the "tarheel" story or legend, as told on the state maps tell a version that during the civil war here,north carolina was a main producer of tar and turpenitine...and it seems that some Nothern Regiment was chasing some Southern Rebels from North Carolina,and it was obviuos that the Rebels were getting away....
one of the Northern soldiers yelled out,"put some tar on their heels to slow threm down!"...and later when the Southern Commander General Lee, heard about this encounter he replied, "=Well,God Bless them Tarheels!"
it may have happened...maybe not...but we "tarheels" love to tell it!
so hence the nick name..."tarheel"
tar