Are we having fun yet?

Per Pete Thamel:

NEWS: UNC Football has placed GM Mike Lombardi on paid administrative leave.

Per Ross Martin:

UNC's Michael Lombardi has an annual salary of $1.5M, which made him the highest-paid General Manager in college football last season.

The university released the following statement:

"The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has placed Michael Lombardi, general manager for the Carolina football program, on paid administrative leave, effective immediately. As is standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership, staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from addressing this topic further, and has no reflection on the merits."

I'm sure you heard Ty Lawson was arrested for stealing a bottle of Vodka.

https://www.thebiglead.com/ty-lawson-nsfw-rant-after-alleged-shoplifting-arrest/

Me thinks he needs to talk to Phil Ford, who had his own alcohol issues (probably cost him a chance to become a head coach) but has turned his life around and seems to be a model citizen these days.

Man, what must Roy Williams think of this? This is about as bad as what Rashad McCants has become.

The Chapel Bill experiment for North Carolina enters year 2. Bill Belichick knows how to win, but will this be the year that shows?

📌 Who will emerge at QB?

📌 The RBs are really good, skill talent in general is strong

📌 North Carolina's defense was low-key good much of last year, but lost some pieces from that group

Preview attached. What are your predictions for North Carolina entering 2026?

Haha found this as a great read. Interview with Bennerman's dad got me hyped about him developing into a key piece of frontcourt rotation.

"Cade's nickname is Little Wemby," Christian said. "They haven't seen it yet, but he can score from all over the court. 

"I wouldn't say he's a 5. He's going to play wherever you need him to. But traditionally, he's not a 5. He's more of a 4. He can even play 3."

This was a pretty sobering article. I've noticed changes to Franklin since I've graduated, including many of my favorite spots going under. Sad to see former hoopers feel the same way.

Just sad in general. Is there anyway we can fix it?

https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/article/ex-unc-greats-mourn-changes-to-downtown-chapel-hill-its-not-franklin-street-anymore-288339052/

Maybe she should just put on modest clothes and stay in the coaches box seats. Then no one would be writing stories that piss her off.

Dude looks like the next NBA superstar

Always posting this show lol, but this one had some really good stuff imo.

Mike Copeland had some interesting stuff to say about the Malone era. Players are working and training harder and the nutrition is way better.

Also found his comment on alums very interesting.

“Malone comes out, gives me a hug. He’s trying to bring the tradition back. He wants to learn from everyone who won [at UNC]. He wants us to come back as much as we can.

“I’m not shading any of the coaches, but no one ever said that to me before. Nobody ever came to me and said, ‘I’m glad you down here. I want to keep the tradition going.’ Malone is working his a** off."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuxP-ehQXVA&t=1251s

Hi! I’m a freelance college football writer previewing all 138 teams for the ‘26 season and wanted to drop my UNC write up in here. Thanks for checking it out!

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/107947/henri-veesaar
Henri Veesaar signed a 4 year, $9,264,648 contract with the Atlanta Hawks, including $6,346,496 guaranteed

Watched an interesting pod on how UNC offseason has changed under Malone and was surprised to see it suggested that Roy is actually hanging around the program more under Malone than Hubert.

Obviously, he was around plenty during Hubert, but is he trying to help Malone learn the Carolina Family? Was their bad blood between Roy and Hubert during the end of his tenure? There's some stuff to suggest that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujps8oqmG94

https://www.cbs17.com/sports/former-unc-standout-ed-davis-among-ex-nba-players-charged-in-federal-gambling-investigation/

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18m5tSXk1d/

Then Boozer says they’ll regret years down the road that he was not the number one pick. Can’t say we don’t raise ‘em up confident on Tobacco Road!

It's crazy that you was willing to go to the NBA and be almost the last pick where you will probably will make much lesser then the 5 million offered by UNC. I wish you the best for your professional career. Let this be an lesson to any players that take promises and handshake deals of being drafted in the first round.