Invoice Belichick’s debut with North Carolina got here with a lot fanfare, however the lopsided 48-14 loss towards TCU will go into the report books for all of the incorrect causes. The efficiency marked one of many worst performances by the Tar Heels in years and proved a disastrous debut for maybe the best soccer coach in historical past.
The Tar Heels had an excellent first drive on offense and protection, rapidly leaping out to a 7-0 lead. From there, every little thing went incorrect. TCU scored 41 unanswered factors by the primary 44 minutes of recreation time. They scored two defensive touchdowns and bought a 75-yard breakaway from working again Kevorian Barnes on the primary play of the third quarter to place issues away.
Not even Invoice Belichick can break the Carolina curse of falling brief on massive phases
Chip Patterson
Nonetheless, the ultimate rating does not do justice to only how devastating a efficiency Belichick’s debut in Chapel Hill actually was for the workforce. Listed below are key stats that assist contextualize simply how depressingly they carried out.
- Invoice Belichick allowed essentially the most factors in a recreation of his profession as a head coach, transferring previous a 47-17 loss to the Buffalo Payments in 2021.
- Belichick suffered the second-worst lack of his profession, trailing solely a 38-3 loss to the Cowboys in 2023.
- Belichick has trailed by 34+ factors solely 4 instances in 511 video games as a head coach.
The NFL is mostly a defensive league the place groups are near evenly matched. On the faculty stage, Belichick will come to grasp simply how massive the expertise differentials are between the nice and unhealthy groups — and he was on the incorrect finish.
The Horned Frogs have been capable of bodily bully North Carolina on each side to the tune of 258 yards and seven.4 yards per carry. Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez accomplished solely 4-of-10 passes. It was a complete disasterclass, the likes of which Belichick has fairly actually by no means seen in his profession.
Making issues worse, North Carolina nonetheless has No. 4 Clemson on the schedule on Oct. 4, which additionally is available in Chapel Hill. If the TCU matchup was any indication, the information might get even worse in a couple of weeks.
- North Carolina allowed essentially the most factors in a season opener in program historical past, surpassing the 41 allowed towards 2001 Oklahoma.
- The Tar Heels misplaced by their biggest margin since Sept. 27, 2018 towards Miami.
- Mack Brown by no means misplaced a recreation by that margin in his second stint at North Carolina.
The efficiency wasn’t simply horrible by Belichick requirements. As a substitute, it was a traditionally horrible recreation for North Carolina as effectively.
TCU is a high quality opponent, however it wasn’t essentially an outlier. Final yr, UNC performed Minnesota. The yr earlier than, they beat South Carolina. They usually play energy convention opponents of their openers, however none of them have come near disasters of this caliber.
The Tar Heels pushed legendary coach Mack Brown out the door after a 6-6 report in 2024. Nonetheless, he by no means had a efficiency like this, even in his first season after taking up a 2-9 workforce. 4 of his six losses final season have been by 10 factors or fewer. Definitely, Brown needs to be taking a victory lap after seeing what Belichick might do in an offseason.
- TCU posted its finest workforce dashing efficiency since 2022 vs. Michigan
- North Carolina recorded its second-worst dashing efficiency (50 yards) since 2016
There are numerous tales of this recreation, however North Carolina’s incompetence within the trenches stands aside. On each side, the Tar Heels bought torn aside. TCU’s dashing offense was maybe its weakest unit in 2024, however UNC’s porous protection made it appear like prime Nebraska. The breakaway run by Barnes within the second half broke the sport broad open and proved to be a killshot.
UNC tried to ascertain the run early to guard Lopez, however managed to get little or no going. No participant on the workforce completed with 40 yards dashing or 4.0 yards per carry. TCU recorded eight tackles for loss and two sacks. The trenches will probably be a defining flaw by Belichick’s first squad, and maybe one that might put bowl eligibility in query towards one of many best schedules within the Energy 4.
- Belichick is 0-3 in head teaching debuts, together with a two-score loss in 1991 as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
If there is a piece of optimism, perhaps it is that? Belichick groups by no means come out swinging proper when he takes over. It takes time to construct a powerful tradition and a technically sound workforce. Nonetheless, doing it on the collegiate stage is a special problem and Belichick, 73, does not have fairly as a lot time.
