North Carolina football players donate meal money to Hurricane Florence victims

Football players from the University of North Carolina will be donating their NCAA-allotted meal money to victims of Hurricane Florence. 

"It’s kind of a grassroots effort of people thinking, ‘What can I do to help?'" UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham told the News & Observer of the players' decision to donate. “I’m really proud of those guys for thinking that way.”

All 85 players on the Tar Heels' roster will donate the $15 they're provided by the program after games, according to UNC athletics spokesman Bobby Hundley. That will equal $1,275 in total -- all given to buy supplies. UNC plays Pittsburgh on Saturday in an ACC clash.

Division I athletes, whether on scholarship or not, can be given a meal after a game or up to $15 to purchase one, according to NCAA rules.They are not allowed to be paid by the university outside of this capacity. 

UNC coach Larry Fedora told the News & Observer that the football program also helped set up a large donation site on campus for goods that were eventually loaded into an 18-wheel equipment truck. 

At least 27 of the 37 deaths spanning three states from Hurricane Florence have occurred in North Carolina, according to the Associated Press.