Michael Lombardi: North Carolina must ‘bring back’ alums, facility was ‘not a home’

North Carolina GM Michael Lombardi wants to bring back the family atmosphere within the fraternity of the football program.

That includes alumni and making the facility a “home” for those legends in the past. He’s only been on the job a few months under head coach Bill Belichick, but Lombardi wants to tap into what makes UNC great.

It started with the friendly welcome!

“First of all, I think the people in Chapel Hill are incredibly friendly, and I don’t say that slightly,” Lombardi said. “I know I’m a New Jersey guy, and we’re used to being treated rudely, but you know, and nobody’s honked a horn at me, which is rare. So I think to me, it’s just the graciousness, really the openness that the people have shown here, not that that’s surprising. It’s just really kind of humbling. And I think that there’s a lot of pride in this program, and there’s a lot of pride in this university, and I think our job is to bring it out.” 

Michael Lombardi wants to elevate UNC alums

While North Carolina has history, Lombardi wants to make the extra effort to make those alumni feel welcome and really showcase the program past, present and future.

“And I think what we have to do is we have to honor those who’ve come before us, these screens here that talk about the former players that have been here. That’s not enough,” Lombardi said, gesturing to the video screens near his press conference. “You know, they deserve more than a screen. They deserve way more than that, because we’ve had so many great players here. So I think we’re going to have to pay  more respect to the greatness of this program. From a football standpoint, we haven’t won the ACC since 1980, we’re all aware of that. 

“But, man, we’ve had a lot of good players, and they deserve to be in this hallway. They deserve to have the spotlight. So I think, in terms of what’s been the hardest part is trying to bring out those alumni, bring them back. It’s a beautiful facility, but it’s not a home for the older players.”

Whatever that constitutes is anyone’s guest, but Lombardi, and certainly Belichick, have a great interest in football history. While the coach is going to focus on recruitment, development and winning on the field, he and Lombardi will certainly raise the program in other facets.