12.20.23 Carolina v Oklahoma (Eric Montross Tributes, THSN Sync + Pre & Postgame)

Whoever at the SEC came up with "It Just Means More" must have done so on the way home from Chapel Hill. It strikes at the heart of "What is it that binds us to this place as no other?" In the early morning hours of December 18th, 2023 Carolina grads and Tar Heel fans alike received the shocking news of the passing of Big Grits, Eric Montross, and for us, it meant more.

No, we aren't Laura or Eric's kids. And we aren't Jones and Adam his buddies that brought us the Big Grits moniker. Nor are we teammates like Coach Hubert Davis who sat in a somber locker room with Eric after a 73-80 loss to Ohio State to end a season. Or the teammates a year later that rushed a New Orleans floor in jubilation.

Who are we then?

We are the individuals for whom Eric Montross was someone you had a warm encounter with on Franklin. Or you shook his giant hand at a Rams Club event, called him "Big Grits," and watched him grin sheepishly about it. Perhaps like many of us, he was part of your household. No, not like his family. But 30+ afternoons/nights a year for 20ish years he's been a part of my household. All the above describes me. I did encounter Eric as a young camper on Franklin, and I did shake his hand at the Charlotte stop of the Tar Heel Tour in 2019 and watched him smile over my calling him Big Grits. And since I was a child, born in 1980, Tar Heel sports required the Tar Heel Sports Network. That means Woody, Mick, Jones, and yes Eric have been in my home quite a bit over the years.

So when Woody loses here on earth to complications from Aphasia and Eric to cancer, it means more to us. They are a part of our family even if they didn't always realize it. And yes, I know they did realize it.

It's the little things for us. We'll never hear Eric in our homes again. It seems he's already pulled from the UNC online directory so you can't even see him there if you wanted to pretend things were normal. Things are not normal. Life is short and fragile. So we have to ask ourselves what to do about that? I know I have few answers and lots of hopes. One of those hopes I never thought of until I received the dreadful text that December morning. And that is how much I hope the words "See ya later Big Grits" really do come true.

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Explanation:

This video features the audio broadcast of the Tar Heel Sports Network a property of Sidearm Sports and Learfield. This channel is not affiliated with nor represents the Tar Heels Sports Network. This is a fan channel focused on the Tar Heel experience. All the game videos are designed to encourage you to turn down the TV and turn up the THSN audio. The Tar Heel Sports Network is currently best experienced through the Varsity App available on Apple and Android. For details on how to sync the audio with your TV please see my video at https://youtu.be/3iguf9D0q8I or visit http://syncmygame.com.

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This video is not monetized because it's not as a whole my original source content but does include my original artwork and my interpretation of how the events unfolded using THSN audio, ESPN video, my artwork, and my editing to compile it together. All of which to gather from our surroundings what was wanted and needed, and make of it something more. Something wholly original in its presentation and thereby a work of art.