The Tar Heels were 7 - 3 - 1 in 1979 .
The Tar Heels got a back - door invitation to the Gator Bowl to face Michigan when Tennessee , the anticipated opponent , lost at home on the third Saturday of November when the Heels beat Virginia .
The Tar Heels were 7 - 3 - 1 in 1979 and got a back - door invitation to the Gator Bowl to face Michigan when Tennessee , the anticipated opponent , lost at home on the third Saturday of November when the Heels beat Virginia .