It seems Bill Belichick tuned into “College Gameday” this past Saturday morning.
The head coach of North Carolina reportedly reached out to Kirk Herbstreit while the show was discussing the ongoing issues with his football program, making for an unusual moment during a week that’s been quite eventful for Belichick.
“The most important thing,” Herbstreit noted while showing his phone to Nick Saban and Pat McAfee, “is that he has a full grasp of what’s happening with this team and the program. The whole idea of him possibly leaving…”
McAfee jumped in, urging Herbstreit to clarify, “Answer that.”
But Herbstreit replied, “I can’t answer that.”
McAfee wasn’t finished, though. He reiterated, “Come on, answer that. He’s supposed to be watching right now. It’s literally like Bill Belichick is calling you, Kirk. Maybe he has something to say.”
Herbstreit cautiously responded, “Yes, I think he probably is.”
This unexpected phone call comes amid a chaotic week for both Belichick and the Tar Heels.
Reports from 247Sports indicate that UNC leaders had discussions about potential strategies for Belichick’s exit as well as preliminary talks about possibly firing the well-known coach earlier in the week.
Amid this turmoil, Belichick was also said to have “discussed acquisition options with North Carolina executives,” highlighting the unrest within the program.
However, all this talk seems to have been overshadowed after Belichick and UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham issued a statement concerning the head coach’s future at the university.
“Coach Belichick has the full support of the athletics department and the university,” Cunningham affirmed.
Belichick himself stated, “I’m committed to UNC football and the program we’re building there.” According to a report by The Athletic’s Deanna Russini, both Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi emphasized they had “no plans to leave Chapel Hill,” insisting that Belichick enjoys coaching at the collegiate level and believes they are creating something significant at UNC.
As for the team’s record, North Carolina State currently sits at 2-3 and is set to face California next Friday.
