Rameses: The Mascot of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), a public research university established on December 11, 1789, is known for its rich history, academic excellence, and vibrant athletic programs. Its athletic teams, known as the Tar Heels, compete in 28 intercollegiate sports as a charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). A significant part of the university's identity is its mascot, Rameses, a Dorset ram whose origins and evolution are steeped in tradition and spirited symbolism.
The Genesis of Rameses: From "The Battering Ram" to Live Mascot
The story of Rameses begins in 1924. In 1922, Jack Merritt, the star fullback, earned the moniker "the battering ram" for his powerful performance on the field and an initiation ritual he created for male freshman students. Inspired by Merritt's nickname and the traditions associated with it, Vic Huggins, the head cheerleader at the time, proposed the idea of a ram mascot to Charles T. Woollen, the athletic business manager. Woollen approved the idea and provided Huggins with $25 to purchase a ram.
Rameses' Debut and the Lucky Head Rub
Rameses made his inaugural appearance at a pep rally on November 8, 1924, before the football game against Virginia Military Institute. The ram was then taken to Emerson Field. The game remained scoreless through three quarters, creating a tense atmosphere. In the fourth quarter, Bunn Hackney was called upon to attempt a field goal. Before stepping onto the field, Hackney rubbed Rameses' head for good luck. Moments later, Hackney kicked a 30-yard field goal, securing a 3-0 victory for the Tar Heels. This event solidified Rameses' place as a symbol of good fortune and a beloved mascot.
The Evolution of Rameses: From Live Ram to Costumed Mascot
While the live ram has been a tradition since 1924, the costumed version of Rameses emerged during the 1987-88 season. Auditions were held, and Eric Chilton from Mount Airy, North Carolina, was selected as the first costumed mascot. Chilton, then a senior, served for half a year, making appearances at a few basketball games in early 1988. The anthropomorphic version of Rameses typically wears a Tar Heels jersey, further embodying the spirit of the university's athletic teams.
Rameses Jr.: Expanding the Mascot's Reach
On October 26, 2015, Rameses Jr., affectionately known as RJ, was introduced during Late Night with Roy, the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball's annual Midnight Madness event. RJ is an anthropomorphic lamb sporting the number #0. According to Brown Walters, the director of spirit programs at UNC Chapel Hill, the concept of RJ took a year to develop. RJ was designed to broaden the reach of UNC Chapel Hill's spirit program, featuring a less muscular body, Carolina blue horns, blue eyes, and Jordan-brand apparel, with the intention of appealing to children.
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The Enduring Legacy of Rameses
Since the beginning of intercollegiate athletics at UNC in the late nineteenth century, the school's colors have been blue and white. The colors were chosen years before by the Dialectic (blue) and Philanthropic (white) Societies, the oldest student organization at the university. The Tar Heels nickname references the state's eighteenth-century prominence as a tar and pitch producer. The nickname's cultural relevance has a complex history that includes anecdotal tales from both the American Civil War and the American Revolution.
The tradition of Rameses has continued through the years, with various rams taking on the mantle of the mascot. Rameses XXI, a 10-year-old Dorset Horn ram, served the university for nine years before retiring in the fall of 2020. He lived out his days on Hogan’s Magnolia View Farm, cared for by the Hogan family, who have been the caretakers of Tar Heel mascots for generations. His successor is a young ram named Otis.
Tragedies and Triumphs: The Life of a Mascot
The role of Rameses has not been without its share of tragedies. In February 1996, Rameses XXIII was killed in his pasture at the Hogan farm. An attacker slashed the ram's throat and stabbed it multiple times. The incident led to the arrest of Scott Wade, who was believed to have killed the ram while intoxicated.
Another tragedy struck in March 2007 when Jason Ray, a member of the UNC Chapel Hill cheerleading squad who portrayed Rameses, was struck by a vehicle in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Ray, an honors student with a passion for service, succumbed to his injuries. In his memory, UNC Hospitals dedicated its transplant clinic to Ray, and an endowment fund was established to support patients unable to afford transplants.
Academic Excellence and "The Carolina Way"
UNC-Chapel Hill is not only known for its athletic achievements but also for its commitment to academic excellence. The university offers various scholarships and programs to support students, including the Morehead-Cain Scholarship and the Carolina Covenant. The Morehead-Cain Scholarship provides recipients with full tuition, room and board, books, and funds for summer study for four years. The Carolina Covenant offers a debt-free education to low-income students who are accepted to the university.
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Basketball coach Dean Smith was widely known for his idea of "The Carolina Way", in which he challenged his players to, "Play hard, play smart, play together." "The Carolina Way" was an idea of excellence in the classroom, as well as on the court. UNC-Chapel Hill's campus covers around 760 acres (310 ha), including about 125 acres (51 ha) of lawns and over 30 acres (12 ha) of shrub beds and other ground cover. Located in McCorkle Place is the Davie Poplar tree under which a popular legend says the university's founder, William Richardson Davie, selected the location for the university.
Rivalries and Celebrations: The Spirit of UNC
One of UNC's fiercest rivalries is with Duke University, located just eight miles away. The Carolina-Duke rivalry is most intense in basketball, with both teams frequently contending for the national championship. The Tar Heels also share an in-state rivalry with North Carolina State University.
Victories by Carolina's sports teams often lead to celebrations on Franklin Street. In most cases, a Franklin Street "bonfire" celebration is due to a victory by the men's basketball team, although other Franklin Street celebrations have stemmed from wins by the women's basketball team and women's soccer team.
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