April 18, 2006

If you reveled in the success of Tar Heel football during the 1990s, you have a chance in late May to play golf with some of the cogs of that outstanding era.

The Dre' Bly Celebrity Golf Classic, scheduled May 28 at The Preserve Golf Club south of Chapel Hill, will feature players such as Na Brown, Alge Crumpler, Ronald Curry, Nate Hobgood-Chittick, Chris Keldorf, William Henderson, Jimmy Hitchcock, Natrone Means, Jeff Saturday and Brian Simmons. Each played during that golden age of Tar Heel football that saw the Heels post winning seasons for eight straight years (1991-98) and go to bowls seven straight years.

In addition, Ron Wooten of the 1980s and David Thornton, Dexter Reid and Willie Parker of more recent vintage are committed to play.

"We wanted to do something to celebrate my era, the 1990s," says Bly, today a cornerback with the Detroit Lions. "We want to get the young guys more involved in continuing their relationship with Carolina football. I have been to some lettermen's reunions that were mostly guys from the 1960s and '70s, the older guys. We need to keep the young guys connected."

Tar Heel head coach John Bunting will play, and Bly likes the idea of those 1990s guys getting to know the leader of the current program.

"When Mack Brown left and the coaching staff turned over the next few years, we lost our connection to the program," Bly says. "It's important for our guys to get to know Coach Bunting."

But it's not just football. A number of former Tar Heel basketball players will compete as well. Among those committed are Jimmy Black, Raymond Felton, Brian Reese, David Noel, Sean May, Jawad Williams and Donald Williams.

Bly has also called on contacts in the NFL for additional celebrity appearances--Torry and Terrance Holt, DeAngelo Hall and Marshall Faulk. "We have a great field and more big names on the way," Bly says. "This is a great opportunity for Carolina fans to spend five hours on the golf course with some guys they've watched on the field for many years."

Proceeds will benefit the Dre' Bly Foundation, an organization Bly created to help promote physical fitness, athletic facilities and the concept of a healthy body and healthy mind. The foundation helps schools in need to retain and develop after-school programs and acquire athletic equipment. Since its inception in 2003, it has raised more than $40,000.

Also benefiting will be CarolinaPros Inc., an organization of former Tar Heel basketball lettermen that channels its resources and energies into a variety of community service projects and events.

A pairings party will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 27. The golf will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The field will include 144 golfers and 36 celebrities participating in a "captain's choice" format.

Individual golfers can register to participate for a sponsorship donation of $250. A variety of other packages are available. For more information on the tournament and to register to participate, follow this link to the tournament website: www.drebly.golfreg.com

Bly was a mainstay on the outstanding Tar Heel defenses fielded by head coaches Mack Brown and Carl Torbush over the 1996-98 period. He was first-team All-America all three years and has the UNC and ACC records for career interceptions with 20.

Bly has participated in two Pro Bowls during his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams and currently the Detroit Lions. He snared six interceptions last fall despite missing four games following wrist surgery.