-33-3
Nov. 3	1973	Charlottesville	Virginia	44–40	UNC 41-34-3
Nov. 11	1974	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	24–10	UNC 42-34-3
Oct. 4	1975	Charlottesville	North Carolina	31–28	UNC 43-34-3
Nov. 13	1976	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	31–6	UNC 44-34-3
Nov. 12	1977	Charlottesville	North Carolina	35–14	UNC 45-34-3
Nov. 18	1978	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	38–20	UNC 46-34-3
Nov. 17	1979	Charlottesville	North Carolina	13–7	UNC 47-34-3
Nov. 15	1980	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	26–3	UNC 48-34-3
Nov. 14	1981	Charlottesville	North Carolina	17–14	UNC 49-34-3
Nov. 13	1982	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	27–14	UNC 50-34-3
Nov. 12	1983	Charlottesville	Virginia	17–14	UNC 50-35-3
Nov. 17	1984	Chapel Hill	Tie Game	24–24	UNC 50-35-4
Nov. 16	1985	Charlottesville	Virginia	24–22	UNC 50-36-4
Nov. 15	1986	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	27–7	UNC 51-36-4
Nov. 14	1987	Charlottesville	Virginia	20–17	UNC 51-37-4
Nov. 12	1988	Chapel Hill	Virginia	27–24	UNC 51-38-4
Oct. 14	1989	Charlottesville	Virginia	50–17	UNC 51-39-4
Nov. 10	1990	Chapel Hill	Virginia	24–10	UNC 51-40-4
Oct. 19	1991	Charlottesville	Virginia	14–9	UNC 51-41-4
Oct. 17	1992	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	27–17	UNC 52-41-4
Oct. 23	1993	Charlottesville	Virginia	17–10	UNC 52-42-4
Oct. 22	1994	Charlottesville	Virginia	34–10	UNC 52-43-4
Oct. 7	1995	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	22–17	UNC 53-43-4
Nov. 16	1996	Charlottesville	Virginia	20–17	UNC 53-44-4
Sep. 27	1997	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	48–20	UNC 54-44-4
Nov. 14	1998	Charlottesville	Virginia	30–13	UNC 54-45-4
Sep. 4	1999	Chapel Hill	Virginia	20–17	UNC 54-46-4
Nov. 14	2000	Charlottesville	Virginia	17–6	UNC 54-47-4
Oct. 13	2001	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	30–24	UNC 55-47-4
Oct. 19	2002	Charlottesville	Virginia	37–27	UNC 55-48-4
Oct. 4	2003	Chapel Hill	Virginia	38–13	UNC 55-49-4
Sep. 11	2004	Charlottesville	Virginia	56–24	UNC 55-50-4
Oct. 22	2005	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	7–5	UNC 56-50-4
Oct. 19	2006	Charlottesville	Virginia	23–0	UNC 56-51-4
Sep. 15	2007	Chapel Hill	Virginia	22–20	UNC 56-52-4
Oct. 18	2008	Charlottesville	Virginia	16–13 (OT)	UNC 56-53-4
Oct. 3	2009	Chapel Hill	Virginia	16–3	UNC 56-54-4
Oct. 16	2010	Charlottesville	North Carolina	44-10	UNC 57-54-4
Sept. 17	2011	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	28-17	UNC 58-54-4
Nov. 15	2012	Charlottesville	North Carolina	37-13	UNC 59-54-4

Other Sports

Basketball

Carolina currently leads the series 127-50.

The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry

The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry (Auburn-Georgia) may eventually surpass "South's Oldest Rivalry" (UNC-Virginia) in number of games played due to the conference expansion of the SEC and ACC conferences. With the possibility of a same-season rematch in the SEC Championship, Auburn and Georgia can play a second game in the same season; North Carolina and Virginia, however, are in the same division of the ACC, making a similar North Carolina vs. Virginia ACC Championship matchup impossible. Currently the UVA-UNC series leads the AUB-UGA series by one game. However, because the UVA-UNC series kept playing through World War II, it will be very difficult for AUB-UGA to surpass the rivalry in consecutive years played. Chronologically, Auburn-Georgia is the oldest rivalry in the South. Auburn-Georgia was first played on February 20, 1892. UNC-Virginia was first played eight months and three days later on October 22, 1892.

Notes

^a North Carolina forfeited the 1956 game to Virginia for using an ineligible player. The UNC athletic department inexplicably does not acknowledge the forfeit when reporting on the result, and chooses to publish the series record as 57–53–4 in its marketing materials.

¹Virginia won the first game played in 1892.
²North Carolina won the second game played in 1892.

See also

• Most-played rivalries in NCAA Division I FBS