The Former Tar Heel Who Coached England for the World Cup The Former Tar Heel Who Coached England for the World Cup .
SYDNEY—The summer that Sarina Wiegman first landed in America, still decades from becoming the sharpest coach in women’s international soccer, she was a diminutive Dutch teenager who had been banned from playing soccer with boys.
Wiegman had been recruited by the University of North Carolina following a chance encounter while representing the Netherlands’ national team. She knew nothing of the American college game. Nor was she certain of how long she might stay.
Following a hearing with the NCAA on Thursday, Walker—the Tar Heels’ expected top receiver—was found ineligible for the upcoming campaign, as reported by ESPN and the team.
Both athletic director Bubba Cunningham and Tar Heels coach Mack Brown criticized the decision on Thursday.
Here is a quote from Brown.
Walker spent a year at North Carolina Central without playing due to the cancellation of the season before transferring from Kent State, where he played for two seasons. Players are usually free to transfer after one NCAA season. Walker, according to Brown, enrolled at UNC in January, a few days before the NCAA changed its regulations to restrict waivers for two-time transfers and require case-by-case analysis.
Walker moved from Charlotte to be nearer to family, particularly his ailing grandmother who raised him a lot but hasn’t been able to see him perform out of state.Walker spent a year at North Carolina Central without playing due to the cancellation of the season before transferring from Kent State, where he played for two seasons. Players are usually free to transfer after one NCAA season. Walker, according to Brown, enrolled at UNC in January, a few days before the NCAA changed its regulations to restrict waivers for two-time transfers and require case-by-case analysis.
Walker moved from Charlotte to be nearer to family, particularly his ailing grandmother who raised him a lot but hasn’t been able to see him perform out of state.
Walker’s mental health is one of multiple factors UNC has cited in making its case. Brown said Walker — who was expected to be the top target for star quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Drake Maye — had been down and struggling emotionally amid the uncertainty leading to the opener.
The decision means Walker must serve a year in residence in Chapel Hill before becoming eligible to play next year, a path that was traditionally the norm for transfers before the current era of free player movement through the transfer portal.
