(SAN DIEGO, CA) -- The University of North Carolina men's basketball team tips off their 2011-2012 season Friday night against the Michigan State Spartans in San Diego from the flight deck of an air craft carrier. On Wednesday, the Tar Heel traveling party took a guided tour of the USS Carl Vinson.

On the bridge, UNC head coach Roy Williams had a little fun by tell everyone, "all hands on deck." A video of the tour can be seen at TarHheelBblue.com.

Both the Tar Heels and the Spartans will wear camouflaged uniforms with "USA" on the back of their jerseys instead of player names. Spectators will fill 7,000 seats, 4,000 of those spectators will be military personnel.  One of them will be President Barack Obama.

The Carrier Classic tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET Friday.  The Veteran's Day event will be broadcast on ESPN.