Bill Belichick says North Carolina has to keep its eyes on what comes next.
After a stretch of off-field turbulence and a handful of personnel and coaching changes, the Tar Heels’ head coach made clear that the program’s focus has to shift back to the basics - doing things the right way and cleaning up what can be cleaned up.
“That’s our goal, to do things the right way, and be productive and consistent doing them,” Belichick added. “In areas that we can improve in, we should … do that. All that was done by the outside counsel and the people that were part of that, and so we’ll meet with them - and have met with them - to finalize (that)...
“What we talked about are some things that we can do moving forward,” Belichick said, per The Athletic, “but what all was done, who was talked to, what was learned, what wasn’t, I don’t know. The lawyer spoke on that, and that’s not really anything that I had any part of, other than when they asked me some questions.”
The timing matters because UNC has actually played solid football to open the season. If things had broken the right way, the Tar Heels would be 3-0. Instead, a late collapse against Clemson added another layer to a program that has already dealt with plenty over the last two years.
That’s been the story around North Carolina far too often lately: more attention on the noise than the product on the field. And for a team that hasn’t given people much else to latch onto, that’s a rough place to be.
The good news for UNC is that football can change the conversation fast. The Tar Heels get a chance to do that this weekend, and if they win, the outside chatter that has hung over the program starts to fade.
In Other News...
UNC Is Giving Tar Heel Legends A Permanent Place In Kenan
Kenan Stadium is about to get a little more reflective, with North Carolina set to unveil two permanent Hall of Fame displays during the game against Notre Dame. The new honors will recognize 12 Tar Heel legends who made their mark in the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, giving UNC a more permanent way to showcase some of the biggest names in program history.
The College Football Hall of Fame display will go in the northeast corner of the stadium, while the Pro Football Hall of Famers will be featured in the southeast corner. UNC has also invited the Hall of Famers and their families for a weekend celebration that will include on-field recognition and a formal dedication during the game, turning what is already a marquee matchup into a chance to connect the current program with the standard set by its greats. [Read more 🡒]
Former Tar Heels Reunite On A Sideline UNC Fans Will Want To Follow
A familiar Carolina connection is making its way back onto a sideline worth watching. King Rice, now the head coach at Monmouth, has hired Shammond Williams as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 season and beyond, bringing together two former Tar Heels whose paths have now crossed again in the coaching ranks.
Williams arrives with a long rsum that should make him an intriguing addition anywhere, including more than 20 years of professional playing experience and 13 years in college coaching. His recent stops include Denver and Old Dominion, and Rice has made no secret of his excitement about adding a former teammate to the staff, a reunion UNC fans will naturally keep an eye on even from a distance. [Read more 🡒]
Top-Ranked UNC Faces Another Huge ACC Test At Dorrance Field
No. 1 Carolinas womens soccer team is back at Dorrance Field for another major ACC measuring stick, this time with No. 12 Notre Dame coming to Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels have strung together seven straight wins and sit atop the league standings at 3-0, with Bella Devey helping drive the attack as the teams goal leader.
Notre Dame brings plenty of history with it, too, as the programs have already met 35 times and Carolina has owned the series. Even in a familiar setting, this is the kind of conference matchup that can say plenty about where the Tar Heels stand as the season tightens, especially with another ranked opponent trying to interrupt their rhythm. [Read more 🡒]