SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) Holiday Bowl gave the North Carolina Tar Heels and No. 15 Oregon Ducks the gift of memories through visits to San Diego’s prominent landmarks.
First, they had to land in Southern California, though.
Arrival
The Tar Heels arrived on Dec. 23. However, they were delayed before taking off and landing. Heavy fog postponed the Tar Heels’ descent at the San Diego International Airport. Their pilots circled the airport and attempted multiple landings before arriving safely over an hour after their expected entry of 4:15 p.m.
When the Tar Heels entered their hotel for the week, the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, they were greeted by a red carpet, cheers from the Holiday Bowl committee, and snacks before being given their room keys.
Many of them entered California for the first time in their lives. However, for defensive back Don Chapman it was a return to home. Chapman grew up in San Diego and attended Lincoln High School. He was ranked as the No. 82 recruit in California by 247Sports.
“I am excited to be back home with my family, and a lot of people are going to be at the game, ” Chapman said.
He was also eager to share his previous experiences in Southern California with his teammates, which he did at the San Diego Zoo the following day.
The Ducks experienced much of the same as they dealt with delayed flights the following evening on Dec. 24. However, they arrived intact at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and were ready to relax quickly.
North Carolina at the San Diego Zoo
After arriving in the early afternoon of Dec. 24, the Tar Heels were free to wander around the zoo. However, seven upperclassmen viewed a special showing.
The group saw ambassador animals, specimens taken out of their habitat to represent their species up close. The purpose of the display was to educate the team about animals so they could support them in the future.
When Kamari Morales learned the animals were coming to him, he expressed his concern.
“When you come into [an animal’s] habitat, they get territorial… I ain’t sign a waiver,” Morales said.
Despite the lighthearted worries, the Tar Heels were excited when Jessica, an employee at the zoo, brought out the first creature, Otis. She asked if they knew what animal he was, and they collectively shouted out ‘anteater,’ which was correct. However, they did not realize that Otis was a tamandua or lesser anteater.
The group learned about Otis’ habitat and favorite foods and even found out he has a lower body mass index (BMI) than then. Then, they pet and fed him; even Morales joined in once he saw the tame creature.
Secondly, the Tar Heels saw an opossum named Tory, who they were not overly interested in. Then, they encountered Riccardo, an armadillo, who jumped while Morales petted it to the laughter of his teammates.
Lastly, Jessica revealed to the Tar Heels Xena, a sloth. She asked the team to keep their distance from the animal, causing Morales to worry about how the slow creature could harm them. Despite playful concerns, the group enjoyed seeing Xena hang upside down and be fed corn on the cob and other foods. They took selfies from a distance and were fascinated by the sluggish creature.
“I love the sloth now. It is my favorite animal,” Chapman said.
Both teams at SeaWorld San Diego
Following the Tar Heels’ zoo visit, they and Oregon went to SeaWorld San Diego on Christmas.
The Tar Heels arrived first at 2 p.m. and rode the Electric Eel roller coaster. The ride featured quick twists and heart-racing moments, giving the team moments of laughter and thrill.
After, a group of eight Tar Heels swam with a beluga whale. After zipping up their tight wetsuits, they plunged into chilly, 50 degrees Fahrenheit water. The group enjoyed kisses and hugs from the whale while their teammates and park visitors observed them.
Following the swim, the Tar Heels huddled and broke it by shouting ‘beluga.’ They were ready for the next animal they will face, the Duck, which will come on the football field.
“The whale is bigger than the duck,” Jahvaree Ritzie said.
The Tar Heels cleaned up with warm showers and received complimentary towels before exploring the rest of the park.
The Ducks started their afternoon later than the Tar Heels at 4 p.m. but also by riding a roller coaster. They experienced Manta, a roller coaster featuring angled twists and turns. After, 24 of the Ducks encountered dolphins. They high-fived, fed, and played hide and seek with them. They even saw them perform stunts.
Both teams at USS Abraham Lincoln
The weather was 75 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny, an arguably perfect day for outdoor activities. Luckily for the Tar Heels and Ducks, they were visiting the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier in Coronado, California, that day, Dec. 26
First, the two teams gathered in the center of the ship to hear the winner of the 2022 U.S. Grant Sharp Admiral’s Trophy and listen to other announcements. The award is given to the player who displayed the most unselfish commitment to their team as voted on by their teammates.
The Ducks’ winner was offensive lineman Alex Forsyth, and the Tar Heels’ winner was wide receiver Tylee Craft.
“I do not say a whole lot. I like to lead… through my actions,” Forsyth said. “Through what I have been doing the past six years I have been able to establish myself as a leader of this team”
After the presentation, players, coaches, and staff members were split into groups of roughly 30 and shown different parts of the ship. A select group of Ducks (Bo Nix, Chase Cota, Jordon Riley, and Forsyth), both teams’ head coaches, and a few others took a tour with the ship’s commanding officer, Amy Bauernschmidt.
The group learned about the intricacies of the colossal aircraft carrier and shared moments of laughter throughout the showing. Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown came prepared and asked multiple questions to Bauernschmidt as they moved through the ship. She responded with references to the Top Gun movies (part of them were filmed on the aircraft carrier) and comparisons to football.
“[Flight deck operations are] kind of like our practice,” Brown said.
The group also saw where the ship is steered from and other topside rooms.
As they reached the chow line, Brown wondered about the taste of the food noting his players often complain about their food. Ducks head coach Dan Lanning chuckled while looking at Nix and Forsyth as the whole group shared their amusement.
Riley jokingly began to consider a new career when he saw the food.
“That food looks good… I might join the navy,” he said.
The group saw most of the prominent areas of the active aircraft carrier to conclude the Holiday Bowl festivities.
What is next?
The amusement park and ship kept the teams entertained while preparing for their game at Petco Park on Dec. 28 as they have no planned activities for Dec. 27. The matchup will feature two high-scoring offenses on teams looking to pick up their tenth win.
