College basketball can thank North Carolina college basketball for the iconic tradition.
GREENSBORO, N.C. β The game is over, but you don’t stop watching because you’re about to see the ultimate in bragging rights happen…cutting down the nets.
It’s a tradition that started in North Carolina and at Duke’s home court. Tim Peeler, a sports writer for twenty-plus years and a board member of the NC Sports Hall of Fame, enjoys telling the story.Β
“It was the first time in college basketball history that those nets were cut down to celebrate a tournament championship,” said Tim Peeler.Β
It was 1947, and NC State won its conference tournament. At the time, it was the Southern Conference. The game was played at what was then known as Duke Indoor. The NC State coach, Everett Case, directed his players to mark the win in a way most fans had never seen. Β
“He sent his players out with a pair of scissors to cut down the nets and take those home as a souvenir,” said Peeler.Β
Case cut the nets down as a high school coach in Indiana. When he brought the tradition to North Carolina, college basketball would never be the same.Β
Everyone wanted in on claiming their win and having a piece of history in their hands. Β The images are iconic.Β
“One of my favorite pictures of all time is of Thurl Bailey cutting the nets with the scissors, and Ernie and Cosell’s feet are on the rim while he’s cutting the nets,” said Peeler.
Β The tradition is so well known, the ladder, the scissors, the music, it’s all branded. And while North Carolina teams aren’t the only ones cutting down the nets year after year, there’s a sense of pride knowing every team that does it has to thank our state for that one shining moment.Β
“It’s a tradition that is part of what makes North Carolina such a huge brand in the sport of college basketball, is that tradition started here,” said Peeler.Β
