When it came time for the North Carolina football team to vote for its biggest practical joker, the choice was easy: Michael Waddell. Although he tries to downplay it, the senior cornerback has become famous for his sense of humor in the midst of stressful meetings.

“I think they were just trying to be funny. I’m really not a practical joker,” Waddell said. “I think they came up with that because … in two-a-day meetings, a couple of guys would be tired and they’d be dozing off, and I’d just make this snoring noise and Coach would turn around and he’d think they were back there asleep.”

But Waddell’s life wasn’t always fun and games. Michael arrived on campus as a Parade All-American out of Richmond County High School. However, Waddell was forced to enroll at UNC as a partial qualifier after scoring 10 points below the required mark. A testament to Waddell’s passion for football is the fact that after hearing the bad news, he sat in the bathroom in North Carolina’s football center and cried.

“It was shocking and disappointing,” Waddell said. “But, I mean, eventually I came through it. I wanted to play and that’s what I was expecting to do, but I guess it was otherwise … The coaches, they talked to me and I took it day by day. Everything came out all right.”

Instead of letting this setback destroy his career, Michael had a breakout season in 2000, when he finally got back on the playing field. Waddell started all 11 of the Tar Heels’ games and defended 12 passes, the sixth-best single-season mark ever at Carolina. The next year “Rabbit,” the nickname he has gone by since his late grandmother bestowed it upon him, built on his sophomore success with an outstanding junior season. Waddell constantly excelled, whether it was holding Texas star wide receiver Roy Williams to 38 yards receiving, returning a punt 89 yards to pay dirt against Oklahoma or making nine tackles and blocking a field goal against Virginia. Waddell closed out his fine season with a tremendous performance in the Peach Bowl against Auburn. Waddell recorded seven stops along with a key interception. When the year was over, Waddell had broken up 14 passes, the fourth-best season tally in Tar Heel history, and was named to the All-ACC second team.

Many experts thought that Waddell would have an even better year in 2002, his senior season, and then take his act to the biggest stage of all: the NFL. For whatever reason, things just didn’t go that way.

“Maybe … I don’t know … lack of focus,” Waddell said. “I guess some previous games where I didn’t play so well … were rewinding, playing back in my mind in other games. So, it took my mind off the game.”

Waddell struggled throughout the year and says he continued to lose confidence, although it should be noted he still led the team with eight pass breakups. His senior year ended in heartbreak when he broke his fibula in the Tar Heels’ matchup with Clemson. Nov. 9, 2002 should have been the last day Michael Waddell played in Kenan Stadium. Someone forgot to tell “Rabbit.” He wasn’t going to let his Tar Heel legacy be a broken leg and a season of disappointment.

Waddell’s academic work ethic has improved since the day he sat crying in the bathroom. He could have given up after the injury and taken the money a pro contract would have to offer. Instead, he worked hard and graduated this past summer with a degree in African-American history and a minor in Exercise and Sports Science. Though he tries to downplay it, Waddell appreciates his scholastic work.

“It was something special,” Waddell said.

However, he didn’t simply graduate; Waddell earned back a year of eligibility, literally erasing his nightmarish freshman year. For Waddell, this year has been like a freshman year in a lot of ways. He has had to prove himself all over again, starting with earning back his nickname.

“I think it was a little extra motive that the guys had. They wanted to push me,” Waddell said. “I guess they thought that I was kind of down because my leg was broken and I wasn’t 100 percent yet, so they kind of challenged me and they helped me out.”

How did he do that? Well, it only took a 4.29-second 40-yard dash to snatch the respect of his teammates once again. By now, the injury and his poor play in 2002 are out of Waddell’s mind, and he is prepared to return to his All-ACC form.

“During rehab, I rehabbed every day, at least twice a day. That’s out of the way now,” Waddell said. “To get better, you know, just practicing hard, watching film, and taking that extra step.”

How is his confidence these days?

“I’m 100 percent, complete,” the standout corner said.

While Waddell has his own personal goals in mind, the senior cornerback also wants to lead his team to a bowl game appearance once again. The first step toward that goal is leaving Camp Randall Stadium with a win.

“We look at it as another opportunity and we’re going to try to take advantage of it, and hopefully it will come out our way.”