UNC Football Catch-all | Bill Belichick Era underway

[Carolina Fever]

Bill Belichick's failings at North Carolina underline one thing: He thinks he's bigger than the job

Bill Belichick has failed on almost every account at UNC and they have reached the midway point of the season as one of the biggest laughingstocks in the sport. How long will the school put up with his antics if he's not winning?

sports.yahoo.com

Not sure if this has been posted yet or not but this is a brutally honest evaluation of the current shitshow we have on our hands in Chapel Hill. Belichick doesn't give a shit about the University or its football program or anything that makes this place special. He is a grifting, scamming, con-artist shyster second only to that useless POS whom he hired to be his GM. This is all an enormous grift designed to line the pockets of the Belichick's and the Lombardi's, and the University of North Carolina was the only school in the country stupid enough, or pathetically and humiliatingly desperate enough, to allow it to happen on our campus.

He sounds like Trump, and it was the political right folks on the BOT and the chancellor that thought it was a good idea to hire him. They screw up everything.

 

[lawtig02]

Yes, and I did by so my post. I have conversations with my friends all the time about my enjoyment of visiting California. Admittedly Fox News goes a bit far in its depiction of SF as a hellscape. The right's critique of SF, however, is not completely without merit. Things did go a bit off the rails with the last DA (Boudin) - who was recalled and the last mayor. SF residents did a course correction for more law and order with the elections of Lurie (mayor) and Jenkins (DA).

I actually agree with you here. And you'll agree, I hope, this is what is SUPPOSED to happen. If the people who live in a city don't like it, they should change their leadership. SF showed exactly how this works. There's no need for the federal government to get involved. That's a concept that would have been supported by 99.9% of Republicans 20 years ago. Now, 80% of you guys support Trump's interference with local government in American cities.

 

[Icky Mettle]

Dan Wolken wants to get his licks in too

Bill Belichick's failings at North Carolina underline one thing: He thinks he's bigger than the job

Bill Belichick has failed on almost every account at UNC and they have reached the midway point of the season as one of the biggest laughingstocks in the sport. How long will the school put up with his antics if he's not winning?

sports.yahoo.com

Hey, at least we’re relevant now. We’ve sucked many times before and no one outside of our fanbase or NC State’s fanbase cared or talked about it. Now the national media is talking about us sucking. The fact we suck is making national headlines. I have friends who never thought a day in their life about UNC football who are now constantly bringing up how much the football team sucks.

 

[heel79]

I am not going to plow through this thread, but never has a coach after 5 games received such scrutiny. I got no idea if this experiment will succeed, but I also do not think BB has forgot how to coach. I was around a ton of former players in the program before Clemson, and they were all in the we need talent, and it will take time mode. BB saved the recruiting class, but clearly whiffed in portal, having to settle for No. 3 QB. Cannot win without a QB and oline, and we have neither. I do find interesting the plan is to build through recruiting, which to me means a 3 to 5 year commitment. What I find interesting is the attack by Raleigh media, N&O and WRAL, that is getting such an assist by UNC fans who share without looking at who is doing the reporting. An example, WRAL anchorman cites a player's parent and a source close to the program as evidence of chaos and disarray in the locker room. So the most notoriously anal, strident, organized coach of all time (maybe not, but you get the point) all the sudden cannot run an organization? I assure you the WRAL guy has not done any original reporting, citing unnamed sources. Garbage journalism. What would be interesting, but requires work, would be to do an autopsy of the program. Why did we whiff on QB? In portal? The timing of the hire, and the staff. The saving of the recruiting class and continued recruiting wins. All that said, I am troubled by some of the stuff BB has done. But he is our coach, and the idea we will fire him is absurd. If we do we set the program back 5 years. What coach would coach for a school that fired BB after single season. No one wants a rope that short.
The Raleigh media spent much of the last decade trying to destroy UNC athletics, and they are doing so again. But this time UNC fans are lending a hand by believing everything they read. without considering sourcing, motive, etc.

 

[rodoheel]

I'll be pretty danged surprised if Belichick isn't given 3 years to do whatever he's going to do, unless he decides to walk away from the entire situation (including his guaranteed contract).

I don't think you're going to see the PTB admit that they made a mistake in hiring Belichick because of the way his hiring went down. It's one thing if a chancellor/president of a university can fire the AD and then the football coach and tie everything up in a neat little bow. But thanks to the very public way this hiring played out, we all know that the BOT and Chancellor had more to do with the hiring than the AD. And do you really think that Preyer/Roberts are going to admit any error by firing Belichick before the guaranteed portion of his contract runs out? I don't.

FWIW the university (or at least the BOG) has basically already admitted that they made a mistake in how the hiring went down because they very publicly slapped the BOT on the wrist for abusing/exceeding authority they had over athletics. So I don't think there would be quite as much institutional resistance to admitting a mistake as you might think (other than maybe on the part of Preyer, who basically staked his whole reputation on strong-arming this hire).

He sounds like Trump, and it was the political right folks on the BOT and the chancellor that thought it was a good idea to hire him. They screw up everything.

I've always feared years of control and right-wing predation would caused UNC's status and reputation to deteriorate, but I never guessed that the first victim would be the football program. (But yeah, Trump and Belichick have always shared one thing in common - an utter disdain for the opinion of anyone who isn't them or their flunky.)

 

[sunnyheel]

I am not going to plow through this thread, but never has a coach after 5 games received such scrutiny. I got no idea if this experiment will succeed, but I also do not think BB has forgot how to coach. I was around a ton of former players in the program before Clemson, and they were all in the we need talent, and it will take time mode. BB saved the recruiting class, but clearly whiffed in portal, having to settle for No. 3 QB. Cannot win without a QB and oline, and we have neither. I do find interesting the plan is to build through recruiting, which to me means a 3 to 5 year commitment. What I find interesting is the attack by Raleigh media, N&O and WRAL, that is getting such an assist by UNC fans who share without looking at who is doing the reporting. An example, WRAK anchorman cites a player's parent and a source close to the program as evidence of chaos and disarray in the lockerroom. So the most notoriously anal, strident, organized coach of all time (maybe not, but you get the point) all the sudden cannot run and organization. I assure the WRAL guy has not done any original reporting, citing unnamed sources. Garbage journalism. What would be interesting, but requires work, would be to do an autopsy of the program. Why did we whiff on QB? In portal. The timing of the hire, and the staff. The saving of the recruiting class, and continued recruiting wins. All that said, I am troubled by some of the stuff BB has done. But he is out coach, and the idea we will fire him is absurd. If we do we set the program back 5 years. What coach would coach for a school that fired BB after single season. No one wants a rope that short.
The Raleigh media spent much of the last decade trying to destroy UNC athletics, and they are doing so again. But this time UNC fans are lending a hand by believing everything they read without considering sourcing, motive, etc.

This sounds like something Susan Collins would say after dosing on provincial paranoia and grievance.

 

[evrheel]

I am not going to plow through this thread, but never has a coach after 5 games received such scrutiny. I got no idea if this experiment will succeed, but I also do not think BB has forgot how to coach. I was around a ton of former players in the program before Clemson, and they were all in the we need talent, and it will take time mode. BB saved the recruiting class, but clearly whiffed in portal, having to settle for No. 3 QB. Cannot win without a QB and oline, and we have neither. I do find interesting the plan is to build through recruiting, which to me means a 3 to 5 year commitment. What I find interesting is the attack by Raleigh media, N&O and WRAL, that is getting such an assist by UNC fans who share without looking at who is doing the reporting. An example, WRAL anchorman cites a player's parent and a source close to the program as evidence of chaos and disarray in the locker room. So the most notoriously anal, strident, organized coach of all time (maybe not, but you get the point) all the sudden cannot run an organization? I assure you the WRAL guy has not done any original reporting, citing unnamed sources. Garbage journalism. What would be interesting, but requires work, would be to do an autopsy of the program. Why did we whiff on QB? In portal? The timing of the hire, and the staff. The saving of the recruiting class and continued recruiting wins. All that said, I am troubled by some of the stuff BB has done. But he is our coach, and the idea we will fire him is absurd. If we do we set the program back 5 years. What coach would coach for a school that fired BB after single season. No one wants a rope that short.
The Raleigh media spent much of the last decade trying to destroy UNC athletics, and they are doing so again. But this time UNC fans are lending a hand by believing everything they read. without considering sourcing, motive, etc.

5 years 50 million plus kids

 

[Ddseddse]

I am not going to plow through this thread, but never has a coach after 5 games received such scrutiny. I got no idea if this experiment will succeed, but I also do not think BB has forgot how to coach. I was around a ton of former players in the program before Clemson, and they were all in the we need talent, and it will take time mode. BB saved the recruiting class, but clearly whiffed in portal, having to settle for No. 3 QB. Cannot win without a QB and oline, and we have neither. I do find interesting the plan is to build through recruiting, which to me means a 3 to 5 year commitment. What I find interesting is the attack by Raleigh media, N&O and WRAL, that is getting such an assist by UNC fans who share without looking at who is doing the reporting. An example, WRAK anchorman cites a player's parent and a source close to the program as evidence of chaos and disarray in the lockerroom. So the most notoriously anal, strident, organized coach of all time (maybe not, but you get the point) all the sudden cannot run and organization. I assure the WRAL guy has not done any original reporting, citing unnamed sources. Garbage journalism. What would be interesting, but requires work, would be to do an autopsy of the program. Why did we whiff on QB? In portal. The timing of the hire, and the staff. The saving of the recruiting class, and continued recruiting wins. All that said, I am troubled by some of the stuff BB has done. But he is out coach, and the idea we will fire him is absurd. If we do we set the program back 5 years. What coach would coach for a school that fired BB after single season. No one wants a rope that short.
The Raleigh media spent much of the last decade trying to destroy UNC athletics, and they are doing so again. But this time UNC fans are lending a hand by believing everything they read without considering sourcing, motive, etc.

Systemic failures are precisely that... systemic.

This is not exclusively a lack of talent. We are seeing poorly coached, undisciplined football. And to the extent it is a lack of talent, are you saying it's unreasonable to lay that at the feet of the GM who brought in 70 new players?

The future could hold many things, is it possible to imagine a future where the BB experiment at UNC is a success? I don't know, maybe? But... don't piss on leg leg and tell me it's raining by trying to claim that the 5 games this year showcase anything less than an abject and total systemic failure.

 

[rodoheel]

I am not going to plow through this thread, but never has a coach after 5 games received such scrutiny. I got no idea if this experiment will succeed, but I also do not think BB has forgot how to coach. I was around a ton of former players in the program before Clemson, and they were all in the we need talent, and it will take time mode. BB saved the recruiting class, but clearly whiffed in portal, having to settle for No. 3 QB. Cannot win without a QB and oline, and we have neither. I do find interesting the plan is to build through recruiting, which to me means a 3 to 5 year commitment. What I find interesting is the attack by Raleigh media, N&O and WRAL, that is getting such an assist by UNC fans who share without looking at who is doing the reporting. An example, WRAK anchorman cites a player's parent and a source close to the program as evidence of chaos and disarray in the lockerroom. So the most notoriously anal, strident, organized coach of all time (maybe not, but you get the point) all the sudden cannot run and organization. I assure the WRAL guy has not done any original reporting, citing unnamed sources. Garbage journalism. What would be interesting, but requires work, would be to do an autopsy of the program. Why did we whiff on QB? In portal. The timing of the hire, and the staff. The saving of the recruiting class, and continued recruiting wins. All that said, I am troubled by some of the stuff BB has done. But he is out coach, and the idea we will fire him is absurd. If we do we set the program back 5 years. What coach would coach for a school that fired BB after single season. No one wants a rope that short.
The Raleigh media spent much of the last decade trying to destroy UNC athletics, and they are doing so again. But this time UNC fans are lending a hand by believing everything they read without considering sourcing, motive, etc.

I understand where you're coming from 79 but there is no media conspiracy here - there is simply failure by Belichick and his nepotism brigade on a scale that even the biggest skeptics (like me) didn't think possible. It's not that we're losing; it's that we're getting utterly embarrassed by every P4 team we play, and along the way Belichick is demonstrating in as many ways possible that we simply doesn't understand or care about the ways college football is different from the pros. He built a crappy, overpaid, crony-filled staff (paying that clown Lombardi, who has done no meaningful NFL personnel work in the past decade, and hasn't worked in college in 40 years, top-of-the-market money; hiring a bunch of his and Lombardi's kids; hiring the underqualified Kitchens as OC without even interviewing him for the position); demonstrated complete and utter unpreparedness for the portal (I suspect we barely saw more than a few minutes of footage for some of the kids we signed, much less did any meaningful evaluation); has generated tons of bad off-field publicity and distraction for UNC (the Hudson situation; taking a vacation to Nantucket during the bye week; the unbelievably petty bullshit with the Patriots that led to us banning their scouts and even refusing to share Drake Maye highlights while he breaks out as a star and our most important NFL ambassador, which not only has no benefit to UNC but actually harms us); and is leading a team that is not only bad, but utterly pathetic and devoid of life, all while our sideline looks like a bunch of people going through the motions every game while we get embarrassed (giving up 41 straight points against TCU while getting outgained something like 350-25 over one stretch; going down 28-3 to Clemson in the first quarter with total yards of something like 350-50 at halftime).

This is simply a disaster on a scale that no one thought was possible. Blaming the media or fans is silly when everything that's happened, Bill and Co. have inflicted on themselves. This is not a scrappy but undertalented bunch showing good fundaments and building for the future; it's a dumpster fire with a bunch of pissed off players, parents, and fans who feel like they just got swindled by a bunch of over-the-hill losers bilking us for one last family payday.

Could it turn around? Sure, nothing is impossible. But it is simply not reasonable to expect the local and national media - or fans - to sit by and passively watch while Belichick gives every indication that he and his staff are lighting $15-20 million of UNC's money on fire and using the flames to burn UNC's program to the ground along with it.

 

[Enigma94]

I understand where you're coming from 79 but there is no media conspiracy here - there is simply failure by Belichick and his nepotism brigade on a scale that even the biggest skeptics (like me) didn't think possible. It's not that we're losing; it's that we're getting utterly embarrassed by every P4 team we play, and along the way Belichick is demonstrating in as many ways possible that we simply doesn't understand or care about the ways college football is different from the pros. He built a crappy, overpaid, crony-filled staff (paying that clown Lombardi, who has done no meaningful NFL personnel work in the past decade, and hasn't worked in college in 40 years, top-of-the-market money; hiring a bunch of his and Lombardi's kids; hiring the underqualified Kitchens as OC without even interviewing him for the position); demonstrated complete and utter unpreparedness for the portal (I suspect we barely saw more than a few minutes of footage for some of the kids we signed, much less did any meaningful evaluation); has generated tons of bad off-field publicity and distraction for UNC (the Hudson situation; taking a vacation to Nantucket during the bye week; the unbelievably petty bullshit with the Patriots that led to us banning their scouts and even refusing to share Drake Maye highlights while he breaks out as a star and our most important NFL ambassador, which not only has no benefit to UNC but actually harms us); and is leading a team that is not only bad, but utterly pathetic and devoid of life, all while our sideline looks like a bunch of people going through the motions every game while we get embarrassed (giving up 41 straight points against TCU while getting outgained something like 350-25 over one stretch; going down 28-3 to Clemson in the first quarter with total yards of something like 350-50 at halftime).

This is simply a disaster on a scale that no one thought was possible. Blaming the media or fans is silly when everything that's happened, Bill and Co. have inflicted on themselves. This is not a scrappy but undertalented bunch showing good fundaments and building for the future; it's a dumpster fire with a bunch of pissed off players, parents, and fans who feel like they just got swindled by a bunch of over-the-hill losers bilking us for one last family payday.

Could it turn around? Sure, nothing is impossible. But it is simply not reasonable to expect the local and national media - or fans - to sit by and passively watch while Belichick gives every indication that he and his staff are lighting $15-20 million of UNC's money on fire and using the flames to burn UNC's program to the ground along with it.

This pretty much sums it up. And I was open to the idea of BB, so I'm not some inherent hater.

 

[takingAdookie]

Bill Belichick's failings at North Carolina underline one thing: He thinks he's bigger than the job

Bill Belichick has failed on almost every account at UNC and they have reached the midway point of the season as one of the biggest laughingstocks in the sport. How long will the school put up with his antics if he's not winning?

sports.yahoo.com

Not sure if this has been posted yet or not but this is a brutally honest evaluation of the current shitshow we have on our hands in Chapel Hill. Belichick doesn't give a shit about the University or its football program or anything that makes this place special. He is a grifting, scamming, con-artist shyster second only to that useless POS whom he hired to be his GM. This is all an enormous grift designed to line the pockets of the Belichick's and the Lombardi's, and the University of North Carolina was the only school in the country stupid enough, or pathetically and humiliatingly desperate enough, to allow it to happen on our campus.

In all reality college and pro coaches are only loyal to the paychecks. Even Roy wouldve turned his back on UNC if he didn't always get his way.

 

[heel79]

I understand where you're coming from 79 but there is no media conspiracy here - there is simply failure by Belichick and his nepotism brigade on a scale that even the biggest skeptics (like me) didn't think possible. It's not that we're losing; it's that we're getting utterly embarrassed by every P4 team we play, and along the way Belichick is demonstrating in as many ways possible that we simply doesn't understand or care about the ways college football is different from the pros. He built a crappy, overpaid, crony-filled staff (paying that clown Lombardi, who has done no meaningful NFL personnel work in the past decade, and hasn't worked in college in 40 years, top-of-the-market money; hiring a bunch of his and Lombardi's kids; hiring the underqualified Kitchens as OC without even interviewing him for the position); demonstrated complete and utter unpreparedness for the portal (I suspect we barely saw more than a few minutes of footage for some of the kids we signed, much less did any meaningful evaluation); has generated tons of bad off-field publicity and distraction for UNC (the Hudson situation; taking a vacation to Nantucket during the bye week; the unbelievably petty bullshit with the Patriots that led to us banning their scouts and even refusing to share Drake Maye highlights while he breaks out as a star and our most important NFL ambassador, which not only has no benefit to UNC but actually harms us); and is leading a team that is not only bad, but utterly pathetic and devoid of life, all while our sideline looks like a bunch of people going through the motions every game while we get embarrassed (giving up 41 straight points against TCU while getting outgained something like 350-25 over one stretch; going down 28-3 to Clemson in the first quarter with total yards of something like 350-50 at halftime).

This is simply a disaster on a scale that no one thought was possible. Blaming the media or fans is silly when everything that's happened, Bill and Co. have inflicted on themselves. This is not a scrappy but undertalented bunch showing good fundaments and building for the future; it's a dumpster fire with a bunch of pissed off players, parents, and fans who feel like they just got swindled by a bunch of over-the-hill losers bilking us for one last family payday.

Could it turn around? Sure, nothing is impossible. But it is simply not reasonable to expect the local and national media - or fans - to sit by and passively watch while Belichick gives every indication that he and his staff are lighting $15-20 million of UNC's money on fire and using the flames to burn UNC's program to the ground along with it.

Again, the article by WRAL anchor was just shoddy journalism. Period. Unnamed sources. There is a story here, but it requires work, and I am not even saying that it would shine a favorable light on BB. I am saying do it. The idea that a WRAL anchorman had done original reporting is laughable. As for conspiracy, not saying there are back-room meetings, but we all know WRAL and N&O tried to destroy the program but could not. They are back at it. I would just caution people to considering who is doing the reporting. I will say again. I spent an hour at the letterman's tent on Saturday before the game and talked to players close to the program, specifically asking about BB. None of them were down on what was happening (this was before the game.) We do not have a QB or an oline and you simply cannot compete without them. Two QBs said no although we offered then competitive money (I am told.) That is a story worth doing, but N&O too busy being cute writing headlines like "sold them a Bill of goods" etc. Imagine what they would be saying if we had hired Campbell, whose career percentage is lower than Mack Brown 2.0 and word got out we could have hired BB. Point is, give it time. It might not work, but I have no doubt it will if we get players. As far as nepotism, cronyism, that is standard fare among coaches when hiring, they hire within a circle. Everyone needs to chill and let it play out. Just my IMO.

 

[akillesheel]

Again, the article by WRAL anchor was just shoddy journalism. Period. Unnamed sources. There is a story here, but it requires work, and I am not even saying that it would shine a favorable light on BB. I am saying do it. The idea that a WRAL anchorman had done original reporting is laughable. As for conspiracy, not saying there are back-room meetings, but we all know WRAL and N&O tried to destroy the program but could not. They are back at it. I would just caution people to considering who is doing the reporting. I will say again. I spent an hour at the letterman's tent on Saturday before the game and talked to players close to the program, specifically asking about BB. None of them were down on what was happening (this was before the game.) We do not have a QB or an oline and you simply cannot compete without them. Two QBs said no although we offered then competitive money (I am told.) That is a story worth doing, but N&O too busy being cute writing headlines like "sold them a Bill of goods" etc. Imagine what they would be saying if we had hired Campbell, whose career percentage is lower than Mack Brown 2.0 and word got out we could have hired BB. Point is, give it time. It might not work, but I have no doubt it will if we get players. As far as nepotism, cronyism, that is standard fare among coaches when hiring, they hire within a circle. Everyone needs to chill and let it play out. Just my IMO.

"unknown sources" are not "shoddy journalism" lmao. you invalidate the rest of your comment with that nonsense.

 

[rodoheel]

Again, the article by WRAL anchor was just shoddy journalism. Period. Unnamed sources. There is a story here, but it requires work, and I am not even saying that it would shine a favorable light on BB. I am saying do it. The idea that a WRAL anchorman had done original reporting is laughable. As for conspiracy, not saying there are back-room meetings, but we all know WRAL and N&O tried to destroy the program but could not. They are back at it. I would just caution people to considering who is doing the reporting. I will say again. I spent an hour at the letterman's tent on Saturday before the game and talked to players close to the program, specifically asking about BB. None of them were down on what was happening (this was before the game.) We do not have a QB or an oline and you simply cannot compete without them. Two QBs said no although we offered then competitive money (I am told.) That is a story worth doing, but N&O too busy being cute writing headlines like "sold them a Bill of goods" etc. Imagine what they would be saying if we had hired Campbell, whose career percentage is lower than Mack Brown 2.0 and word got out we could have hired BB. Point is, give it time. It might not work, but I have no doubt it will if we get players. As far as nepotism, cronyism, that is standard fare among coaches when hiring, they hire within a circle. Everyone needs to chill and let it play out. Just my IMO.

Heel79, you've been in the industry for a long time. A use of unnamed sources is in no way illegitimate or problematic. No one is ever going to get a player or parent or program source to go on record with quotes like that, at least not while Belichick is still the coach. And it's not remotely reasonable to expect that someone would go on record and put their own career or kid's career in jeopardy.

But you didn't even refute most of what I said. Because you can't. This is a clown show and WRAL and N&O are not the only ones saying it. You're so blinded by your (justified) anger at what those institutions did to UNC in the past that you're simply not looking at this rationally. IC and "Tarheel247" or whatever it's called now both have sources reporting big-time internal problems with the program and corroborating most or all of what I posted above.

I understand the desire for the BB experiment to work. I understand that some fans think the job of a fan is to cheerlead for whoever is leading the program, no matter what's happening. But it is simply not reasonable to be blaming fans and media for the absolute embarrassing shit-show that Belichick and Co, have treated us to so far.

And by the way - it's one thing to hire your kids to GA positions or other similar things and occasionally have a kid work their way up the staff. it's another thing entirely to have five of the highest-level, top-paying positions (HC, GM, DC, and two position coaches) be Belichicks or Lombardis. I said it in January and will continue saying it now - that is simply not a healthy way to run an organization. There is no excusing it. Especially when it's a bunch of know-it-all NFL guys thinking they can roll in and dominate small-time college football as the "33rd NFL franchise" without making any attempt to understand or appreciate how different the entire college framework is from the pros.

 

[PTOHeel]

There have been tons of articles coming from all over the place with various sources. I find attacking the media when you don't like what's being reported to be exceedingly lame. It's Trump's go-to move at press conferences. The reason the tenor around the football program is so poor is not because of the media or bad fans. It's because BB has given absolutely nothing to be excited about along with added distractions he brings with him because it's just who he is.

 

[heel79]

Heel79, you've been in the industry for a long time. A use of unnamed sources is in no way illegitimate or problematic. No one is ever going to get a player or parent or program source to go on record with quotes like that, at least not while Belichick is still the coach. And it's not remotely reasonable to expect that someone would go on record and put their own career or kid's career in jeopardy.

But you didn't even refute most of what I said. Because you can't. This is a clown show and WRAL and N&O are not the only ones saying it. You're so blinded by your (justified) anger at what those institutions did to UNC in the past that you're simply not looking at this rationally. IC and "Tarheel247" or whatever it's called now both have sources reporting big-time internal problems with the program and corroborating most or all of what I posted above.

I understand the desire for the BB experiment to work. I understand that some fans think the job of a fan is to cheerlead for whoever is leading the program, no matter what's happening. But it is simply not reasonable to be blaming fans and media for the absolute embarrassing shit-show that Belichick and Co, have treated us to so far.

And by the way - it's one thing to hire your kids to GA positions or other similar things and occasionally have a kid work their way up the staff. it's another thing entirely to have five of the highest-level, top-paying positions (HC, GM, DC, and two position coaches) be Belichicks or Lombardis. I said it in January and will continue saying it now - that is simply not a healthy way to run an organization. There is no excusing it. Especially when it's a bunch of know-it-all NFL guys thinking they can roll in and dominate small-time college football as the "33rd NFL franchise" without making any attempt to understand or appreciate how different the entire college framework is from the pros.

I was not attempting to refute anything. And of course there are times when anonymous sources are necessary. I would almost bet the wral anchorman didn't talk to anyone. He does not have time to do actual reporting. I am just not buying the chaos etc from a coach notoriously strident and organized. I say again I talked to bunch of former players close to program and none of that. Call me unimpressed the anchor could find an unhappy parent if he did indeed. How about anecdotes? Give examples. I'm out. Said my piece. Time will tell.

 

[CFordUNC]

Again, the article by WRAL anchor was just shoddy journalism. Period. Unnamed sources. There is a story here, but it requires work, and I am not even saying that it would shine a favorable light on BB. I am saying do it. The idea that a WRAL anchorman had done original reporting is laughable. As for conspiracy, not saying there are back-room meetings, but we all know WRAL and N&O tried to destroy the program but could not. They are back at it. I would just caution people to considering who is doing the reporting. I will say again. I spent an hour at the letterman's tent on Saturday before the game and talked to players close to the program, specifically asking about BB. None of them were down on what was happening (this was before the game.) We do not have a QB or an oline and you simply cannot compete without them. Two QBs said no although we offered then competitive money (I am told.) That is a story worth doing, but N&O too busy being cute writing headlines like "sold them a Bill of goods" etc. Imagine what they would be saying if we had hired Campbell, whose career percentage is lower than Mack Brown 2.0 and word got out we could have hired BB. Point is, give it time. It might not work, but I have no doubt it will if we get players. As far as nepotism, cronyism, that is standard fare among coaches when hiring, they hire within a circle. Everyone needs to chill and let it play out. Just my IMO.

I'm a little surprised that someone who is a highly-respected former member of the media (and a damn good one, at that) would be taking the tin-foil hat route of essentially accusing WRAL and the N&O of bad journalism when they're only reporting what they're being told by sources close to the situation. Isn't the whole purpose of unnamed sources to enable those sources to speak freely without fear of reprisal? The sources for the article were, apparently, people inside the football program (presumably support staffers) and parents of current players. They would certainly want to remain "unnamed sources" since they are spilling the tea about the mess ongoing inside the football program, and WRAL would certainly want them to remain "unnamed sources" so that they continue to be sources period.

I would caution you to take with a large grain of salt anything you hear "at the letterman's tent." I've been going to the letterman's tailgate ever since they brought it back under Mack in 2019- though I have not been to it this year and have no plans of doing so- and it's staffed/hosted by the football program, with support staffers from the football program working the tent. You're certainly not going to get too terribly many people in that tent discussing how much the current head coach of the football program sucks when his own staff members are the ones running it and milling about. And the overwhelming vast majority of people who are "at the letterman's tent" have exactly zero insight or sources inside the football program, no matter what they claim. They're all just everyday folks who were once affiliated with UNC football years or decades ago, who are showing up for free food and drinks on gameday. They don't have any special insight into the program- they have opinions just like you, me, and everyone else.

I'd be curious to know how much more time you think we should give a 73 year old coach who has shown zero understanding of how college football works, zero desire in learning how college football works (or else hiring people who do), zero emotion or passion for coaching college football players, and zero idea of how to build and manage a college football roster. At what point can Ten-Mil Bill be expected to want to learn how to lead a college football program? Next year? Three or four years from now? I'm not being snarky- I'm genuinely curious. He and his GM are the only college football folks in America who are currently begging for patience and preaching a "three or four year rebuild." Everyone else understands that it can be done essentially overnight now, if you know how to evaluate talent and find the right fits for your roster, instead of prancing around calling yourself the "NFL's 33rd team" all offseason and arrogantly behaving as if you can simply show up and run circles around the acumen of college coaches and people who have spent their entire lives and careers in the college game.

The notion that nepotism and cronyism is standard fare among coaches isn't entirely accurate, either, or at least not how you're insinuating. Do coaches hire buddies frequently? Yes. Of course. Now, generally, they hire buddies who have been involved in the college game, know and understand the college game, and have coached in the college game- and therefore at least have qualifications to do so. Belichick hired his sons. Then he hired his best friend to be GM, and also hired *his* son. That's not standard fare at all. Matt Lombardi is getting paid $600K- that is offensive coordinator money at most P4 schools, by the way- to coach quarterbacks, despite never having done so at the collegiate level and really not even havng done so at the professional level, either.

I understand and even respect and admire that you want to be patient as a fan and let it all play out. I get that. I truly do. I don't fault you for it at all. I happen to disagree vehemently, but I don't fault you for it. The problem for UNC is, the longer this goes on the way that it is currently going, the deeper and deeper the hole is going to be that we have to dig out of. And not only are we are currently *not* showing any signs of this getting better anytime soon, there are all sorts of red flashing warning signs that it's about to get a whole lot worse in the short-term. So it's not that I don't have patience- it's that being patient in this instance is very likely to bury our football program into a deep hole.

 

[1moretimeagain]

I was not attempting to refute anything. And of course there are times when anonymous sources are necessary. I would almost bet the wral anchorman didn't talk to anyone. He does not have time to do actual reporting. I am just not buying the chaos etc from a coach notoriously strident and organized. I say again I talked to bunch of former players close to program and none of that. Call me unimpressed the anchor could find an unhappy parent if he did indeed. How about anecdotes? Give examples. I'm out. Said my piece. Time will tell.

We now have a battle between unnamed player parents and unnamed former players.

I agree that within any college team there will be some players/parents who aren’t happy. However, the Belichick criticism is not confined to that.

 

[heel79]

There have been tons of articles coming from all over the place with various sources. I find attacking the media when you don't like what's being reported to be exceedingly lame. It's Trump's go-to move at press conferences. The reason the tenor around the football program is so poor is not because of the media or bad fans. It's because BB has given absolutely nothing to be excited about along with added distractions he brings with him because it's just who he is.

Here is today's journalism. Limited original reporting because no one has staff. Everyone depends on that reporting and the does opinion. I have two fellow reporters who I gave first job covering UNC and while they see much to question they don't see divided locker room and they are there. Do you think wral and N&I were responsible in covering the scandal?

 

[CFordUNC]

I was not attempting to refute anything. And of course there are times when anonymous sources are necessary. I would almost bet the wral anchorman didn't talk to anyone. He does not have time to do actual reporting. I am just not buying the chaos etc from a coach notoriously strident and organized. I say again I talked to bunch of former players close to program and none of that. Call me unimpressed the anchor could find an unhappy parent if he did indeed. How about anecdotes? Give examples. I'm out. Said my piece. Time will tell.

You know I have a lot of appreciation and respect for you as a person and as a poster, but why parachute into a discussion (you yourself said you aren't going to read the rest of the thread), share your views, have other people ask you to clarify your views or provide alternative perspectives to your views, and then parachute right back out when you get (polite, reasonable) pushback? I don't understand that at all.