UNC hired Bill Belichick to turn their football program around, hoping that he could channel his inner Deion Sanders and work as a high-profile former NFL person hire. Whether or not he will has yet to be determined, although a hugely successful season solely built through the transfer portal in the NFL coach's first collegiate season is unlikely.
That said, one aspect of UNC's hire is clearly working. North Carolina is and has been a basketball school, but you'd never know it based on the reported attendance for tonight's season opener against TCU. According to Pete Thamel, a who's who of Tar Heels is going to be there.
That includes Michael Jordan, but he won't be alone. Mia Hamm, Lawrence Taylor, Julius Peppers, Eric Church, Chase Rice, and Blake Snell, the latter of whom isn't a UNC alum, but is clearly just a big fan of what's going on in Chapel Hill.
And that is one aspect of why UNC went with Belichick. The new NIL/transfer portal era in college football demands some sort of attraction for schools. If they can't find one of college's best tactician or recruiting coaches, like Kirby Smart or Ryan Day, then they can go for a big name to attract talent.
Whether or not Belichick has or will attract talent remains to be seen on the field tonight and throughout the season, but he is clearly attracting fans, which is a big win for the Tar Heels already.