But now, Julius Peppers' name is once again on the lips of North Carolina basketball diehards across the country.
During "Midnight with the Tar Heels" Friday, UNC coach Matt Doherty read a letter that Peppers wrote.
"Even though I can't be here with you now," Peppers wrote, "maybe our paths will cross again sometime."
The message seemingly contradicted Peppers' comments in football's preseason, when he said he likely would not play basketball this winter.
After the football team's win Saturday, Peppers' responses still were elusive.
"Nothing's written in stone right now," he said. "Like I said, nobody knows what's going to happen. Even I don't right now."
UNC football coach John Bunting had said little about Peppers' indecision.
"All I'm going to say is we're in the middle of a football season -- a very, very important football season," Bunting said. "I'm extremely excited about it. And I'm glad Julius Peppers is playing on our football team."
