North Carolina
North Carolina town approves state’s first Buc-ee’s after 8-hour council meeting
A North Carolina town will be getting a Buc-ee’s convenience store, but not before an 8-hour city council meeting that heard praise for the potential jobs a store may bring and criticism for the annoyance the traffic will surely draw.
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In the end, the Mebane, (North Carolina), City Council voted 5-0 to bring the popular Texas-based travel plaza to their town.
The Mebane Buc-ee’s will be the first Buc-ee’s in North Carolina, according to WFMY.
Hundreds of people came to the meeting – representing both sides of the argument, according to the television station.
Mebane, a town of 18,408, will see a 75,000-square-foot building just off I-40 on a 32-acre site. The plan also calls for up to 120 fuel pumps at the store.
Those who have concerns over the amount of traffic such a store will bring to a small town have only to point to the popularity of the Buc-ee’s in other parts of the country.
The Buc-ee’s location in Daytona Beach, which is smaller than the proposed Mebane location, sees 5.4 million visitors a year, about 14,794 visitors a day. That number represents about 80% of the town of Mebane’s population coming in the store each day.
“The level of congestion that the roads are going to be facing with an additional 1,000 hourly daily visitors on the weekdays and even more than that on Saturday. And that’s just not something that our roads and local people want to be dealing with when we’re trying to get to the doctor, to the grocery store, to see friends,” said Kasey Kinsella.
Others noted that the money the store may bring into the town would be worth any inconvenience.
“Something’s gonna go in that spot, (where Buc-ee’s will go) whether it be another warehouse or another trucking hub, something is going there so why not bring something that can benefit the citizens of this county,” Mebane resident, Leslie Prince said.
Buc-ee’s has more than 50 locations, with more than 40 in Texas alone.
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North Carolina
Jerod Mayo Addresses Theory After Bill Belichick Joins North Carolina
Many suspect the Patriots coaching staff will look different next season.
For starters, Jerod Mayo and all of his assistants should be evaluated after yet another unsuccessful campaign in New England. Additionally, as is the case every offseason, there’s a possibility Patriots coaches leave Foxboro, Mass., for new opportunities.
One coach to watch might be Brian Belichick, whose legendary father, Bill Belichick, recently became the head football coach at North Carolina. But when Mayo met with the media Monday, the Patriots head coach claimed the possibility of Belichick leaving New England for Chapel Hill “hasn’t come up at all” in conversations with his safeties coach, per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.
Last Thursday, Brian Belichick was asked directly if he would leave the Patriots to reunite with the eight-time Super Bowl champion. A New England staffer since 2017, the younger Belichick stiff-armed the question and stressed his focus was on the Patriots’ Week 15 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
There’s reason to believe Brian Belichick will be back with New England in 2025. Unlike his brother, Steve, Brian Belichick decided to keep his job with the Patriots after Bill Belichick was fired last January. That said, Brian Belichick might be inclined to seek a fresh start following a string of brutal seasons for the Patriots.
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As for Brian’s brother, Steve is expected to leave Washington after one season as the Huskies’ defensive coordinator to join the Tar Heels staff.
North Carolina
North Carolina governor honors Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour
RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour was presented with the state’s highest honor by Gov. Roy Cooper after Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Brind’Amour received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is given to people who have made significant contributions to the state and their community.
“I went into the locker room after the game and told the players that this guy wouldn’t want me to do what I was about to do because this guy is all about his players and all about team,” Cooper said.
Cooper was in the Hurricanes’ locker room prior to the game to read the starting lineup before returning amid the postgame celebration. The 67-year-old Cooper has long been a supporter of the Hurricanes and frequently attends home games.
“What he has meant to North Carolina is extraordinary, both as a player, as a coach, as a parent, involvement in youth hockey,” Cooper said. “When you think about all of the jobs the Carolina Hurricanes have brought to North Carolina and their success. … This guy has created a culture of winning.”
Brind’Amour is in his seventh season as Carolina’s coach. He also played for 10 years in Carolina, serving as captain of the franchise’s only Stanley Cup championship team in 2006.
“It’s not about me,” Brind’Amour said. “We’ve got such a good group. I was a part of a group of great people all along.”
Cooper has previously presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine to retired Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. Cooper said he’ll present the honor to former North Carolina men’s basketball coach Roy Williams next week.
Cooper, a Democrat, is finishing his second four-year term as governor. He was prevented from seeking reelection because of term limits.
Cooper had a suggestion for Brind’Amour, saying “Coach, it’s time to get that Stanley Cup this time.”
Carolina’s one Stanley Cup title was won with Peter Laviolette behind the bench.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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North Carolina
Bill Belichick's former players speak out after coach's shocking decision to take North Carolina job
Bill Belichick’s decision to take the North Carolina Tar Heels job came as a shock to many around the professional and college football world.
Belichick, at 72 and one of the most highly respected former NFL head coaches, has never coached at the collegiate level. He was an assistant with the Baltimore Colts in 1975 before eventually winning several Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and New York Giants.
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The decision to go to college at this juncture of his life and career left one of his former players, linebacker Tedy Bruschi, quizzical.
“What are we doing here? I mean, with Bill Belichick going to coach North Carolina. I mean, college football — there’s only one bowl game I want to see Bill Belichick coaching and that’s the Super Bowl, OK?” he said on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.” “I don’t want to see him coaching some Lawnmower Bowl in December or January. That’s just not who I am.”
“I don’t know how there wouldn’t be any interest as to where you bring a Belichick in, and he makes you immediately relevant and well-coached by who he is,” Bruschi continued. “Would he make one of these teams that needed a head coach this year an immediate contender? I mean, yes, he would. He is that good. Now, he’s not going to be on the level of six championships New England Patriots or anything like that, but your team would be competent from the get-go; and then it’s on your players.
“I can’t believe Bill Belichick won’t be in the NFL next year. … I don’t know how this happened.”
TAYLOR SWIFT REMARKS ON 49ERS’ BROCK PURDY: ‘HE PUT ME THROUGH A LOT LAST FEBRUARY’
Belichick officially agreed to take the job last week despite checking in to see if there was interest from the New York Jets’ side about possibly coaching them, despite historical drama surrounding both parties.
Julian Edelman weighed in on the move and offered a sunnier taker.
“It’s the most surprising thing in the history of anything to me that the greatest NFL football coach is not going to be in the NFL,” the former wide receiver said on “FOX NFL Kickoff.” “The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.”
“A, projecting players: I was a quarterback in college, played receiver [in the NFL]. Tom Brady was a sixth-round draft pick, became the greatest quarterback of all time. Rob Gronkowski was a second-round pick, became the greatest tight end of all time. He knows how to project players.
“B, nostalgia: Bill’s dad coached at North Carolina … he loves anything his dad was a part of, so that makes sense. And then, three, [seeing] the ‘Hoodie’ in a [Michael] Jordan Tar Heel powder blue.”
Belichick is set to replace Mack Brown as head coach. The Tar Heels are 6-6 this year and play UConn in the Fenway Bowl. Freddie Kitchens will coach the team for the game.
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North Carolina has gone to six consecutive bowl games. They’ve had one 10-win season since 1998.
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