College Sports
The level of football may be different, but the man is still the same.
After months of anticipation, Bill Belichick will debut as North Carolina’s head coach Monday night against Texas Christian University.
The game is set for 8 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
Here are five things to know as the Chapel Bill era officially commences.
He’s going to do his job
The level of football may be different, but the man is still the same.
When ESPN’s Rece Davis asked what he thinks his emotions will be like coming out on the field, Belichick returned to a classic.
“I’m going to try to focus on my job,” Belichick said. “Help the team in areas that I can with decision making, or maybe a strategy change or something like that, if that’s appropriate.”
Then came a quip, for good measure.
“The players are going to have to go out there and make the plays,” Belichick continued. “I won’t be able to do any of that for us, which is probably a good thing. We’re all going to need to do a good job for it to all come together.”
Sound familiar?
Nick Saban is in his corner
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban, a close friend of Belichick’s, said on College GameDay that he believes Belichick’s biggest strength is developing players.
“How you engage with them,” Saban said. “How you inspire them. How you influence them. How you impact their development to improve.”
Saban said it’s very difficult to do, particularly with 70 new players on a roster, but he expects Belichick will be up for the challenge.
“He’s going to have success at North Carolina,” Saban said.
Some work to do
North Carolina is coming off a 6-7 (3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) season, capped by an uninspiring Fenway Bowl loss to UConn.
The Tar Heels have sprinkled in some successful years, including a nine-win season in 2022, but they’ve finished with a losing record in four of the last eight seasons.
While it’s largely a new team this year, he has his work cut out for him.
Oddsmakers have shown him plenty of respect, though, setting UNC’s win total anywhere from 6.5 to 7.5.
Ways to help
Many of the areas the Tar Heels struggled in last year are ones Belichick has prided himself on throughout his career.
UNC committed the third-most penalties (98) in the ACC last year, was second to last in red-zone defense (92.2 percent), and was 15th in fumbles forced (7).
North Carolina allowed 70 points against James Madison last year. A coach who demands consistency will try to find it at a program that’s lacked it.
No meeting with Boston College
While a Bill Belichick vs. Bill O’Brien battle in Chestnut Hill would certainly draw some eyeballs, the Tar Heels and Eagles won’t meet this season.
O’Brien is all for future matchups.
“I was hoping we could play,” O’Brien said. “I’d love to play North Carolina in Gillette, then come back and play them in Chapel Hill.”
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