The UNC football program will not be holding a spring football game this year.
While many think that it's due to the transfer portal and the implication that it could bring for teams (especially if other programs find a player or players they like and try to poach them), there's more to it for North Carolina.
On The Pat McAfee Show, Michael Lombardi, the general manager of the UNC football program, provided more insight into the Tar Heels' decision not to have a spring football game. His answer is very in-depth and provides a much different perspective:
"We're not gonna have a spring game but we're gonna have a spring event..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 19, 2025
We've learned how to get more out of practice and you've gotta build yourself up to something like that" ~ @mlombardiuncgm #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Ok1ZT1Jwr6
What's the plan for a possible spring game? I know a lot of teams are going away from it. They're not doing it in Colorado. I know Dion wants to possibly bring another team in. What do you guys plan on doing down there?
"Well, we're going to have a spring event. We're not going to have a spring game.
I mean, that, that whole breaking the team up into two sides. I mean, Look, one thing we've learned through a lot of years when Bill first came to Cleveland in 1991, the New York football giants practicing full pads on Friday, right? And when Bill saw we started practicing on half shells, the players almost had a hard time.
So, you know, we've learned over the years how to practice better, right? And how to get more out of less practice. So I think the game really. isn't as much about the portal as much about making sure you get more out of your practice than just trying to beat up on one another. And I think obviously there'll be times where we have to go live in our practices, but I think like anything, you've got to build yourself up to it.
You just can't start hard. I mean, we're not Bear Bryant at, you know, down at Texas A& M before when he got down there and next thing you know, he only had like 20 players left. That's not what you need to do. Well, I think not only that, and I respect that. The angle, you know, in it all. And you said splitting up the team into two teams."
McAfee was a fan of his explanation, saying how it feels like "we're all Tar Heels." Instead of pinning teammates against each other, the program is focused on utilizing practice time wisely, especially given the short amount of time that they have to work with.
While some enjoy the annual spring football game, it makes sense why the program is shying away from having one.