Andrew Jones at UNC's 247 site (Tarheel 247) is doing some great work. The writing is on the wall: Belichick will either be bought out or he will be fired for negligence, probably getting less buyout money in the process.

I'm of the opinion this situation will have other ramifications as well. There's probably a good chance that we see changes made on UNC's BOT and that the NCBOG involves themselves more with athletics. Lee Roberts, UNC's Chancellor, may be forced out as well being that he signed off on this.

Here's my question: how does this affect any potential moves by UNC in the future? Does new governance mean that they stay in the ACC and what effects would that have on the membership of the conference going forward?

I think Belichick has not done a good job, but I think it's mostly in player acquisition and team spirit (team lack fight). Much as I criticize him, I think this is too early. We all know he knows football better than 99% of the college coaches out there. But what we don't know yet, is he flexible enough to change what he is doing to become more effective.

The point at which you fire him early is if the recruiting, both freshmen and transfer portal, starts to look bleak as the season goes on. That means word is getting out that he is not good to play for from a player POV. I'd watch closely that before I would pull the trigger.

At this point as the AD, I'd be interviewing players and his staff this week, to know what is going on from their perspective (a lot of "tell me about ... questions; atmosphere is what I am most curious about from both). Then next week, especially if the result is poor again, I'd have a hard one on one with Belichick himself to get his perspective of what is and isn't working and how he plans to fix it in season to make the team competitive at an A4 level (which so far it is not close) and how to improve team morale, and to instill urgency.

Would I be looking for a replacement? Yeah, but more in a feeler sense than hard search. I'd want to know what is out there and plan a direction if it becomes clear that has to happen.

First year firings, even in this era, are very hard to justify. If you do that, especially to a big name, you scare off most of the quality coaches you might otherwise be able to bring in. I see more downside in a fast move than in attempting to get the ship at least half right first.

They hired Bill to be a football coach and instead they got a bunch of drama. They definitely have him and everything he is doing under a microscope to build a file to show negligence.

I imagine the buyout would be immense.

And anyway, BB hasn't really had a chance to bring in his players, so to speak. He was hired late in the recruiting and portal cycle.

So if he isn't the coach next season, I would guess it would be because he chose not to come back, rather than being fired.

(10-08-2025 12:53 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  I imagine the buyout would be immense.

And anyway, BB hasn't really had a chance to bring in his players, so to speak. He was hired late in the recruiting and portal cycle.

So if he isn't the coach next season, I would guess it would be because he chose not to come back, rather than being fired.

That's why you terminate him for negligence. They don't have to pay the full buyout.

(10-08-2025 12:56 PM)UConnFB Wrote:  

(10-08-2025 12:53 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  I imagine the buyout would be immense.

And anyway, BB hasn't really had a chance to bring in his players, so to speak. He was hired late in the recruiting and portal cycle.

So if he isn't the coach next season, I would guess it would be because he chose not to come back, rather than being fired.

That's why you terminate him for negligence. They don't have to pay the full buyout.

But of course you have to prove negligence, and if anyone has evidence for that it hasn't been made known to us. I don't know of any reason to say he's been negligent.

How is he negligent? If he is at every practice and coaches’ meeting and calling recruits, he is doing his job.

(10-08-2025 01:01 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  How is he negligent? If he is at every practice and coaches’ meeting and calling recruits, he is doing his job.

Carting his rented distraction around everywhere seems negligent and unprofessional.

(10-08-2025 12:59 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(10-08-2025 12:56 PM)UConnFB Wrote:  

(10-08-2025 12:53 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  I imagine the buyout would be immense.

And anyway, BB hasn't really had a chance to bring in his players, so to speak. He was hired late in the recruiting and portal cycle.

So if he isn't the coach next season, I would guess it would be because he chose not to come back, rather than being fired.

That's why you terminate him for negligence. They don't have to pay the full buyout.

But of course you have to prove negligence, and if anyone has evidence for that it hasn't been made known to us. I don't know of any reason to say he's been negligent.

That can be risky, see Kevin Ollie. Just because the coach was negligent doesn't mean you can prove it.

But like someone on Sirius just said, in this day if a buyout is keeping you from firing a coach then you aren't serious about college football. That sounds ridiculous but it's probably true. This is obviously a terrible fit.

If money is no object then go ahead and do it. Bill is not a long term hire anyway.

This is a lot of wild-eyed speculation without citing credible sources. And some dude at a 247 site doesn't cut to the chase on credible. No doubt Belichick or Beli's chick has created tremendous stir. Some would say that there is no such thing as bad publicity because all of it gets you noticed. I'd say getting noticed for football at UNC is not necessarily a bad thing even though they are woeful. There is however a backdrop which is serious. There has been struggle among factions who want to chart UNC's future. Belichick has become, unwittingly, a political "football" that is being kicked around for political positioning. There will be a lot of drama and pooh flinging before this one is over.

This is a classic example of "It's not about what it is about."

(10-08-2025 01:02 PM)msu35 Wrote:  

(10-08-2025 01:01 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  How is he negligent? If he is at every practice and coaches’ meeting and calling recruits, he is doing his job.

Carting his rented distraction around everywhere seems negligent and unprofessional.

Negligence is a high legal bar ("failure to behave with the level of care") and not merely incompetence. That's a tough case in a lawsuit.

(10-08-2025 01:22 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(10-08-2025 01:02 PM)msu35 Wrote:  

(10-08-2025 01:01 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  How is he negligent? If he is at every practice and coaches’ meeting and calling recruits, he is doing his job.

Carting his rented distraction around everywhere seems negligent and unprofessional.

Negligence is a high legal bar ("failure to behave with the level of care") and not merely incompetence. That's a tough case in a lawsuit.

My commentary isn't meant to be a formal legal argument.

(10-08-2025 01:11 PM)JRsec Wrote:  This is a lot of wild-eyed speculation without citing credible sources. And some dude at a 247 site doesn't cut to the chase on credible. No doubt Belichick or Beli's chick has created tremendous stir. Some would say that there is no such thing as bad publicity because all of it gets you noticed. I'd say getting noticed for football at UNC is not necessarily a bad thing even though they are woeful. There is however a backdrop which is serious. There has been struggle among factions who want to chart UNC's future. Belichick has become, unwittingly, a political "football" that is being kicked around for political positioning. There will be a lot of drama and pooh flinging before this one is over.

This is a classic example of "It's not about what it is about."

I don't think that this is wild-eyed speculation. I can't speak for Andrew Jones but can say with 100% certainty that Stephen Igoe at ECU's 247 site (Hoist The Colours) is reputable and if he reports something you can guarantee that it's accurate.

I've met former football staffers (admins) in the past year who are still working at the university. They were disgusted before the summer (the women in particular hated Jordan of course) and they are undoubtedly more disgusted now.

Again I ask: could the ramifications effect any potential UNC moves in the future?

(10-08-2025 01:34 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  Again I ask: could the ramifications effect any potential UNC moves in the future?

The elephant in the room is that if Belichick is allowed to run two or three more years and UNC sinks like a rock, it could become an issue with the B10 or SEC considering schools.

Interesting quote from the thread...

The "for cause" firing is a pipe dream. As you stated it has to be tied directly to BB. & even if he is fired for cause, then all you have done is buy yourself a lawsuit for the next 3-4 yrs. It opens UNC up to discovery, emails, texts, depositions. Not going to happen.

Only recourse is apply pressure points and get out with some settlement that you can afford and stomach. who knows if this will be possible. I see BB as a stubborn, vindictive personality that will say pay my full contract or get out of my face.

We went all in with our chips .... and got a bad beat on the flop. we didn't even get to the turn or the river.

(10-08-2025 01:11 PM)JRsec Wrote:  This is a lot of wild-eyed speculation without citing credible sources. And some dude at a 247 site doesn't cut to the chase on credible. No doubt Belichick or Beli's chick has created tremendous stir. Some would say that there is no such thing as bad publicity because all of it gets you noticed. I'd say getting noticed for football at UNC is not necessarily a bad thing even though they are woeful. There is however a backdrop which is serious. There has been struggle among factions who want to chart UNC's future. Belichick has become, unwittingly, a political "football" that is being kicked around for political positioning. There will be a lot of drama and pooh flinging before this one is over.

This is a classic example of "It's not about what it is about."

This is a good post. I get hostilely called out and my fandom questioned because I think the guy should get a couple years, just like any coach. There are tabloid level hit pieces all over the place, because he has a young girlfriend and that bothers people.

Apparently, expectations have skyrocketed, and that's great—although kind of funny considering nobody cared at all under a national championship winning coach. I can't say I EVER remember this much stink about a 2-3 start in a coach's first season.

Regardless, the chancellor has already come out and stated he has his back for what appears to be at least two seasons.

"It's not the kind of thing that we judge after four games or even after one season,” Roberts said. "These things take time. We last won the conference championship in 1980, and so we have significant work to do, significant investment to make to get the program where we want it to be."

I really doubt it. First year coach doesn't make a bowl? Tale as old as time, and I say that as someone who said that they would live to regret the day they fired the last guy.

(10-08-2025 01:34 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  Again I ask: could the ramifications effect any potential UNC moves in the future?

I am sure that there are those who would like to believe that it could impact a potential future move, but I have my doubts. A rogue trustee can be replaced but the trustees in general signed off on the hiring of Belichick. Then there are the issues within the administration which are where the factions are. Belichick is an easy target, but the portal alone does not a team make and to expect anyone to turn around the UNC football mess in one year without much of a headstart is unreasonable. Belichick is high profile so making a political football out of him is just an easy excuse for raising controversy. Remember any old coot seemingly being escorted by a lovely young ingenue gets to experience having his competency questioned and if it's working for him his ethics.