The kickoff of the 2002 football season is still more than 3 months away, but UNC football fans are already snapping up seats in Kenan Stadium. Through the end of the priority application period that ended May 10, UNC has sold nearly 22,000 season tickets for the 2002 season, according to Clint Gwaltney, UNC's Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket and Smith Center Operations. "The current number is a great showing by our fans and puts us ahead last year's pace," Gwaltney said. "We expect a rush in June to help us get to the goal of filling up Kenan Stadium. With the momentum from last year's season and the upcoming schedule, we feel this is an attainable goal." Members of the UNC Educational Foundation, UNC faculty and staff and season ticket holders from the previous year all have had the opportunity to order before the priority deadline. "I couldn't be more excited for the start of the season," said UNC Head Football Coach John Bunting. "Our fans were tremendous all of last season, especially in our win in the Peach Bowl," Bunting said. "We've got a great group of young men ready to make our fans proud and have Kenan Stadium rocking." "Fans better get their tickets now, because seats will be tough to find in Kenan this Fall," Bunting added. "As expected, the initial season ticket rush has been outstanding. People are really acting early," said Norwood Teague, UNC Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Promotions. Teague credits the increase in demand to the victory over Auburn in the 2001 Peach Bowl, expectations for the upcoming season, the fact that the Tar Heels won five out of six home games in the previous season, and one of the best home schedules ever in the 2002 season. UNC will play host to Atlantic Coast Conference rivals Georgia Tech (September 28), N.C. State (October 12), Maryland (November 2), and Clemson (November 9). Additionally, the nationally ranked Texas Longhorns to Kenan Stadium on September 14. The Tar Heels open the season with Miami (OH) on August 31. "This response is before we roll out our traditional advertising to Carolina fans statewide," Teague said. He said plans call for outdoor, newspaper, radio and television advertising through the summer months. The University will continue to take orders for season tickets until the entire allotment is sold, but encourages fans to order right away because tickets may not be available through the summer. If season tickets sell out, individual tickets for many of the home games may not be available. To order tickets, call the UNC Ticket Office at 800-722-HEEL or download an application from the official website of Carolina Athletics, TarHeelBlue.com.
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