On October 26, 1993, NFL owners chose the site of the 29th NFL franchise, and the Carolina Panthers were born. Before long, a stadium for the Panthers was under construction in Charlotte.
North Carolina has a rich football history, with greats such as Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice of Carolina, Elvin Bethea of North Carolina A&T, Roman Gabriel of N.C. State, Fred Crawford of Duke and Jim Duncan of Wake Forest University. Perhaps the best known monologue about the sport was recorded by actor and comedian Andy Griffith. His “What It Was, Was Football,” was recorded by the Colonial Label in Raleigh, N.C., in 1953.
North Carolina’s rich sports history is showcased at the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, located on the third floor of the North Carolina Museum of History in downtown Raleigh.
The Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in 1963, celebrates North Carolina’s contributions to the world of sports through exhibits and educational displays, audio, video, and interactive biographies, plus Richard Petty’s stock car, Meadowlark Lemon’s basketball uniform and other artifacts.
More than 250 men and women have been honored by induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
Other related resources:
- Football and Sports on NCpedia
- The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
- Photos of football from the State Archives.
- Sports biographies from NCpedia
For more about North Carolina’s history, arts and culture, visit Cultural Resources online. To receive these updates automatically each day, make sure you subscribe by email using the box on the right, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.