David Hale
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The person with extra Tremendous Bowl wins than every other coach in NFL historical past now has his first win as a school coach, too.
Invoice Belichick picked up win No. 1 in school — and No. 334 general — as North Carolina shrugged off a dismal opening efficiency Monday vs. TCU and beat Charlotte on Saturday evening, 20-3.
“It is nice,” Belichick mentioned, “nevertheless it's actually concerning the workforce. It was disappointing Monday evening towards TCU, however these guys bounced again — gamers, coaches, workers, assist individuals — and simply obtained again to work. They had been decided to have a greater end result. I am actually happy with what they did. They deserve the credit score for tonight.”
After a 48-14 blowout loss that included two defensive touchdowns by the Horned Frogs, Belichick praised the workforce's potential to shrug off the efficiency and concentrate on the basics.
UNC led 17-3 on the half, rushed for 148 yards, and did not flip over the ball towards Charlotte. In the meantime, the Tar Heels' maligned protection held the 49ers to only 21 yards on the bottom, 5 days after TCU ran for 258.
The information cycle within the aftermath of Monday's loss had been ugly for Belichick and the Tar Heels — “numerous negativity from the skin,” he mentioned — together with stories from a number of retailers, together with ESPN, that scouts from the New England Patriots, with whom Belichick gained six Tremendous Bowls, have been banned from North Carolina's facility.
Belichick confirmed that Saturday, saying the choice was in direct response to a closed-door edict in New England.
“It is apparent I am not welcome at their facility,” Belichick mentioned, “so they don't seem to be welcome at ours.”
Belichick has had an acrimonious divorce from New England and proprietor Bob Kraft since he left the Patriots following the 2023 season, with a number of spats erupting within the media in latest months. Belichick took situation with feedback from Kraft that hiring him had been a “massive danger,” releasing a press release in July saying he was the one who took a danger by accepting the job. In a Boston Globe story final month, Belichick appeared to take one other swipe, saying that one of many perks of his job at North Carolina is that “there isn't any proprietor, there isn't any proprietor's son,” the latter a reference to Jonathan Kraft.
On Saturday, Belichick appeared to be in much better spirits, although hardly effervescent in his celebration.
Requested if the workforce had given Belichick a recreation ball to have a good time his first win with the Tar Heels, senior Gavin Gibson laughed and mentioned, “If we would tried, I believe he'd take a look at us like, ‘Nah.'”
As an alternative, Belichick pointed to UNC's dedication to wipe the slate clear after Monday's ugly loss and supply some renewed hope that the Tar Heels would not roll over.
“It was clear within the locker room and as we obtained out on the apply discipline there was a … larger degree of dedication and dedication,” Belichick mentioned. “That was good to see us enhance.”
North Carolina hosts Richmond subsequent week earlier than heading to UCF to shut out its nonconference schedule.
