Amid multiple media reports on Wednesday that he was negotiating an “exit strategy” to prematurely end his debut season as a college football coach, six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick waited just hours to issue a statement on the reports.
Reports by NFL journalist Ollie Connelly and 24/7 Sports writer Andrew Jones both stated that after a disastrous 2-3 start to the season, Belichick and officials at North Carolina â where he is in his first season as head football coach â were in discussions over a “potential exit strategy” for the 73-year-old, who coached 24 years for the New England Patriots.
Perhaps more important than his team’s often embarrassing performance on the field, media stories alleging rules violations by players and coaches amid an overall “toxic environment” created under Belichick emerged this week, putting additional pressure on the program and the coach to address the burgeoning crisis.
Belichick Issues Very Brief Response
Early Wednesday evening, both Belichick and UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham issued terse statements responding to the reports, posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
“I’m fully committed to UNC football and the program we’re building here,” Belichick said in his statement.
“Coach Belichick has the full support of the Department of Athletics and the University,” Cunningham’s statement read.
Notably, neither statement contained a denial that “exit strategy” talks had taken place. Nor did Belichick or Cunningham mention, even obliquely, the numerous allegations of dysfunction within the UNC football program since Belichick took over and brought in 70 new players through the transfer portal and new high school recruiting.
Perhaps it was not surprising that neither Belichick nor Cunningham addressed the issue of Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend, former cheerleader Jordon Hudson, who is frequently seen on the sidelines at Tar Heels games and is believed by some to exercise an undue influence over Belichick.
‘Toxic’ Environment at UNC
According to an investigation by North Carolina TV station WRAL, some of the problems uncovered in the program include that “in a meeting on Tuesday, UNC cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins would not be at practice due to ‘personal business.’ The Athletic‘s Bruce Feldman is reporting that Hawkins has been suspended for benefits allegations that came to light from a WRAL report.”
Additionally, according to WRAL, citing sources, “there was a fight Tuesday between two players in the locker room.”
And, “a UNC parent told WRAL their son doesn’t want to go to the facility anymore because it is so toxic.”
Connelly, a reporter for the Guardian newspaper, wrote that he had spoken to coaches within the UNC program, who said that the turmoil created under Belichick was directly affecting the players.
“What we’ve done to these kids is f****d up,” said one, quoted by Connelly.
Another, according to Connelly, revealed that “members of Belichickâs coaching staff have already spoken to other schools that are expected to be in CFB Playoff about taking on roles during the postseason. From one coach: ‘the rats are leaving the ship.’”
In their most recent game last weekend, the Tar Heels took a 38-10 beating from the Clemson Tigers. That one-sided loss followed a 34-9 defeat to University of Central Florida, and a season-opening 48-14 domination at the hands of the TCU Horned Frogs.
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