UNC board mulls legal options over Walker denial
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Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Writer
The North Carolina board of trustees held an emergency meeting Monday to discuss possible legal options to help wide receiver Tez Walker in his quest to play this season.
The closed session was held four days after the NCAA denied Walker’s last appeal for eligibility in 2023. Although the official agenda did not mention Walker by name, Tar Heels coach Mack Brown told reporters at his weekly news conference that the meeting was called “to try to figure out all the best options” for Walker.
“We need to all get in the same room and figure out what’s best for the young man,” Brown said. “These people are concerned and want to help him. I’m proud of that.”
Brown and athletic director Bubba Cunningham attended the meeting. Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said that the board heard from both in-house and outside legal counsel but that no decisions have been made and discussions will continue.
“This was an important meeting where we received some legal updates that will help inform us as we do everything possible to support our student-athletes,” Guskiewicz said.
On Jan. 11, two days after Walker began classes at North Carolina, the NCAA announced it would be cracking down on waivers for two-time transfers. The guidelines, which were unanimously approved by the Division I Council, state that “multiple-time transfers who cannot demonstrate and adequately document a personal need for medical or safety reasons to depart the previous school are not eligible to compete immediately following their second undergraduate transfer.”
Walker and North Carolina argued that mental health challenges at Kent State necessitated a transfer to North Carolina to be closer to his Charlotte home. They also argue that since he was unable to play at his first school, NC Central, because the season was canceled due to the pandemic, he should not be considered a two-time transfer.
The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs begin on April 19. The Winnipeg Jets are the NHL’s top overall seed, having finished the regular season with the most points in the standings, and the Washington Capitals earned the No. 1 seed in the East.
This page will be your home throughout the postseason, including schedules, scores, highlights and other preview content.
Read on for the full playoff coverage from every first-round series all the way through the Stanley Cup Final.
First round
Atlantic Division
Regular-season records:
Maple Leafs: 51-26-4, 106 points
Senators: 44-30-7, 95 points
Leading scorers:
Maple Leafs: Mitch Marner (27 goals, 73 assists)
Senators: Tim Stutzle (23 goals, 53 assists)
Schedule:
Game 1: TBD
Game 2: TBD
Game 3: TBD
Game 4: TBD
Game 5: TBD
Game 6: TBD
Game 7: TBD
Regular-season records:
Lightning: 47-26-8, 102 points
Panthers: 47-31-4, 98 points
Leading scorers:
Lightning: Nikita Kucherov (37 goals, 84 assists)
Panthers: Sam Reinhart (39 goals, 42 assists)
Schedule:
Game 1: TBD
Game 2: TBD
Game 3: TBD
Game 4: TBD
Game 5: TBD
Game 6: TBD
Game 7: TBD
Metropolitan Division
Regular-season records:
Capitals: 51-21-9, 111 points
Canadiens: 40-31-11, 91 points
Leading scorers:
Capitals: Dylan Strome (29 goals, 52 assists)
Canadiens: Nick Suzuki (29 goals, 58 assists)
Schedule:
Game 1: TBD
Game 2: TBD
Game 3: TBD
Game 4: TBD
Game 5: TBD
Game 6: TBD
Game 7: TBD
Regular-season records:
Hurricanes: 47-29-5, 99 points
Devils: 42-32-7, 91 points
Leading scorers:
Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho (29 goals, 45 assists)
Devils: Jesper Bratt (21 goals, 67 assists)
Schedule:
Game 1: TBD
Game 2: TBD
Game 3: TBD
Game 4: TBD
Game 5: TBD
Game 6: TBD
Game 7: TBD
Central Division
Regular-season records:
Jets: 56-22-4, 116 points
Blues: 44-30-8, 96 points
Leading scorers:
Jets: Kyle Connor (41 goals, 55 assists)
Blues: Robert Thomas (21 goals, 60 assists)
Schedule:
Game 1: TBD
Game 2: TBD
Game 3: TBD
Game 4: TBD
Game 5: TBD
Game 6: TBD
Game 7: TBD
Regular-season records:
Stars: 50-25-6, 106 points
Avalanche: 49-29-4, 102 points
Leading scorers:
Stars: Matt Duchene (30 goals, 51 assists)
Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon (32 goals, 84 assists)
Schedule:
Game 1: TBD
Game 2: TBD
Game 3: TBD
Game 4: TBD
Game 5: TBD
Game 6: TBD
Game 7: TBD
Pacific Division
Regular-season records:
Golden Knights: 49-22-10, 108 points
Wild: 45-30-7, 97 points
Leading scorers:
Golden Knights: Jack Eichel (27 goals, 66 assists)
Wild: Matt Boldy (27 goals, 46 assists)
Schedule:
Game 1: TBD
Game 2: TBD
Game 3: TBD
Game 4: TBD
Game 5: TBD
Game 6: TBD
Game 7: TBD
Regular-season records:
Kings: 48-24-9, 105 points
Oilers: 47-29-5, 99 points
Leading scorers:
Kings: Adrian Kempe (35 goals, 38 assists)
Oilers: Leon Draisaitl (52 goals, 54 assists)
Schedule:
Game 1: TBD
Game 2: TBD
Game 3: TBD
Game 4: TBD
Game 5: TBD
Game 6: TBD
Game 7: TBD
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