Bill Belichick's first game as head coach of North Carolina ended in a humiliating 48-14 defeat to TCU on Monday night. The greatest coach in modern NFL history saw his side collapse after an early touchdown, conceding 41 unanswered points in a performance that exposed deep flaws in his college programme.
UNC looked unprepared and undisciplined, missing tackles and turning the ball over three times. TCU racked up 542 total yards, and Belichick's defence, which never conceded 48 points in 511 NFL games, was torn apart by a veteran college team. The Tar Heels averaged just two yards per carry and could not convert on third downs.
Belichick, standing stoically on the sideline in his vintage cut-off hoodie, acknowledged the defeat. 'They just outplayed us, they outcoached us and they were better than we were. That's all there is to it,' he said. 'Give them credit for being the better team.'
The pre-game atmosphere had been electric, with Michael Jordan, Lawrence Taylor and Mia Hamm in attendance and ESPN treating the opener as a major event. But by half-time, Jordan and half the stadium had left. TCU head coach Sonny Dykes said his team felt disrespected by the attention on Belichick and took it out on the field.
Belichick's refusal to release a depth chart pre-game was seen as an attempt to gain an edge, but instead highlighted a lack of talent. The gap between the sides was stark, with UNC looking like one of the least talented squads in the Power Four. Belichick, who promised to build a '33rd NFL Program' in Chapel Hill, now faces a daunting rebuild.
