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Summary:
- Bill Belichick’s first college game as UNC’s head coach ended in a 48-14 defeat to the TCU Horned Frogs.
- The Tar Heels were outgained 542-222 and forced to give up two defensive touchdowns.
- Belichick admitted the better team on the field defeated them.
On Monday night at Kenan Stadium, fans watching Bill Belichick pacing midfield in a gray, sleeveless hoodie were full of hope.
Following a nine-month stretch during which he was busy going on book tours, giving quirky interviews, and having his personal life make headlines, it was time for the 73-year-old with six Super Bowl rings to finally debut as a college coach.
However, the result was far from what passionate Tar Heel supporters had been dreaming of.
UNC Lost in Dramatic Fashion
The TCU Horned Frogs rolled to a 48-14 win, revealing just how far North Carolina has to go. The program that paid no less than $10 million to attract the game’s most decorated coach had to face a particularly harsh reality check.
They just outplayed us, they outcoached us and they were better than we were. That’s all there is to it
Belichick commented after the game, standing against a backdrop of balloons that felt out of place following such a lopsided loss.
Belichick, who exchanged NFL dynasty lore for a new football college challenge, chose to be blunt and not sugarcoat the result during the press conference, speaking about the team having “too many self-inflicted wounds” they must get rid of, emphasizing the costly errors and missed assignments that eventually piled up.
They did a lot more things right than we did. Give them credit for being the better team.
While the Tar Heels opened with a crisp touchdown drive, the night quickly took a different turn as TCU was outgained 542 to 222 after struggling on both lines of scrimmage and giving up back-to-back defensive scores. By the fourth quarter, much of the disappointed crowd had emptied out, leaving the stadium light show to flicker over empty seats.
Kaleb Cost: “We’re Angry as a Team”
“We have to be tougher as a team”, defensive back Kaleb Cost admitted, adding that while the loss was “definitely disappointing”, it’s time to return to the drawing board and “go hard” to “make sure it never happens again”. “Obviously we’re angry as a team but we’re going to use that”
Belichick also found a few explanations for the defeat, including the large number of three-and-outs and long plays on defense, as well as the two turnovers for touchdowns. “You can’t overcome that”, he argued.
For now, the promise of Belichick in Chapel Hill remains only a promise. North Carolina football has always lived in the shadow of New Hope. However, if Monday was any indication, the legendary coach will need to rely on much more than history and symbolism to turn that hope into something real.
