A former NFL player with North Carolina ties has died. Former Washington Redskins safety Matt Stevens died at the age of 51, according to a social media post from the Appalachian State football team. Please click here and here for more.
All posts by Cliff Barnes
Carolina Panthers raise ticket prices ahead of 2025 season
Carolina Panthers fans can expect higher ticket prices for the upcoming season at Bank of America Stadium. Not including premium seating, tickets will go up a little over 6%, a team spokesperson confirmed. Please click here for more.
New Wolfpack coach says “our time is right now”
Incoming NC State coach Will Wade is confident that the Pack will be near the top of the ACC standings next year and will make the NCAA Tournament in 2026. Please click here for more.
Former State star DJ Burns jokes around with future Pack student manager
Former NC State star DJ Burns joking around with Amir Khan about “Aura,” which was a nickname given to the student manager following a set of viral videos that included him leading the Cowboys out of the tunnel with a boombox around his neck. Please click here for more.
2026 quarterback Zaid Lott commits to Syracuse hours after UNC decommitment
After decommitting from North Carolina earlier Tuesday, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day School three-star quarterback Zaid Lott has a new home: Syracuse. Please click here for more.
UNC’s Alyssa Ustby, who missed senior day, gets her home finale in win over WVU
Tar Heels’ fifth-year forward Alyssa Ustby ended a 58-47 win against West Virginia, standing atop the scorer’s table and yelling toward the cheering home fans and applauding from above the court. It was the perfect send-off for a player who had missed her scheduled home finale due to injury, then made good on a second shot in March Madness. Please click here for more.
Michael Jordan Opens Another Free Health Clinic in Wilmington
Hall of Fame former Chicago Bulls and UNC legend Michael Jordan, a billionaire several times over, continues to give back to the community in a big way. Per Randy Aldridge of The North Carolina Medical Society, the 14-time All-Star shooting guard is opening up a whopping fourth free healthcare clinic to help give medical access to uninsured and/or generally underserved people in his native North Carolina. Please click here for more.
March Madness: Is NIL the death of Cinderella?
While the transfer portal does work both ways, mid-major coaches say that it’s tougher now than it was five years ago to find power-conference players seeking to drop down a level in search of more playing time. The NIL money available to a SEC or Big Ten benchwarmer often surpasses the market for a SoCon or Horizon League starter. Please click here for more.
Stevens: If more competitive playoffs is the goal, expanding the number of qualifiers isn’t the answer
The N.C. High School Athletic Association announced the new playoff structure for the 2025-2026 school year as it expands from four to eight classes. The plan also includes a massive expansion in the number of teams that will qualify for the postseason. Please click here for more.
Change of scenery suits Canes’ Jankowski
The Nashville Predators dealt 30-year-old forward Mark Jankowski to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. He’s since scored six goals in seven games. Please click here for more.