If one moment captured just how surreal the scene was in Chapel Hill on Thursday, it was this:
Bill Belichick cut himself off mid-sentence and apologized.
“That’s a long answer to a short question,” he said. “You know I love to ramble on in press conferences.”
Somehow, some way, the grim face of joyless NFL dominance was cracking jokes on campus. Surefire first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Belichick is now UNC’s head coach.
The rumors first surfaced a week earlier, mere days after Mack Brown had coached his last game with the Tar Heels. Belichick had interviewed for the job and impressed the Carolina decision makers.
Most observers dismissed it as a mutual publicity stunt — UNC showing just how in-demand its coaching vacancy was and Belichick keeping his name afloat on the coaching carousel. However, as the days went by, the story gained legs. Belichick interviewed again, then reportedly presented UNC with his organizational bible — a document hundreds of pages long spelling out exactly how the football program needed to be organized.
Belichick downplayed the bible rumors.
“Don’t believe everything you read in the papers,” he said. “I don’t have a 400-page document … and to think I was going to hand it over. … Come on.”
Still, it was clear that UNC had begun organizing the football program in Belichick’s image. Along with the legendary Patriots coach, UNC also hired Mike Lombardi, a former Patriots GM, to fill the same newly created role with Carolina. He was reportedly already busy working the transfer portal while Belichick was hamming it up at his introductory presser. Lineman Aidan Banfield, a UNC freshman who had earlier entered the portal, withdrew before Belichick was done speaking.
For his part, Belichick, who was known for a prickly approach to the media and short, gruff press conference answers consisting of “Do your job,” and “We’re on to Cincinnati,” showed he was capable of adjusting to the college environment. He accepted a sleeveless hoodie — his typical NFL sideline fashion choice — with the UNC logo from the school chancellor and chuckled when A.D. Bubba Cunningham donned a sleeveless sports coat.
Belichick also displayed the sideline sweater his father wore as a UNC assistant from 1953 to 55, and he wore a Carolina blue argyle tie to the event.
Belichick, a preschooler while his dad was in Chapel Hill, admitted to not remembering much from the era.
“One story I’ve always heard was, Billy’s first words were, ‘Beat Duke,’” he offered.
There was no question Belichick won the press conference, after making a career of turning them into wars of attrition where no one emerged unscathed. Still, there are concerns over the hiring.
Belichick has never coached at the college level — either as a head coach or an assistant. Many aspects of the job — recruiting, donors and boosters, dealing with young players away from home for the first time — will be brand new to him.
“I’ve always wanted to coach in college football, and it just never really worked out,” he said. “I had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK. But this is really a dream come true.”
Cunningham also addressed the lack of experience at this level.
“I got over the hump of college coaching experience with (UNC women’s coach Damon) Nahas and (field hockey coach Erin) Matson,” he said, referring to new hires that each won national championships in their first year on the job.
At age 72, Belichick’s longevity in his new role was also called into question. Reports surfaced that he was pushing for his son, Stephen, to be named as coach in waiting upon his hiring. There were also rumors that Belichick would sign just a three-year deal, although the contract he agreed upon was reportedly for the standard five.
“I feel like doing it a long time,” Belichick said. “I’m good to go.”
Then there’s the call of the NFL. Belichick has 302 career wins, just 26 off Don Shula’s all-time record. Will early success at UNC allow him to get a job in the pros to continue his pursuit of Shula?
“I didn’t come here to leave,” Belichick said.
There is plenty of work for Belichick to do. There are several other Tar Heels already in the portal that will need to be convinced to stay. Plus, many top recruits chose to hold off rather than sign with the Heels on early signing day last week.
For one day, though, the mood was optimistic, and everything seemed possible. After all, football’s Darth Vader was pleasant and chatty.
“As a coach, you go where you want to go (for scouting trips) and send assistants on the other trips,” he said. “You always made the trip to Carolina.”
On this trip, he decided to stick around awhile.
