Latest news with #LegendsAward
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mack Brown back in Texas and at peace after the Hall of Fame coach's North Carolina departure
FORT WORTH, Texas — Mack Brown is back to living in Austin, Texas, during the winter and through the spring, and plans to spend the summer at the family's home in the North Carolina mountains. He is certainly at peace nearly three months after coaching his final game for the Tar Heels. 'We were doing that before and it worked,' Brown said. 'I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I may do some TV, I'll probably do some podcasts. I enjoyed that. ... You can do it from North Carolina just as easy as anywhere.' While the 73-year-old Brown was frustrated by how his departure was handled, the College Football Hall of Fame member reiterated that he was ready to be done coaching after a second stint with the Tar Heels, and is pulling for them to be successful under new coach Bill Belichick. 'I think the frustration was it was probably more political than anything else,' Brown said. 'They knew I was going to be through at the end of the year, but there were some, a lot of people, that weren't on the same page. So it didn't really matter in the end.' Brown became the first non-quarterback, and first coach, recognized as a Legends Award recipient during the Davey O'Brien awards dinner. That was also when Cam Ward, who exceled in his only season at Miami and could be the NFL's top draft pick, was presented the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback. The winningest coach in Tar Heels history, Brown said he didn't want to announce any change before the regular-season finale against rival N.C. State. But it was in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving week game that North Carolina said Brown wouldn't be returning after six seasons in his second stint there. 'At North Carolina at that time, without revenue sharing, there wasn't enough money, so you couldn't compete. We had $4 million and you just couldn't compete, and that was the frustrating thing,' Brown said. 'So I thought it was really time for somebody new to come in for the $13 million revenue sharing and kind of get a fresh new start. And I'd had enough.' One of the main reasons that Brown had even come back last season was to help oversee the program while player Tylee Craft was going through his cancer fight. The 23-year-old player died in October from a rare form of lung cancer. 'He was sick for 2 1/2 years, and that was really the reason we came back for the last year, is we wanted to make sure that he was taken care of,' Brown said. Brown got 113 of his 288 career victories at North Carolina. He coached at Appalachian State (1983) and Tulane (1985-87) before 10 seasons in his first stint with the Tar Heels, and then a 16-season run at Texas that included the 2005 national championship with quarterback Vince Young. The Longhorns lost to Alabama four years later after Colt McCoy got injured early in that title game. North Carolina replaced Brown with six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Belichick, and gave the 72-year-old coach a five-year deal that guarantees the first three seasons. 'I'm proud of them that they finally committed. And Bill's one of the best ever,' Brown said. 'So I'm proud for the kids. I've got so many friends there, like I do at Texas. So I'm glad they finally stepped up, and now they should have a chance to compete with the best in the country.' Brown hasn't spoken to Belichick, but did have a conversation with Michael Lombardi, who was hired by the new coach as the football program's general manager. '(Lombardi) called me and talked to me about some things,' Brown said. 'And I want them to be successful. I'm not that young guy that's mad at the world and all that.'
NBC Sports
19-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Mack Brown back in Texas and at peace after the Hall of Fame coach's North Carolina departure
FORT WORTH, Texas — Mack Brown is back to living in Austin, Texas, during the winter and through the spring, and plans to spend the summer at the family's home in the North Carolina mountains. He is certainly at peace nearly three months after coaching his final game for the Tar Heels. 'We were doing that before and it worked,' Brown said. 'I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I may do some TV, I'll probably do some podcasts. I enjoyed that. ... You can do it from North Carolina just as easy as anywhere.' While the 73-year-old Brown was frustrated by how his departure was handled, the College Football Hall of Fame member reiterated that he was ready to be done coaching after a second stint with the Tar Heels, and is pulling for them to be successful under new coach Bill Belichick. 'I think the frustration was it was probably more political than anything else,' Brown said. 'They knew I was going to be through at the end of the year, but there were some, a lot of people, that weren't on the same page. So it didn't really matter in the end.' Brown became the first non-quarterback, and first coach, recognized as a Legends Award recipient during the Davey O'Brien awards dinner. That was also when Cam Ward, who exceled in his only season at Miami and could be the NFL's top draft pick, was presented the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback. The winningest coach in Tar Heels history, Brown said he didn't want to announce any change before the regular-season finale against rival N.C. State. But it was in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving week game that North Carolina said Brown wouldn't be returning after six seasons in his second stint there. 'At North Carolina at that time, without revenue sharing, there wasn't enough money, so you couldn't compete. We had $4 million and you just couldn't compete, and that was the frustrating thing,' Brown said. 'So I thought it was really time for somebody new to come in for the $13 million revenue sharing and kind of get a fresh new start. And I'd had enough.' One of the main reasons that Brown had even come back last season was to help oversee the program while player Tylee Craft was going through his cancer fight. The 23-year-old player died in October from a rare form of lung cancer. 'He was sick for 2 1/2 years, and that was really the reason we came back for the last year, is we wanted to make sure that he was taken care of,' Brown said. Brown got 113 of his 288 career victories at North Carolina. He coached at Appalachian State (1983) and Tulane (1985-87) before 10 seasons in his first stint with the Tar Heels, and then a 16-season run at Texas that included the 2005 national championship with quarterback Vince Young. The Longhorns lost to Alabama four years later after Colt McCoy got injured early in that title game. North Carolina replaced Brown with six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Belichick, and gave the 72-year-old coach a five-year deal that guarantees the first three seasons. 'I'm proud of them that they finally committed. And Bill's one of the best ever,' Brown said. 'So I'm proud for the kids. I've got so many friends there, like I do at Texas. So I'm glad they finally stepped up, and now they should have a chance to compete with the best in the country.' Brown hasn't spoken to Belichick, but did have a conversation with Michael Lombardi, who was hired by the new coach as the football program's general manager. '(Lombardi) called me and talked to me about some things,' Brown said. 'And I want them to be successful. I'm not that young guy that's mad at the world and all that.'
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mack Brown back in Texas and at peace after the Hall of Fame coach's North Carolina departure
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Mack Brown is back to living in Austin, Texas, during the winter and through the spring, and plans to spend the summer at the family's home in the North Carolina mountains. He is certainly at peace nearly three months after coaching his final game for the Tar Heels. 'We were doing that before and it worked,' Brown said. 'I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I may do some TV, I'll probably do some podcasts. I enjoyed that. ... You can do it from North Carolina just as easy as anywhere.' While the 73-year-old Brown was frustrated by how his departure was handled, the College Football Hall of Fame member reiterated Monday that he was ready to be done coaching after a second stint with the Tar Heels, and is pulling for them to be successful under new coach Bill Belichick. 'I think the frustration was it was probably more political than anything else," Brown said. 'They knew I was going to be through at the end of the year, but there were some, a lot of people, that weren't on the same page. So it didn't really matter in the end.' On Monday, Brown became the first non-quarterback, and first coach, recognized as a Legends Award recipient during the Davey O'Brien awards dinner. That was also when Cam Ward, who exceled in his only season at Miami and could be the NFL's top draft pick, was presented the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback. The winningest coach in Tar Heels history, Brown said he didn't want to announce any change before the regular-season finale against rival North Carolina State. But it was in the days leading up to that Thanksgiving week game that the school said Brown wouldn't be returning after six seasons in his second stint there. 'At North Carolina at that time, without revenue sharing, there wasn't enough money, so you couldn't compete. We had $4 million and you just couldn't compete, and that was the frustrating thing,' Brown said Monday. 'So I thought it was really time for somebody new to come in for the $13 million revenue sharing and kind of get a fresh new start. And I'd had enough." One of the main reasons that Brown had even come back last season was to help oversee the program while player Tylee Craft was going through his cancer fight. The 23-year-old player died in October from a rare form of lung cancer. 'He was sick for 2 1/2 years, and that was really the reason we came back for the last year, is we wanted to make sure that he was taken care of,' Brown said. Brown got 113 of his 288 career victories at North Carolina. He coached at Appalachian State (1983) and Tulane (1985-87) before 10 seasons in his first stint with the Tar Heels, and then a 16-season run at Texas that included the 2005 national championship with quarterback Vince Young. The Longhorns lost to Alabama four years later after Colt McCoy got injured early in that title game. North Carolina replaced Brown with six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Belichick, and gave the 72-year-old coach a five-year deal that guarantees the first three seasons. 'I'm proud of them that they finally committed. And Bill's one of the best ever,' Brown said. 'So I'm proud for the kids. I've got so many friends there, like I do at Texas. So I'm glad they finally stepped up, and now they should have a chance to compete with the best in the country.' Brown hasn't spoken to Belichick, but did have a conversation with Michael Lombardi, who was hired by the new coach as the football program's general manager. '(Lombardi) called me and talked to me about some things,' Brown said. 'And I want them to be successful. I'm not that young guy that's mad at the world and all that.' ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: and Stephen Hawkins, The Associated Press
Associated Press
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Mack Brown back in Texas and at peace after the Hall of Fame coach's North Carolina departure
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Mack Brown is back to living in Austin, Texas, during the winter and through the spring, and plans to spend the summer at the family's home in the North Carolina mountains. He is certainly at peace nearly three months after coaching his final game for the Tar Heels. 'We were doing that before and it worked,' Brown said. 'I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I may do some TV, I'll probably do some podcasts. I enjoyed that. ... You can do it from North Carolina just as easy as anywhere.' While the 73-year-old Brown was frustrated by how his departure was handled, the College Football Hall of Fame member reiterated Monday that he was ready to be done coaching after a second stint with the Tar Heels, and is pulling for them to be successful under new coach Bill Belichick. 'I think the frustration was it was probably more political than anything else,' Brown said. 'They knew I was going to be through at the end of the year, but there were some, a lot of people, that weren't on the same page. So it didn't really matter in the end.' On Monday, Brown became the first non-quarterback, and first coach, recognized as a Legends Award recipient during the Davey O'Brien awards dinner. That was also when Cam Ward, who exceled in his only season at Miami and could be the NFL's top draft pick, was presented the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback. The winningest coach in Tar Heels history, Brown said he didn't want to announce any change before the regular-season finale against rival North Carolina State. But it was in the days leading up to that Thanksgiving week game that the school said Brown wouldn't be returning after six seasons in his second stint there. 'At North Carolina at that time, without revenue sharing, there wasn't enough money, so you couldn't compete. We had $4 million and you just couldn't compete, and that was the frustrating thing,' Brown said Monday. 'So I thought it was really time for somebody new to come in for the $13 million revenue sharing and kind of get a fresh new start. And I'd had enough.' One of the main reasons that Brown had even come back last season was to help oversee the program while player Tylee Craft was going through his cancer fight. The 23-year-old player died in October from a rare form of lung cancer. 'He was sick for 2 1/2 years, and that was really the reason we came back for the last year, is we wanted to make sure that he was taken care of,' Brown said. Brown got 113 of his 288 career victories at North Carolina. He coached at Appalachian State (1983) and Tulane (1985-87) before 10 seasons in his first stint with the Tar Heels, and then a 16-season run at Texas that included the 2005 national championship with quarterback Vince Young. The Longhorns lost to Alabama four years later after Colt McCoy got injured early in that title game. North Carolina replaced Brown with six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Belichick, and gave the 72-year-old coach a five-year deal that guarantees the first three seasons. 'I'm proud of them that they finally committed. And Bill's one of the best ever,' Brown said. 'So I'm proud for the kids. I've got so many friends there, like I do at Texas. So I'm glad they finally stepped up, and now they should have a chance to compete with the best in the country.' Brown hasn't spoken to Belichick, but did have a conversation with Michael Lombardi, who was hired by the new coach as the football program's general manager. '(Lombardi) called me and talked to me about some things,' Brown said. 'And I want them to be successful. I'm not that young guy that's mad at the world and all that.'
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Legacy Keepers honor veterans, leaders, youth
Muskogee High graduate Donald Reaves said it's been 'a good journey,' going from Summit through 28 years in the armed forces. 'Who'd ever think a boy from Summit, Oklahoma, would grow up to be anything,' Reaves said upon receiving the Veteran of the Year award at Saturday's Legacy Keepers R Us bruncheon. The event, held at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, honored 26 people, plus the Tullahassee Wildcats Foundation. It included a light continental breakfast and lunch. Reaves, now an Oklahoma City resident, said 'there are so many people who went on this journey with me.' 'I never went into the military to get awards and accolades,' he said. 'At the time I went in, there were few opportunities for me to get a job in Muskogee. I had to find my way. I didn't want to go to college so I went into the military. Twenty-eight years and one day later, I got out.' Reaves spent four years in the U.S. Air Force and 24 years in the U.S. Army reserve. Dennis Wilhite, who presented the award, said Reaves retired from the military in 2004 and from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in 2015. Awards were presented to Legends with a long record of community service, Legacy Keepers currently serving the community and Pacesetters and youth who could continue serving the community. Former Muskogee County Commissioner Dexter Payne and his son, current County Commissioner Kenny Payne received two awards. Dexter Payne, presented with a Legends Award, said he appreciates 'the fact that someone thinks I did a good job.' Kenny Payne, presented with a Legacy Keepers Award, said 'the community has invested a lot in me and my family, and we try to give back by investing in our community.' 'There's been a lot of people who helped my dad along the way and a lot of people who helped me along the way,' the younger Payne said. ' and I consider it as much an honor them as it is for us.' Rhonda Grayson and the Doug Good family were honored for seeking to restore and preserve historic Black cemeteries. Awards also were presented honoring people who have died. Historian and event coordinator ShironButterfly said Legacy Keepers seeks to share stories. She compared the project to the PBS program 'Finding Your Roots,' in which guests have their family lineage traced. Ray said the show sometimes has surprises. 'You find out who you thought were your relatives aren't really your relatives,' Ray said. 'Some people shy away from studying, 'I wanted to know and I was told stop being sassy. My motto is, 'let's dig to the truth. Who IS your daddy? Who's your daddy's daddy?'' Ray said Legacy Keepers has inducted more than 200 people since the ceremonies began nine years ago. 'The youngest was 9, the eldest was 103,' Ray said. She said 103-year-old Bernice Walker was grand marshal of the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade 10 days before she died. Ray said Walker's passing reminds her how important it is to honor someone before it's too late. 'Sometimes we put off for tomorrow what we should have done today,' Ray said. 'Sometimes it's too late to say I love you, too late to say I'm sorry, too late to say let's make up. I say don't hesitate. Do it now.'
