What's in Burns' backpack? Maybe the secret to Avalanche defenseman soon playing in 1,500th NHL game
Brent Burns carries a lot of weight on his shoulders these days. Not pressure-related or anything, just from his heavy, military-style backpack that’s crammed with all the necessities to keep the 40-year-old Colorado defenseman humming along. Burns, who’s embarking on his 22nd NHL season and first in Colorado, is slated to play in his 1,500th NHL game on Saturday against Dallas.
Read more: What's in Burns' backpack? Maybe the secret to Avalanche defenseman soon playing in 1,500th NHL game
![](/<p>The North Carolina <a target="_blank" href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/ncaaf/teams/north-carolina-tar-heels/3412/">Tar Heels</a> are on their second bye week after a 2-3 start to the season, and the program being in the headlines for the wrong reasons, they need to figure out how to get this back on track.</p><p>But on Friday, the team received some more bad news.</p><p>Fifth-year running back Caleb Hood announced his decision to retire from college football. The move comes seven weeks into the season. Hood opened the year as UNC's starting running back and appeared in five games, playing on 85 snaps. After starting in the season opener against TCU, he struggled to find playing time. </p><p>He posted this message on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPocSPskeGc/?hl=en">Instagram</a>:</p><p><em>"After much thought, prayer and discussion with my family, I have decided to retire from football," Hood's statement read. "My journey at UNC has been special and I appreciate my time here. I am excited to start the next chapter and will always take my memories of Carolina with me. I want to thank Coach Belichick, Coach Kitchens and Coach Means for giving me an opportunity, as well as all my other coaches and teammates throughout the years of football for the impact they've all had on my life!"</em></p><p>His head coach, <a href="https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/article/unc-north-carolina-football-bill-belichick-general-manager-gm-michael-lombardi-rb-caleb-hood-256187373/">Bill Belichick also released a statement</a>:</p><p><em>"Caleb came to me Wednesday and shared his difficult decision to retire from playing football. I could feel his conviction and the peace with his playing career closing. Caleb is a great person, a leader and an exemplary teammate," the statement read. "He has done everything we have asked him to do as a student-athlete both on and off the field and he has been a model representation of our program. He has battled through injuries the last couple years and worked hard this offseason to stay healthy and compete every day this season. He will always be a Tar Heel and I wish him nothing but the best moving forward."</em></p><p>The running back will finish his UNC career with 114 carries for 515 yards and three touchdowns. </p><p><em>Follow us <a href="https://twitter.com/tarheelswire" target="_blank">@TarHeelsWire</a> on X and like our page on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TarHeelsWire" target="_blank">Facebook</a> to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.</em></p><p><em>This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: <a href="https://tarheelswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/tarheels/football/2025/10/10/unc-football-running-back-caleb-hood-retires-during-2025-season/86624778007/">UNC football running back Caleb Hood retires during 2025 season</a></em></p>)
![](/<p>The Savannah Bananas are bringing their viral, fan-engaging brand of baseball back to Wisconsin next summer.</p><p>The team, which on Oct. 9 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPnCq6jkftF/?img_index=6">announced its 2026 season on Instagram</a>, will play games at American Family Field on June 6-7. It will be the second time the Bananas have played in the Badger State. The team <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/2023/09/07/savannah-bananas-playing-sold-out-games-at-franklin-field-in-wisconsin/70777161007/">entertained sold-out crowds at Franklin Field in 2023</a>.</p><p>Since then, the team's fame has only grown as videos of their wacky, almost vaudevillian antics spread across social media.</p><p>Tickets for the Bananas' 2026 season go on sale Oct. 31, but fans <a href="https://www.bananaballticketlottery.fansfirsttickets.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeAvxZdsSNpH9fcFeX_PQAfQ2HFj4pnRmVrsaGGp_B3503o9rRCqwOup_hAWA_aem_WqBZCij1UDYviEmDXb65xA">can enter a ticket lottery list before then</a>. Only one entry per person is allowed and you must be at least 16 years old to enter. Duplicate submissions will be discarded.</p><p><em>This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2025/10/10/savannah-bananas-2026-schedule-includes-games-in-milwaukee-wisconsin/86624038007/">Savannah Bananas 2026 schedule includes games in Milwaukee, Wisconsin</a></em></p>)