Month: February 2023

North Carolina announced Thursday afternoon that head coach Mack Brown has agreed to a one-year contract extension with the team, keeping Brown under contract through the 2027-28 season. Brown said in a statement: “I appreciate the Board of Ttrustees, Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham and the athletics department for continuing to invest in our football program and assisting us as we continue our rise in the ACC and on the national landscape. We’ve had a very successful four years across the board and we’re continuing to strive to win all the games, have as much fun as possible, and mentor young men who graduate and are better prepared for life after football. We’ve accomplished a lot and we still have so much room for improvement, so we’re looking forward to attacking this offseason and getting ready to go for the 2023 season.”

Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham said: “Mack has reenergized our program in so many ways — from the team camaraderie in the locker room, to the engaged fan base in the stands, to this season’s Coastal Division championship and nine-win finish. We know that under his leadership, our student-athletes will continue to succeed on the field and in the classroom while giving back to the community. We appreciate all he and Sally have done to help build a positive culture around Carolina Football.”

Brown ranks second among active coaches, with 274 wins, including his 6-4 season in 1983 with Appalachian State.  He has a 268-139-1 overall record in 33 seasons as a college coach at the Football Bowl Division level, and also led the teams to a 1-4 record in bowl games since 2019. He led the Tar Heels to a 30-22 record over the last four seasons. who went 9-5 last season for their most wins since 2015.

North Carolina will face South Carolina in their season opener Sept. 2 in Charlotte, N.C.

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WNBA point guard Courtney Vandersloot announced on social media she is signing with the New York Liberty for the upcoming WNBA season. The veteran point guard is joining a star-studded roster that recently added two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart and 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones, who will be joining 2022 WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu. The details of Vandersloot’s contract are still being negotiated.

Vandersloot spent 12 seasons with the Chicago Sky, and shocked the WNBA on Jan. 31 when she announced she was leaving the team. Before Vandersloot joined the Sky they had never made the playoffs, or even had a winning season. – however, the four-time WNBA All-Star helped the Sky win its first title in franchise history in 2021. Vandersloot leaves Chicago as leader in games played (359), minutes (10,145), assists (2,385) and steals (457).

The Liberty is the only still-active original franchise that has not won a WNBA championship yet. However Breanna Stewart said earlier this week the Liberty hopes to change that this season: “Superteams are the new thing. We are just trying to make sure that we are as good as possible. We have all of our boxes checked. When you look at the talent, there is a lot of amazing players on this roster and we are going to go after the championship.”

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Just 10 days before his team is set to compete in the Super Bowl, Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills has been indicted on rape and kidnapping charges in Ohio. According to the indictment issued in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court in Ohio, the charges against Sills stem from an incident with a woman on Dec. 5, 2019.

According to prosecutors, the 25-year-old Sills “purposely compelled” the victim to “submit by force or threat of force” to sexual conduct. The charges are for felony rape of the first degree. Sills is also being accused of kidnapping the woman, with the indictment alleging that he “did, by force, threat, or deception, remove” the victim from “the place where she was found or restrain the liberty of her for the purpose of facilitating the commission of a felony.” Sills was indicted by a grand jury this week following an investigation conducted by the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office. A court date for him to appear has been set for Feb. 16. in Cambridge, Ohio.

The Philadelphia Eagles said in a statement: “The organization is aware of the legal matter involving Josh Sills. We have been in communication with the league office and are in the process of gathering more information. We have no further comment at this time.”

Sills was signed by the Eagles in 2022, and played one game this season as a rookie in Week 5. The Eagles will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Feb. 12 in Arizona.

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Legendary quarterback Tom Brady has announced his retirement after 23 seasons in the NFL. The 45-year-old Brady shared the news in a video posted on social media on Wednesday, saying: “I’ll get to the point right away. I’m retiring for good. I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first. It won’t be long-winded. You only get one super-emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year.”  The seven-time Super Bowl champion also thanked his family, friends, teammates and competitors for their support throughout his career: “Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Brady initially retired in February 2022, but the decision was temporary as he announced March 2022 he would return for his 23rd season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The NFL tweeted, “The greatest ever,” adding in another tweet: “For all the rings. For all the touchdowns. For all the memories. Thank you for everything, @TomBrady. ”  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers posted a tweet that read “#ThankYouTom, ” and the New England Patriots tweeted: “Quite the ride indeed. Thank you again, @TomBrady”

Brady — a three-time NFL MVP, five-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time All-Pro, and two-time Offensive Player of the Year — is considered by many to be the greatest quarterback of all time, having led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl wins, and the Bucs to one. During his NFL career, the three-time league MVP has broken almost every passing record, including games played (335 regular season, 383 overall), regular season passing yards (89,214), touchdown passes (649), and playoff victories (35). He has also amassed the most wins of any player in NFL history (251).

Brady played 20 seasons in New England before leaving as a free agent after the 2020 season and signing with the Bucs, where he led the team to a Super Bowl win in 2021. Brady led the NFL in pass attempts and completions in each of the last two seasons. He led the NFL in passing yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43) in 2021, en route to his 15th Pro Bowl selection. This past season, he completed 66.8% of his throws for 4,694 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 17 starts.

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