It was a party for all ages.
School children and middle-aged men played hooky grandmothers showed up with grandchildren and students some of whom had just rolled out of bed met in the Smith Center on Tuesday to welcome home the 2009 national champions.
UNC fans had been waiting to welcome their heroes home since Monday night when it became clear that one of the most accomplished men's basketball teams in school history would beat Michigan State to clinch a fifth NCAA title.
And when the players coaches and staff finally arrived at about 2:45 p.m." the crowd erupted into a flurry of chants and cheers.
""We're national champs"" senior forward Tyler Hansbrough said. It's the best feeling in the world.""
Their introductions were filled with statistics and accomplishments"" but only one was on the forefront of everyone's mind.
""We did it"" y'all!"" senior forward Danny Green said to the crowd of about 13""000. ""But the way that we did it — did you see how we did it?""
The five scholarship seniors and coach Roy Williams took turns at the microphone" thanking one another and the fans.
When they stumbled with their words like senior forward Mike Copeland who repeatedly said he was speechless" the crowd filled in the gaps with cheers.
And Green danced one last time to a roaring crowd.
""I think because the seniors wanted it so badly" everyone wanted it for them" said Yvonne Daugherty, who attended UNC during the '82 NCAA Championship win. So that's why people are still excited.""
A jovial Chancellor Holden Thorp addressed the team"" expressing the crowd's sentiment.
""On behalf of the University of North Carolina and by the power vested in me by the state of North Carolina"" he said, We love you.""
The 89-72 score" still burning brightly on the Smith Center scoreboards" seemed to be a redemption for last year's 18-point loss to Kansas in the Final Four.
""These boys have been fighting since they lost out last year"" said Jimmy Sessons, whose granddaughter graduated from UNC in December. This year"" they were not going to lose.""
Fans and players repeatedly referenced Tuesday how the empty space in the rafters next to the 2005 national championship banner made everything look unbalanced.
That problem can now be remedied.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
A hero's welcome
More than 13"000 Tar Heel fans showed up in the Smith Center on Tuesday to welcome the North Carolina basketball team fresh off the plane home from Detroit. Several of the new national champions including last year?s Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough spoke about the team?s 34-4 season and their experiences in the championship game win on Monday.
