- Max Gruder
- Braden Hanson
Old acquaintances are not forgotten – just ask anyone who sings on New Years Eve. And when UNC faces Pitt, Saturday December 26 at Bank of America Stadium a reunion, of sorts, will take place between the head coaches and two of their players. Braden Hanson, quarterback for the Tar Heels and Max Gruder, linebacker for the Panthers, played against each other in high school. Hanson played at Charlotte Latin School and Gruder played for Charlotte Country Day School and the rivalry between the two CISAA powerhouses is as intense as any you’ll find in the Charlotte area. As for the coaches, Pitt skipper Dave Wannstedt and North Carolina’s Butch Davis have history, as well. Both are protégé’s of Jimmie Johnson dating back to assistant coaching days at Oklahoma State starting in 1979.
State championships have been plentiful for the two independent high school programs, as Charlotte Latin has won the trophy four times in the last five years and Country Day won it in 2004. Almost every time they meet, a conference crown is in the equation. In fact, in 2006, Gruder’s Country Day bunch won the regular season match-up at home, 28-21 but lost in OT in the state finals, 28-25, to the Latin squad piloted by Hanson. The QB threw for 81 TD’s in high school in two years as a starter and was named NC Gatorade Player of the Year in 2007. He led the Hawks to two consecutive independent school state crowns as a junior and senior. A lefty red-shirted in 2008, he’s listed at 6’5” 200 lbs. and sits in the #2 spot on the depth chart behind starter, T.J. Yates for UNC. His favorite player is Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and his main team (besides the Heels) is the Kansas City Chiefs.
Gruder, a three-year starter, registered 132 tackles his junior season and was named All-State and All-Conference that same year posting a 4.5 forty-yard dash. His senior stats in 2006 are just as impressive compiling 111 tackles, 17 tackles for losses, two interceptions (one returned for a TD) and two fumble recoveries. Although he was recruited by other Division I schools, Gruder settled on Pitt early as Coach Wannstedt assured him he’d see lots of action at middle linebacker. In addition, he was a two-year track and field letterman and also played hockey.
The common ground shared by the head coaches even includes their wives who have stayed in touch through the years. The mentors were together four seasons in Stillwater (1979-82); three years with the Miami Hurricanes (1986-88) and four years with the Dallas Cowboys (1989-92). Additionally, both schools have previously appeared in the Charlotte Bowl. Pitt lost to Virginia 23-16 in the 2003 Continental Tire Bowl and North Carolina lost to Boston College in the 2004 Continental Tire Bowl, 37-24, and last year to West Virginia in a thriller 31-30 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Davis was at the helm for last year’s contest but this will be Wannstedt’s first try at capturing the post-season trophy in Charlotte. Since neither coach has tasted bowl-success in Bank of America Stadium, the Meineke Car Care Bowl should be a good show.
In addition to these coaches and high school rivals, there are seven players on the UNC roster who played high school ball in Charlotte:
Hawatha Bell, LB– Butler High
Josh Bridges, LB – West Charlotte
Steven Hatley, RB – Providence
Ryan Houston, TB – Butler
Josh Hunter, DB – Mallard Creek
Vince Jacobs, TE – Providence Day
Trey Strickland, OL – South Mecklenburg
More memories to share – more friends to reconnect with! See you at the game.