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🏈 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

BILL BELICHICK AND THE NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

Essentially the most adorned coach in NFL historical past is heading to school. North Carolina employed Invoice Belichick as head coach, a surprising improvement throughout the game at each ranges.

• Belichick, 72, is a six-time Tremendous Bowl champion, and his 333 wins (together with playoffs) are 14 behind Don Shula for probably the most in NFL historical past. Belichick was AP Coach of the Yr in 2003, 2007 and 2010.
• Belichick and the Patriots mutually agreed to half methods Jan. 11, 2024 — precisely 11 months earlier than he took the North Carolina job. Belichick interviewed with the Falcons on Jan. 15, however Raheem Morris acquired the job as an alternative.
• This season, Belichick has labored as an analyst on a bevy of ESPN exhibits, together with the “Manningcast” model of “Monday Night time Soccer.”
• Belichick replaces Mack Brown, who was fired in late November. Brown had been the one FBS coach older than 70; now that distinction belongs to Belichick.
• Belichick’s deal is for 5 years and a reported $10 million yearly, doubling Brown’s wage.

Wow. I imply WOW. It appeared like a publicity stunt simply days in the past when Belichick even took an interview, a lot in order that Will Brinson mentioned he’d actually eat his phrases if the Tar Heels employed Belichick. (Will, I hope you are hungry!) However Belichick indicated he was critical at each step, Jonathan Jones reported, and the legendary coach not solely confirmed talks had been taking place in his final public feedback however mentioned he’d create “a pipeline to the NFL.”

Faculty soccer is an entire lot completely different than the NFL, and ever-adapting. North Carolina is reportedly adapting with it, the Tar Heels quintupling their NIL price range from $4 million to $20 million, per Dennis Dodd, and increasing their employees, per Jonathan, who has the inside story on how this got here to fruition, a captivating must-read for UNC followers.

In fact, there are many questions, which is why our opinions on the rent differ so in a different way. Our faculty soccer specialists gave their preliminary ideas on the place Belichick ranks amongst all FBS coaches, and the solutions ranged from “high 10” to “backside half.”

Lengthy story brief, North Carolina made a large rent, however outcomes need to comply with, Chip Patterson writes.

• Patterson: “North Carolina has not gained an ACC championship in soccer since 1980 and has misplaced 11 of its final 14 bowl video games. When outsiders take a look at North Carolina soccer and discuss in regards to the ‘sleeping big,’ it is as a result of they see a robust flagship college failing to duplicate the soccer success of different colleges with an analogous profile. … North Carolina has dedicated to investing in soccer like a championship contender, and within the expanded playoff, it is change into simpler to shortly get a program into contender standing. That is why something wanting main North Carolina to the highest of the ACC and into the combination of contenders for the Faculty Soccer Playoff will likely be a disappointment.”

Lastly, listed here are reactions from across the NFL and from our reporters’ sources.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such morning for …

BILL BELICHICK AND THE NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

Keep in mind after I mentioned our specialists ranged from “high 10” to “backside half” concerning Belichick’s rank amongst FBS coaches? This is why Richard Johnson mentioned the latter:

• Johnson: “Are you able to create the precise infrastructure to win on this model of the game? It is not like Belichick parted methods with New England when the Pats had been nonetheless in Tremendous Bowl rivalry. On the finish, his GM chops had been failing, so both he will flip that accountability over to another person or proceed to do it in a model of the game he is by no means labored in. … North Carolina has a deeply fractured administrative dynamic and it is not conducive to success in soccer. The dysfunction all through this course of exhibits why this system has been unserious for so long as it has. Into that surroundings, you are turning over the keys to a man who has not coached in faculty ever.”

That is why it is a good morning and not such morning for Belichick and his new crew. The approaching days, weeks, months and (perhaps) years will likely be fascinating, nevertheless they go.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏀 NBA Cup: Rockets, Hawks into NBA Cup semifinals

The NBA Cup has formally reached new ranges of insanity, and the semifinals are set. The Rockets and Hawks are heading to Las Vegas to tackle the Thunder and Bucks, respectively.

We’ll begin in Houston, the place the Rockets’ 91-90 win over the Warriors was equal components astonishing, controversial and gritty.

• The Warriors led 90-84 with below 90 seconds left, and it seemed just like the veteran Warriors had put away the upstart Rockets. The Fred VanVleet nailed a 3-pointer and Alperen Sungun made a layup to make it 90-89, Golden State.
• Insanity ensued. Stephen Curry missed a stepback 3 tried unnecessarily early, and in a wild scramble for the free ball, Jonathan Kuminga fouled Jalen Inexperienced as each went to the ground, a foul you nearly by no means see. Steve Kerr completely ripped the refs postgame.
• Inexperienced made two free throws, and Jabari Smith Jr. — who was wonderful all night time — blocked Brandin Podziemski on the buzzer.

Sengun had 26 factors and 11 rebounds, and Smith added 15 for Houston, which had misplaced 15 straight to Golden State going again to February 2020.

The Hawks rallied previous the Knicks in New York, 108-100, with DeAndre Hunter (24 factors), Trae Younger (22 factors, 11 assists) Jalen Johnson (21 factors, 15 rebounds) main the best way. With each groups struggling from the sector, Atlanta’s 22 offensive rebounds loomed giant. On the opposite finish, Karl-Anthony Cities had 19 factors and 19 rebounds but additionally fouled out, a long-standing difficulty in large video games.

⚾ Crimson Sox purchase Garrett Crochet from White Sox

Generally, all you want is a change of Sox.

Garrett Crochet is heading from the White Sox to the Crimson Sox in a blockbuster deal that provides Boston a licensed ace. Listed here are the small print:

• Crimson Sox obtain: LHP Garrett Crochet
• White Sox obtain: C Kyle Teel, OF Braden Montgomery, INF Chase Meidroth, RHP Wikelman Gonzalez

Crochet, 25, pitched to the tune of a 3.58 ERA/115 ERA+ with a sterling 2.69 FIP in 2024. He struck out 209 batters, and his 35.1% strikeout charge was finest amongst common starters. His overpowering fastball averaged 97.2 mph, and he threw it greater than half the time. Although there are sturdiness and workload questions, he had been seen as the highest commerce candidate this offseason contemplating the long-term rebuild on the South Aspect of Chicago.

The Crimson Sox wanted to be aggressive, and after whiffing on Juan Soto and Max Fried, they acquired a man who generates a ton of whiffs and is below crew management via 2026. As such, Boston earns an “A” in R.J. Anderson’s commerce grades.

• Anderson: “Crochet has a nasty arsenal that he continues to refine. One of many revelations for him was the addition of a cutter that served as a bridge between his high-octane fastball and trademark sweeper. Crochet then normal a sinker late within the 12 months to good returns, suggesting he may have 4 above-average (or higher) choices to make use of heading ahead. Mix that repertoire with above-average management (he walked two batters per 9) and an obvious capability and craving for enchancment, and you’ve got the makings of a front-of-the-rotation drive — for now and 2026.”

There is a lengthy solution to go for the White Sox, however this return is strong in R.J.’s estimation. Teel “profiles as a most-days catcher,” Montgomery may very well be an eventual middle-of-the-order bat, and Meidroth gives “high-quality on-base abilities.”

Growing the children — which the White Sox have struggled with — will likely be key.

This is extra from Winter Conferences:

• Brian Cashman has “no regrets” about his stance in a key piece of the Juan Soto negotiations.
• The place may Corbin Burnes land?
• Mike Axisa ranked all 30 potential Kyle Tucker touchdown spots.
• Listed here are the 15 picks from the major-league portion of the Rule 5 Draft.

⚽ UEFA Champions League Matchday 6 recap: People do one thing unprecedented

Soccer has been round a protracted, very long time. Wednesday, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah did one thing by no means seen earlier than. The 2 USMNT standouts linked up for a large objective in Juventus‘ 2-0 win over Manchester Metropolis, the primary time in UEFA Champions League historical past one American man assisted one other. McKennie, who thumped Weah’s cross house within the seventy fifth minute, says he likes being doubted, and this enormous objective on an enormous stage helps that.

That was one in every of many storylines throughout the second day of Matchday 6. Amongst others …

• Metropolis has only one win in its final 10 video games and dropped to twenty second within the standings. The highest eight groups from the league section go straight to the spherical of 16, whereas groups 9-24 should advance there through playoff.
• Arsenal beat Monaco, 3-0, however Gabriel Jesus‘ struggles continued.
• Listed here are Jonathan Johnson’s Group of the Week, Chuck Sales space’s Energy Rankings, Pardeep Cattry’s Panic Meter and updates on who’s clinched what.

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

🏀 No. 2 UConn at No. 8 Notre Dame (W), 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Pistons at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 No. 3 Iowa State at Iowa (M), 7:30 p.m. on FS1
🏈 Rams at 49ers, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video