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No gift link I could find:
www.nytimes.com
“… North Carolina’s explorations originated when it hired the out-of-state law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as counsel “regarding commercial issues involving athletics,” according to a letter to the school’s general counsel. The agreement itself is vague, but the document was first produced in response to a public records request from the Tampa Bay Times last year for contracts with outside counsel on issues related to UNC’s conference membership, including realignment and TV rights.
…
The two senior UNC officials, granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, confirmed what the documents suggested but did not spell out directly: that the Carolina Blue matter is North Carolina’s behind-the-scenes look at realignment.
A source said that look could best be described as the university doing its due diligence amid a constantly shifting landscape, rather than an aggressive legal ploy. That said, about half of the matter’s total expenses — $310,000 — came from work during the first four months of 2024. That timeframe covers a pivotal period in realignment maneuvering and posturing: the immediate aftermath of Florida State and the ACC suing each other (just before Christmas in 2023); dueling lawsuits filed by the ACC and Clemson (March 2024); and North Carolina’s state university system seizing more conference realignment power from individual schools (February 2024).
It’s no coincidence when two of UNC’s ACC peers sued the conference, in response to the league’s TV deal falling far behind those of the SEC and Big Ten, that the Tar Heels followed suit in exploring their legal bounds. …”

Documents reveal UNC’s conference realignment approach: A code name, ACC ‘in financial decline’
UNC’s behind-closed-doors exploration of conference realignment and its future in the ACC was known by only a code name.

Documents reveal UNC’s conference realignment approach: A code name, ACC ‘in financial decline’
“… North Carolina’s explorations originated when it hired the out-of-state law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as counsel “regarding commercial issues involving athletics,” according to a letter to the school’s general counsel. The agreement itself is vague, but the document was first produced in response to a public records request from the Tampa Bay Times last year for contracts with outside counsel on issues related to UNC’s conference membership, including realignment and TV rights.
…
The two senior UNC officials, granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, confirmed what the documents suggested but did not spell out directly: that the Carolina Blue matter is North Carolina’s behind-the-scenes look at realignment.
A source said that look could best be described as the university doing its due diligence amid a constantly shifting landscape, rather than an aggressive legal ploy. That said, about half of the matter’s total expenses — $310,000 — came from work during the first four months of 2024. That timeframe covers a pivotal period in realignment maneuvering and posturing: the immediate aftermath of Florida State and the ACC suing each other (just before Christmas in 2023); dueling lawsuits filed by the ACC and Clemson (March 2024); and North Carolina’s state university system seizing more conference realignment power from individual schools (February 2024).
It’s no coincidence when two of UNC’s ACC peers sued the conference, in response to the league’s TV deal falling far behind those of the SEC and Big Ten, that the Tar Heels followed suit in exploring their legal bounds. …”