UNC Athletics Unveils Golfing Rameses Logo, Finley Collection Of Merch

The University of North Carolina Department of Athletics has introduced a new golfing Rameses logo, Carolina and deputy athletic director/chief revenue officer Rick Barakat announced on Wednesday.

"We are excited about the release of golfing Rameses and the new marketing, promotional and merchandising opportunities these new marks will create for UNC Athletics and our sports programs," Barakat said.

"Our fans have been asking for it and we look forward to the continued rollout of this initiative."

The sport-specific logo is the first of its kind for Carolina and celebrates the Tar Heels' rich tradition of success and championships by its men's and women's golf programs with personality and flair.

Following the release of golfing Rameses will be additional sport specific versions of the iconic mascot over the coming months.

The all new Finley Collection of golf merchandise, available now for preorder, includes polos, quarter-zips, vests, t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies, all with unique designs and the new logo.

This line of apparel will be exclusively available only at Finley Golf Club and is being developed in collaboration with OT Sports in Burlington, N.C.

For over 70 years the mascot of North Carolina's football team has been a ram.

Since Carolina's nickname is Tar Heels, it might seem strange to have a ram as a mascot.

It is.

But, there is a good explanation.

It's offered by Vic Huggins, Carolina's head cheerleader back in 1924.

"In 1924 school spirit was at a peak," Huggins once explained.

"But something seemed to be missing."

"One day it hit me."

"State had a wolf."

"What Carolina needed was a symbol."

Two years earlier the Tar Heels had posted a brilliant 9-1 record.

The star of that 1922 team was a bruising fullback named Jack Merritt.

Merritt was nicknamed "the battering ram" for the way he plunged into lines.

It seemed natural to Huggins to link a mascot with Merritt's unusual nickname.

A live ram, beginning with Rameses the First, has been on the sidelines of Carolina home football games since 1924.

The Rameses mark and costumed mascot at other Tar Heel sporting events, were introduced later, giving Carolina one of the most unique mascots in college sports.

The golfing Rameses was designed in collaboration with the UNC trademark & licensing office and Torch Creative as part of Carolina's broader brand strategy, while offering sport-specific identity for the golf programs.

The announcement was made on November 4, 2026, and the preorder for the Finley Collection is now open.

The collection will be sold exclusively at Finley Golf Club, the on-campus home of Tar Heel golf.

OT Sports, based in Burlington, N.C., is the apparel partner for the line.

Barakat's statement emphasized that fan demand drove the creation of the golf-specific logo.

The rollout of additional sport-specific Rameses logos is expected in the coming months, though no specific sports or dates have been announced yet.

This marks a significant expansion of the UNC Athletics brand strategy, moving beyond the general Rameses marks that have been used across all sports.

The golfing Rameses logo depicts the ram in a golfing pose, complete with a club, adding personality to the brand.

Carolina's men's and women's golf programs have a long history of success, including multiple ACC championships and NCAA tournament appearances.

The new logo and merchandise line aim to capitalize on that tradition while giving fans a new way to show support.

The Finley Collection represents the first major merchandise launch tied to a sport-specific mascot for UNC.

Fans can preorder items now, with delivery expected in time for the upcoming golf season.

The exclusivity of the collection to Finley Golf Club is intended to create a premium, location-specific experience for visitors to the course.

OT Sports is a North Carolina-based apparel company that specializes in custom athletic and lifestyle clothing.

Their collaboration with UNC Athletics on this project aligns with the university's commitment to working with local businesses.

The golfing Rameses logo is expected to appear on signage, scoreboards, and other materials at Finley Golf Club as well.

Barakat's role as deputy athletic director and chief revenue officer puts him at the center of the department's marketing and revenue-generating efforts.

His statement highlighted the "marketing, promotional and merchandising opportunities" the new logo creates.

This suggests that the golfing Rameses is not just a one-off design but part of a larger strategy to expand UNC's brand across multiple sports.