Franklin Street Was Nuts Last Night After North Carolina Upset #5 Duke

Ashley Schaeffer BMW11 years ago

The battle of Tobacco Road saw another hole in history’s rivalry belt notched last night, as the unranked North Carolina Tarheels rallied late in the game to beat a #5 Duke Blue Devils squad, 74-66. Able to mount a great attack down the stretch on a one-time Duke lead of 11, UNC took the control of the game with just less than four minutes on the clock. North Carolina ultimately held on for the upset, thanks to key buckets and free-throws by Marcus Paige in the final 2:30 of the game. The win was the Tarheels’ eighth consecutive, and it moved the rivalry’s series further in Carolina’s favor, 133-104.

Of course, this would be reason for the Chapel Hill faithful to celebrate, and celebrate they did.

As always, with a win over a fierce rival, the momentum carried from the stands into the streets. In last night’s case, the Daily Tarheel estimated around 10,000 flooded the famed Franklin Street for a good old fashioned riot–it wasn’t the first, and surely won’t be the last, since the storied rivalry began in 1920. I’m happy to report that as of 12:30 a.m. last night, there wasn’t a single arrest made, nor any unusual complains, as reported by Chapel Hill police.

Here’s what the scene looked like:

Wow, Franklin street is unbelievable. #UNC pic.twitter.com/Jm0hEIoJN3

— emilia (@emily_hz87) February 21, 2014

It is experiences like this that make Chapel Hill a very special place. #UNC #DukevsUNC pic.twitter.com/zzqSRnm6Hs

— Jesse Wojdylo (@JesseWojdylo) February 21, 2014

Speaking from my numerous encounters with the riot scene at Penn State in my day, the looks like a pretty great time to me.

But what the hell is this girl doing hanging around? I feel like the treason she’s committing here is like like wearing a Jeff Gordon hat while sitting amongst a ton of Earnhardt fans. It’s just something you never do. Judging from expression though, she was having the time of her life, so lose on, I guess, Duke girl!

Well played. It’s good to see you guys warming up after that unsuspecting ice storm postponed the shit out of the game last week.

North Carolina and Duke will reconvene for the last game of each team’s regular season on Sat., March 8, which will potentially carry some heavy ACC implications as the squads are seeded fourth and third, respectively.

[via The Daily Tarheel]