The biggest problem to me is not that we lost, or even that we got blown out. That happens in college football, especially in week 1 of a brand new coaching regime with a brand new roster.
Here's the big problem:
We were told that by hiring Belichick we'd never have to worry about the coaching, or the game management, or the effort. Well, the coaching staff looked completely out-classed, over-matched, and hopelessly clueless. Can anyone watch that game last night and say that that coaching staff- which we've paid ungodly amounts of money to have- wasn't any *worse* than any of the Mack 2.0, Larry Fedora, Butch Davis, John Bunting, or Carl Torbush staffs?
The same shit that UNC football is known for- lackadaisical effort, loafing, arm tackling, taking bad angles, getting out-hustled and out-competed physically- was there last night in droves. We had an awful game plan and even worse play calling after the opening scripted drive. We got zero pressure on the QB. We rarely forced TCU into any long down-and-distance situations, and on the rare occurrence that we did, we'd give up 3rd and 20. In the second half, TCU players were bouncing off our guys like bowling balls. Hell, the staff even botched the end of first half clock management in a way that would make Mack and Sparky Woods blush, and it resulted in TCU getting 3 additional points going into half.