Horrible news.
Senior linebacker Mark Paschal suffered a "cervical spine injury" versus NC State and had been advised to quit football. Paschal has been the heart and soul of the Tar Heel defense this season and also the leading tackler. His presence on the field will obviously be missed. That, however, is a secondary issue. Any time you see the words "spinal" and "injury" in the same sentence it is monumentally scary. The doctors have said he will make a full recovery and go on to lead a normal life. For that much we can be thankful though I am sure it is something that will always be in the back of his mind. You also feel bad for a kid who was looking forward to playing his final two games as a Tar Heel with hopes of helping UNC to nine wins for the first time since 1997.
THF sends a huge "thank you" out to Mark Paschal for all his hard work as a player and team leader to help build the Tar Heel football program back to prominence.