Despite reports of turmoil inside the North Carolina football program, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick addressed speculation of locker room fights and disorganization, insisting the frustration within the team stems from losing, not division.
The son of Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick spoke candidly to On3 this week as UNC tries to rebound from a 2-3 start in their first season under the legendary former NFL coach. Reports from WRAL News have described the program as “an unstructured mess,” citing sources who called it disorganized and lacking leadership.
“Yeah, I think we’ve had a really good week of practice,” Steve Belichick said via On3. “I think anybody who’s a competitor is frustrated when they lose. So, it starts with me on defense. I’ve got to do a better job. It trickles down through everybody. We’ve all got to do better, but I appreciate the frustration to a point just because it means they care.”
When pressed about alleged fights within the locker room, Belichick downplayed the reports. “I don’t know anything about fights, or anything like that,” he said.
The younger Belichick explained how the team remains focused on improving and translating that effort from practice into games. “We’re putting in a lot of work to go out there and compete at a high level,” he said. “It hasn’t always shown. So, we’ll try to get out there and do better, but it should be frustrating when you lose.”
The Tar Heels entered the season with high expectations following Bill Belichick’s arrival, but blowout losses and off-field controversies — including the coach’s trip to Nantucket with girlfriend Jordon Hudson during the bye week — have amplified scrutiny in Chapel Hill.
With seven games remaining, North Carolina still has an opportunity to turn its season around and secure bowl eligibility, beginning with Friday night’s matchup against California (10:30 p.m. ET/ESPN).
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