Football and Swahili

Posted Apr 10, 2012
I was at the University of North Carolina when I heard the Swahili anecdote. “All the freshman football players take Swahili as their language requirement,” Deunta Williams said. Why? Because the athletic department tutors are strong in Swahili. I’ve been thinking about that Swahili story a lot these days. Over the past few months, as I’ve tackled the problems with college sports. (New York Times)

Related: Football, Football Recruiting

Amid another distraction, UNC’s Belichick says program focused on ‘doing things properly’
UNC coach Bill Belichick said Monday he believes his program “totally” has an atmosphere of following rules amid a school investigation into conduct within his...
Mon Sep 7, 2026

This Week in UNC Sports: September 7-13, 2026
After two weeks which saw Tar Heel teams playing as far east as Dublin and as far west as California, the first full week of...
Mon Sep 7, 2026

Video: Bill Belichick Monday Pre-ETSU Press Conference
North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick speaks with the media on Monday ahead of the Tar Heels' 2026 home-opener on Saturday against the East...
Mon Sep 7, 2026

Video: UNC Tight Ends Coach Caleb Pickrell, UNC Players Pre-ETSU Press Conferences
North Carolina tight ends coach Caleb Pickrell, linebacker Derek McDonald, center Christo Kelly, and running back Benjamin Hall speak with the media on Monday ahead...
Mon Sep 7, 2026