The highly anticipated debut season of legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick at the University of North Carolina came to a crushing conclusion on Saturday night with a 42-19 defeat against fierce rivals NC State.
The loss in Raleigh capped a deeply disappointing 4-8 season for the Tar Heels, marking a stark contrast to the optimism that surrounded Belichick's high-profile appointment.
A Reluctant Post-Match Briefing
Facing reporters after the game, the six-time Super Bowl champion appeared in no mood to dissect what had gone wrong during his first venture into college football. His post-game comments lasted barely four minutes.
"Look, the season's just ended a few minutes ago, OK?" Belichick stated. "So now we're going to move into the offseason. That's what we're going to do."
When pressed for his assessment of the season overall or what message he'd given his players, the 73-year-old coach remained characteristically tight-lipped. "I'll keep my message to the team between me and the team," he said, later adding, "I'm sorry I don't have a season recap for you. I don't have one, we haven't done it."
A Season of Struggle On and Off the Field
UNC's 2024 campaign began with significant media attention and hope that Belichick's NFL pedigree could transform the program. Instead, the Tar Heels finished with more double-digit losses (five) than total victories.
The team closed the season with three consecutive defeats against in-state ACC opponents, including Wake Forest and Duke before the finale against NC State. Their three wins against Bowl Subdivision teams came against programs with a combined 8-28 record.
The on-field difficulties were compounded by numerous off-field distractions. These included Belichick banning scouts from his former team, the New England Patriots, an assistant coach suspension for NCAA violations, and tabloid fascination with the coach's personal life.
Players Reflect on Disappointing Campaign
With their coach offering little commentary, UNC players shouldered the responsibility of explaining the team's disappointing performance. Receiver Jordan Shipp and linebacker Khmori House spoke to reporters for longer than Belichick himself.
"We showed glimpses, we just didn't do enough to pull off some wins," Shipp acknowledged. "We know internally that we're not as bad as our record shows."
House described the turbulent season as "a roller coaster, ups and downs, but a lesson" for the program moving forward.
The result means North Carolina failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2018, a particularly bitter pill for a program that had invested heavily in Belichick's leadership with a contract reportedly guaranteeing $10 million annually for his first three seasons.
