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New North Carolina coach Bill Belichick got a good look at what he’s set to inherit in Chapel Hill on Saturday. UNC entered its Fenway Bowl matchup against UConn as a 2.5-point favorite under interim head coach Freddie Kitchens but fell into a 20-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and suffered its fifth straight bowl loss with a 27-14 defeat in Boston. Kitchens is the lone staff carryover from the Mack Brown era.
UNC was missing 11 starters and had to rotate backup running back Caleb Hood and true freshman Michael Merdinger at quarterback after starter Jacoby Criswell went down with an injury in the first quarter. Still, there’s no question that Belichick has his work cut out for him going into his first college football offseason. The UNC brass introduced the eight-time Super Bowl champ on Dec. 11, three days after the winter transfer portal window opened. He’s made just six hires of what’s expected to be a huge staff during his first three weeks at the helm. Despite a strong brand name North Carolina, just suffered its second losing season in the last four years and has one 10-win season to its credit over the last 27 years.
Belichick’s early transfer portal return strong on paper
Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi have worked tirelessly to play catchup in the transfer portal. The Tar Heels’ 10-man class is headlined by linebacker Khmori House, who played under new UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick at Washington last season. House is ranked as the No. 2 linebacker in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports. UNC’s 10…
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Author : Grant Hughes
Publish date : 2024-12-28 21:14:00
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