97.9 The Hill’s Deborah Stroman speaks with News Director Brighton McConnell on Friday, May 15, from Charlottesville as she is on the University of Virginia campus for commencement weekend. With UNC having celebrated its own last week, the pair talk about the academic side of the college athlete’s experience and why — despite some athletes now being paid directly for their athletic services — it still matters. Debby also shares her advice for new graduates (and those who interact with new graduates) to remember during this season of change.

Dr. Deborah Stroman — who is a consulting professor for UNC and Virginia, sports businesswoman, former basketball player, and columnist — chats with 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell each week about headlines from the world of sports. Covering both local and national stories, Stroman specializes in connecting the on-field product to the impact of sports on business, culture and society. Listen to their past conversations on Chapelboro, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Chansky's Notebook: No GuaranteesCollege athletics has become a world of agents who enter into bidding wars. How will that complicate Michael Malone's first UNC roster?
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April 11, 2026This week, Dr. Deborah Stroman is joined by UNC professor Dr. Erianne Weight to discuss college athletics.

Federal Judge Approves $2.8B Settlement, Paving Way for US Colleges To Pay Athletes MillionsWritten by EDDIE PELLS A federal judge signed off on arguably the biggest change in the history of college sports Friday, clearing the way for schools to begin paying their athletes millions as soon as next month as the multibillion-dollar industry shreds the last vestiges of the amateur model that defined it for more than […]

NCAA, Leagues Back $2.8 Billion Settlement, Setting Stage for Current, Former Athletes to Be PaidThe NCAA agreed to pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims, likely setting up a revenue-sharing model in college sports.

UNC Moving 2024 Spring Commencement to Evening Date 
Here's How to Watch UNC's 2023 Spring CommencementUPDATE: UNC livestreamed its 2023 commencement ceremony from Kenan Stadium. To watch the live video, or a replay after the ceremony is finished, click here or below. Spring commencement weekend is typically one of the busiest times of the year in Chapel Hill, and 2023 will be no different. Here is everything you need to […]

This Just In: Defending Duke's HonorThis Just In – Let’s start with honor. Duke University has an honor code. It reads: “To uphold the Duke Community Standard: I will not lie, cheat, or steal in my academic endeavors; I will conduct myself honorably in all my endeavors; and I will act if the Standard is compromised.” What that means is, in the simplest […]

Chansky's Notebook: Fight It This TimeDon’t let the unvaccinated bring us all down. So far, we don’t know how bad the Omicron variant of COVID is. Yes, it is spreading to more than 70 percent of the new infections. No, we don’t know how dangerous it is as a virus. But we do know one thing. The unvaccinated people are […]
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On Air Today: Jill Shippee and Jules Micchia of UNCUTThe organization UNCUT gives UNC student-athletes a platform to share their stories and perspectives. Jill Shippee and Jules Micchia join 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell to discuss the group’s goals and recent projects.

NCAA Clears Way for Athlete Compensation as State Laws LoomWritten by SCHUYLER DIXON The NCAA Board of Directors approved one of the biggest changes in the history of college athletics Wednesday, clearing the way for nearly a half-million athletes to start earning money based on their fame and celebrity without fear of endangering their eligibility or putting their school in jeopardy of violating amateurism […]
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