Rams Head Rum

For a school known as the Tar Heels, a ram may seem like an unexpected mascot. But in 1924, UNC's head cheerleader set out to give Carolina symbol that could match the spirit of its rivals. Inspired by Carolina's fullback, who was known as "The Battering Ram", a live ram was purchased from Texas for $25. That ram became Rameses I, and a beloved Carolina tradition was born. Rameses descendants have long been fixtures at Tar Heel football games, while the introduction of a Rameses costume in the 1987-88 basketball season brought the ram to life in a new way. Today, that tradition stands proudly embodied in the world's largest ram statue, welcoming fans outside UNC's football stadium.