TCU romps Over UNC in Belichick’s College Debut

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina’s high point in its first game under coach Bill Belichick came early.

A festive pre-game atmosphere led to a roar from the crowd at kickoff. And a season-opening drive moved at a crisp pace to the end zone.

After that, Monday night’s hyped-up debut turned into a romp by TCU – along with a reminder that even an NFL icon with six Super Bowl titles as a head coach can’t magically turn the Tar Heels into winners after decades of also-ran status.

“We played competitively but then just couldn’t sustain it,” Belichick said in a familiar low tone from his NFL news conferences after the 48-14 loss. “Obviously, we have a lot of work to do. We need to do a better job all the way around – coaching, playing, all three phases of the game.”

The blowout put a major damper on a night buzzing with optimism for the 73-year-old Belichick’s college debut, only to see the Horned Frogs dominate so thoroughly they drove UNC fans to the Kenan Stadium exits by midway through the third quarter.

“It was a great surroundings tonight,” Belichick said. “I mean, the fans were awesome. There was great energy in the stadium. We just didn’t do enough to keep it going. we’ve got to play better for the energy to be enduring.”

By the end of the game, Kenan was a ghost town and the Tar Heels had given up more points than in any previous opener in their history, according to Sportradar.

it was a jarring result, even amid uncertainty as to exactly what to expect from UNC with roughly 70 new players between transfers and incoming recruits. There were few highlights after that opening drive,beyond Kaleb cost’s athletic reeling in of a deflected ball for an interception,and quarterback Max Johnson returning in relief from a serious leg injury sustained in last year’s opener at Minnesota.

“We’re just moving forward,just moving forward,” said Cost,offering an unintentional callback to Belichick’s famous “We’re on to Cincinnati” response to reporters’ questions after a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014.