UNC Students, Fans React to Possible Bill Belichick Hiring: ‘It’s Just Cool’

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) — Tar Heel football fans continue to await major news that could shape the football program for years to come.

NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick – who won eight Super Bowls, including six as head coach of the New England Patriots – has been linked to University of North Carolina football for several days and confirmed that in an interview with ESPN’s Pat McAfee on Monday, he spoke at length with UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts on the opening.

Meanwhile, UNC football fans say they have mixed feelings about the potential recruit — noting the authority and enthusiasm someone of Belichick’s stature would bring to the program, but wondering if he’ll fit in.

“It’s just cool to bring more attention to the football program here,” UNC junior Colin Chen said.

Chen acknowledged it’s been a tough year for football fans on campus, but he’s still hopeful about what’s next after the school’s decision to fire Mack Brown.

“It was tough, you could clearly see on campus that fewer people were going to football games. But we tried to stay excited every game. There is hope,” he said.

Chen is one of the countless students and supporters now waiting as reports of a possible deal between the two sides circulate.

“I would be really happy if he came,” he said. “Do I think he’ll be a great college coach? I don’t know it. But I think it would be really great to have the name Bill Belichick at our school for recruiting.”

Belichick publicly addressed the rumors on the McAfee Show on Monday afternoon.

“I had the opportunity to speak with Chancellor Roberts and we had some good conversations, so we’ll see how it goes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chen isn’t the only one wondering about Belichick’s potential fit for the modern college game.

“With NIL, being a college athletic trainer is completely different than it used to be. I don’t know what that means,” said Lee Folger, a Chapel Hill native and lifelong Tar Heel fan.

Folger said he enjoyed the excitement generated by the Belichick-to-Chapel Hill reports, but cautioned that there could be similarities to the Brown-led program that the school just moved away from.

“It made more sense with Mack because there was a previous connection and he had success at the college level,” he said. “I like Belichick, obviously he’s a proven winner. But what is he, in his 70s? And college football is getting younger and changing.”