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Fearless predictions for 2025
As we do each year, the North State Journal’s sports staff came up with fearless predictions for 2025. We’re not gamblers, but you can pretty much bet the farm that all of this is going […]
Bill Belichick
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Bowl losses make fans say humbug
The Grinch, Ebeneezer Scrooge and college football in North Carolina—no three things have been responsible for the death of more holiday joy. This year, East Carolina was the lone team from the state to record […]
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Key exits highlight early in-state transfer portal action
We’re living in a new era of college football with NIL and the transfer portal changes and what that means is that these transfers now play a big part in roster construction either in terms […]
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The highlights of a new hire
About 15 years ago, the Pro Football Writers of America had a major problem to discuss at their annual meeting during Super Bowl week. The problem was related to the PFWA’s Media Access Policy, a […]
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HILL: The Coach Bill Belichick hire at Carolina
For a 48-hour period last week, UNC Chapel Hill was the center of the college football world ― not basketball. Bill Belichick was hired to coach the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar […]
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Look Ahead — 2024 Coach of the Year: Panthers’ next coach gets team pointed in right direction
Looking ahead to predict the award winners for the year to come always requires us to go out on a limb. Rarely, however, are we as far out on a shaky branch as with the […]
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Garner’s Keion White a perfect match for Patriots
After his pro day at Georgia Tech, defensive end Keion White said something that proved to be prophetic. “I’m a pretty nonchalant guy,” the former Garner High standout and high school teammate of Nyheim Hines […]
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Tom Brady retires at 45, insisting this time it’s ‘for good’
TAMPA, Fla. — This time, Tom Brady says he’s done for good. The seven-time Super Bowl winner with New England and Tampa Bay announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, exactly one year after […]
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Senior, Shrine bowls cap busy college all-star season for local players
Two of the biggest remaining games on the college football all-star circuit take place this weekend. The East-West Shrine Bowl kicks off on Friday in Las Vegas, with Bill Belichick coaching one team against a […]
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Stephon Gilmore excited to join Panthers
CHARLOTTE — Stephon Gilmore said he’s excited to join the hometown Carolina Panthers team that he grew up rooting for and doesn’t harbor any ill feelings toward the New England Patriots, who traded him away […]