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UNCC honors agreement to keep Jerry Richardson's name on football stadium

By Kristin Leigh
By Kristin Leigh

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The football stadium at UNC Charlotte will continue to carry the name of former Carolina Panthers’ owner Jerry Richardson.

UNCC officials told Channel 9 that its board of trustees decided to honor its agreement with Richardson.

[READ MORE: Jerry Richardson's agreement with UNCC]

Richardson was fined a record $2.75 million this summer after the NFL’s investigation substatiated claims of sexual harassment and racial comments.

With college football season just two weeks away, some students disagree with the decision to keep the name and question the motive.

“I believe the university made the wrong decision,” UNCC freshman Joshua Wallace said.

“I don't personally like it,” freshman Justin Kristof said. “I don't agree with some of the things he did as the owner and he didn't represent Charlotte in a good way by his actions.”

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Richardson Stadium was named after the former owner after he made a $10 million donation to the college football program in 2013.

In Richardson’s agreement with UNCC, his $10 million donation is paid in annual installments of $1 million until 2022.

He still has four more checks to write.

Some students wonder if the university's hands are tied by the generous donation.

“This could be kind of shady,” Wallace said. “After they get the $4 million, after he's done sending the money, just change the name right off the bat.”

A school policy online says: "If an individual for whom a facility is named engages in conduct that is injurious to the reputation of the university, the name may be removed and any gift made in connection with the naming will be retained."

“I think they should remove it because we need someone's name that actually represents the city of Charlotte well,” Kristof said.

UNCC has not responded to our questions about whether the naming policy applies to Richardson's donation agreement or if the school is bound by the contract to keep the stadium name.

Cox Media Group

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