Countdown to the Carrier Classic: ACC Teams Tip Off Friday Night
Posted by KCarpenter on November 7th, 2011While college basketball starts tonight, ACC fans still have to wait until Friday evening at 7 PM EST. Simultaneously, Wake Forest, Florida State, North Carolina State, Miami, and North Carolina will all tip off with the first actual games of the season. While their are a number of intriguing match-ups scheduled for several of these teams, there is one game that’s going to get the lion’s share of attention. Specifically, I’m talking about, you know, the one that’s going to be played on a modified deck of an aircraft carrier.
North Carolina and Michigan State Will Battle For This Huge and Heavy Trophy This Friday.
It’s ridiculous-sounding, but it’s really happening and it’s less than a week away: the Tar Heels will take on the Michigan State Spartans on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in front of President Barack Obama and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Honestly, I still can’t quite believe that it’s happening. Right now, the make-shift arena is under construction, and even in an incomplete state, it looks pretty cool.
Of course, with all the excitement about playing a game outdoors, wary eyes have already started to watch the skies and weather reports to see if the game will actually be able to happen above deck. While a game played in the hangar deck would still be a unique sight, the event would also lose some it’s luster. In any event, it’s definitely a neat and interesting way to start the basketball season, and throughout the week, we’ll keep you up to date with the latest developments, weather reports, and the little pieces of awesome that this game is spawning, like this brief video from the crew of the USS North Carolina cheering on the Tar Heels.
That trophy is hideous.