Bill Belichick, UNC football to honor military with wall to be unveiled Veterans Day 2025
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UNC football will unveil its “Honoring Our Military” wall inside the Kenan Football Center on Veterans Day 2025, the university announced Nov. 10.
“This memorial honors those who not only represented the Tar Heel football program but also defended the freedoms we all enjoy,” UNC coach Bill Belichick said in a school-issued statement.
“Their commitment to excellence, leadership, and service continues to inspire our program and community every day and they will be forever remembered as the ultimate heroes inside the Kenan Football Center.”
The tribute includes 61 names of Tar Heel football alumni who have served in the U.S. Armed Services, with the intent to expand as more individuals are identified and others have completed military service. According to the release, the new installation stands as a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and selflessness demonstrated by players, coaches, and staff of the Carolina football family who answered the call to serve their country.
The wall details the name of each honoree, their branch and years of military service, as well as position and years with the UNC football program. It serves as both a historical record and a place of reflection.
“The new memorial reflects the University’s enduring values of service and honor,” Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said in a school-issued statement.
“It ensures that generations of Tar Heels will remember those who served both on the gridiron and on behalf of our great nation. We are proud to be part of recognizing their service.”
Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer and assistant director of sports performance Trent Baker are among the names included on the wall. Priefer graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1989 and served in the Navy for eight years until 1997. Baker served with U.S. Navy SEAL Teams from 2001-23.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be a part of this memorial,” Priefer said. “I love this country and was proud to serve. I am also excited to be back in Chapel Hill to help Coach Belichick bring an ACC Championship to this great university.”
Baker added: “I am humbled to be a part of UNC football’s Honoring Our Military Wall. Tar Heel football and our nation’s military history are inextricably linked, and I hope the stories embedded in this wall get told for generations to come. Thank you to past, present, and future UNC alumni who heed the call to serve this amazing country.”
Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice, one of UNC’s all-time greats, is another name included in that group. Justice served in the Navy for four years during World War II and was a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1949.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Bill Belichick, UNC football to honor military on Veterans Day 2025
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