Tar Heels turn to Mack Brown

Mack Brown knows there are many problems to solve as he returns to North Carolina, from stopping the Tar Heels’ deepening downturn on the field to improving shaky recruiting and hiring a coaching staff.

“It gives us an opportunity to fix things,” Brown said during a Tuesday news conference. “And we love to fix things.”

The school officially announced Tuesday that it had hired Brown, who led the Tar Heels to a strong 1990s run before winning a national championship at Texas. He reached a five-year deal that will pay him $3.5 million annually to replace Larry Fedora, who was fired Sunday after seven seasons.

IOWA STATE TO FACE DRAKE >> No matter that the opponent is a small private school with an FCS team that does not offer athletic scholarships. Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and his players are just happy to be playing a 12th game.

The No. 24 Cyclones will host Drake on Saturday to replace the season opener with South Dakota State that was called off because of lightning after just a few plays. Drake (7-3), a perennial contender in the Pioneer Football League, also had its opener scrubbed because of weather.

NFL

WINSTON NEARING SETTLEMENT >> Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is in the process of settling a lawsuit filed by a female Uber driver in Arizona who accused him of sexual assault.

Documents filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix state that a settlement agreement should be finalized in 10 days. Details weren’t disclosed.

The woman sued Winston in September and had been seeking $75,000 in damages.

She alleged Winston grabbed her crotch while they were waiting in the drive-thru of a Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale in March 2016.

After an eight-month investigation into the incident, the NFL in June suspended Winston for three games for violating the league’s personalconduct policy.

FAN SENT TO PRISON >> Federal prosecutors say a Texas man who threatened to go through with a mass shooting and suicide at an NFL playoff game in Pittsburgh has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. U.S. Attorney for Western Pennsylvania Scott Brady announced the sentence for San Antonio resident Yuttana Choochongkol, who also went by the name Jason Manotham.

Federal agents say Choochongkol used the “contact us” function on the Heinz Field website to send threatening messages that he planned to shoot fans and players at the Jan. 14 playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was convicted of threatening interstate communications.

REDKINS CLAIM FOSTER>> The Redskins claimed Reuben Foster off waivers Tuesday after the 49ers released the linebacker following a domestic violence arrest, though it’s unclear if or when he’ll suit up for them. The team announced the move in a statement from senior vice president of player personnel Doug Williams.