Speaking of Duke/UNC, let me share a longish story of being an outsider and coming into the rivalry. This story is from a friend of mine.
She was from Northern Ireland, but she would call herself!Irish not British. Accepted to Duke's LLM program with 85 international students.
Herself and 2 new friends (one from Hungary the other from turkey) attend a orientation event where they get duke hats. Tshirts. Caps. Etc
Being new & foreign they wear all this new Duke gear & decide to go for a drink. Google good places for a drink - they head to Franklin St.
I don't know what bar they went to, but my friend says when they walked in it was like a record scratched. They were clearly out of place.
Drinks were ordered and drinks were had, but a table close to them clearly thought these 3 Duke students needed to be put in their place.
So when the guy from Hungary went to get his round he was accidentally bumped into, and the guy from turkey was covered in beer.
Both men start shouting obscenities in their native tongues &now our tarheel friends realize these are not your average New Jersey Dukies.
As the only native English speaker, my friend gets involved. Things calm down, drinks bought, and someone tries to explain Duke/UNC rivalry
So they talk class. They talk proximity. They talk respect mixed with hate. The three internationals nod their heads, until 1 guy, decides
That he should make an analogy. Aware that my friend was cute and sported an Irish brogue, he tells her - it's like the Irish & the English
My friend (who grew up on the Falls Road @ShaneRyanHere) stops him right there. So Duke would be the English, and ye the Irish, she smiles.
Yes, tarheel nods. Silly me, she goes on, I must have missed the part where Durham colonized chapel hill, or where they took all your food.
Or prevent you from owning land or animals. Yes, I'm sure Duke/UNC is just like 800 years of war & famine.
And with that, she walked out - armed with an understanding of basketball rivalries and a new team to cheer against.