Bill Belichick has already settled North Carolina’s
quarterback competition. Whether the six-time Super Bowl champion is truly built to coach college football remains far less certain.
His second season begins Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, giving Belichick a fitting chance to show how much has changed. The Horned Frogs handed UNC a 48-14 beating in his college debut last September. One year later, the same opponent will provide the first real look at his rebuilt program.
Bill Belichick’s first season raised serious doubts
Hiring Belichick was supposed to transform North Carolina into something resembling an NFL organization. Instead, the Tar Heels finished 4-8, missed a bowl game and lost to all three of their in-state ACC rivals.
The offense last season was especially dreadful. UNC finished 129th nationally in total offense while averaging 288.8 yards and 19.2 points per game. The Tar Heels also endured several ugly defeats, beginning with the TCU game in Chapel Hill.
North Carolina scored on its opening possession that night. TCU answered with 41 consecutive points, accumulated 543 yards and scored two defensive touchdowns. The anticipated debut quickly became a public demolition.
Belichick built his NFL career around rigid preparation, limited access and complete organizational control. College coaches must also recruit teenagers, court donors, manage the transfer portal and keep players from leaving when their roles change. It is a different job, even if the sport still uses the same oddly shaped ball.
North Carolina rebuilt around Bill Belichick
UNC responded by changing much of the operation rather than abandoning it. Belichick fired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and replaced him with Bobby Petrino, whose resume includes head-coaching stops at Louisville, Arkansas, Western Kentucky and Missouri State. The Tar Heels also added another enormous collection of newcomers, including approximately 40 true freshmen.
Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. will start at quarterback against TCU. Edwards brings considerably more experience than most of UNC’s roster, having previously started at Maryland before an injury disrupted his lone season with the Badgers.
Belichick believes the revamped team is far ahead of the group that entered last season. That claim will soon receive its first examination.
TCU offers North Carolina a direct comparison
No opener can settle an entire season, but facing TCU again removes some of the guesswork. Belichick and his staff know exactly where the Horned Frogs overwhelmed them last year.
TCU controlled both lines of scrimmage, rushed for 243 yards and forced UNC into repeated mistakes. North Carolina does not necessarily need to erase a 34-point gap in one afternoon. It must show that its roster is stronger, its offense has a functional identity and its players are better prepared.
Belichick has already proved he can master professional football. Dublin begins his attempt to prove that college football has not presented a challenge that even he cannot solve.
