Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is now a winner at the college football level! Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels entered the W column on Saturday with a 20-3 victory over the Charlotte 49ers, a football program that has only been in existence since 2013. But hey, a win is a win.
Wondering if any NFL scouts were in the bleachers for the game? Don’t lose any sleep over it.
Belichick made headlines this week for banning Patriots scouts from his Tar Heel practices, a move that was universally graded by pundits as a petty one. The Athletic’s NFL insider Diana Russini compared the whole ordeal to “eighth-grade cafeteria drama,” which we all know is deeply serious stuff.
Belichick doesn’t seem very amused about the ongoing Patriots rift. Following Saturday’s win, he was asked about banning the Pats scouts by The News & Observer’s Shelby Swanson.
Story continues below advertisement
In his classic deadpan tone and demeanor, Belichick provided a three-sentence explanation.
“It’s clear I’m not welcome around their facility,” Belichick said, per North Carolina sports-talk host Josh Graham. “So they aren’t welcome at ours. It’s pretty simple.”
Is it really that simple, coach?
Story continues below advertisement
The issue with Belichick’s stance on this whole situation is that he isn’t prioritizing his players. By leaning into this weird, unproductive beef he has with the Patriots’ leadership, Belichick is neglecting the very people he should be looking out for: his guys.
Let’s not forget that sports are about the athletes … the men and women who put their bodies on the line every day to compete. And sure, UNC vs. UNC Charlotte may not be the highest level of football, but the principle remains. Good coaches take care of their players and put them in a position to succeed.
Story continues below advertisement
If you were a top high school recruit who dreams of playing in the NFL, would you be at all interested in playing for Belichick at UNC right now? This “Scoutgate” situation is revealing the sad truth that Belichick’s UNC project has more to do with his ego, and less to do with his love for football, than purists and Belichick supporters had hoped for.
What are we trying to prove here? You’re an all-time great coach. You’ve won a pile of trophies at the highest level possible.
Whatever this Belichick-Patriots drama is, the Patriots look way cooler during all of this. Robert Kraft and the Pats org has moved on. They are saying they still want to build a Belichick statue. Meanwhile, Belichick seems filled with bitterness about his old team, and he’s carrying that poison into UNC’s locker room. What for?
Story continues below advertisement
Belichick is placing his own agenda above his players. College athletes deserve better than that. ‘Well, there aren’t many NFL prospects for the Patriots to scout at UNC, anyway,’ people will say.
Fair point. And that’ll likely remain the case while Belichick is there, unless he’s willing to snap out of this ugly mindset.
