Tar Heel

Type: Concept

As of November 2026, Tar Heel has been mentioned in one podcast episode on Mick Unplugged Podcast (Feb 2026). Used to signal North Carolina affiliation (host) and teased as the identity of Pac-Man's NFL GOAT pick.

Tar Heel is a nickname applied to the U.S. state of North Carolina and its people. It is also the nickname of athletic teams at the University of North Carolina. The origins of the nickname trace back to North Carolina's prominence—from the mid-18th century through the 19th century—as a producer of tar, pitch, turpentine, and other materials from its plentiful pine trees. "Tar Heel" was often applied to the Poor White laborers who worked to produce tar, pitch, and turpentine. The nickname was em