TCU pummels UNC 48-14 in Bill Belichick’s college debut: Key takeaways

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — After nine months of anticipation, Bill Belichick’s college debut started with pregame hype and hope and a pristine opening drive.

It ended with North Carolina fans heading for the exits in the third quarter Monday night and questions about whether the legendary NFL coach can avoid an ugly first season.

TCU pummeled the Tar Heels 48-14, spoiling Belichick’s introduction in front of what began as a raucous, star-studded crowd at Kenan Stadium. After UNC jumped to an early 7-0 lead, TCU scored the game’s next 41 points, holding the Tar Heels without a pass completion for more than two hours and scoring three touchdowns in less than nine minutes to begin the second half. Belichick’s expression rarely changed as he looked on in his UNC hoodie.

“They just outplayed us, they outcoached us, they were just better than we were tonight,” Belichick said.

Leading 20-7 at halftime, the Horned Frogs scored a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of the third quarter, returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns and outgained the Tar Heels 542-222.

North Carolina, hosting a standalone game on ESPN as the final game of college football’s Week 1, looked more like the late-era New England Patriots teams that precipitated Belichick’s departure from the NFL than the early teams that built one of the league’s proudest dynasties. The 48 points were the most a Belichick-coached team has ever allowed.

The Tar Heels must regroup for a trip to Charlotte on a short week, while TCU established itself as an early Big 12 contender.

A good start quickly proves fleeting

A hyped crowd in pregame — one that included UNC sporting legends like Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm and Lawrence Taylor — grew only more frenzied after transfer quarterback Gio Lopez and a power-running game featuring a sixth offensive lineman ripped through TCU’s defense, marching 83 yards in seven plays to take a 7-0 lead.

But TCU’s defense under coordinator Andy Avalos adjusted. Lopez didn’t complete a pass the rest of the half, and the Tar Heels were held without a first down on their next four drives. TCU’s Bud Clark returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown to give the Horned Frogs a 17-7 lead.

Lopez and UNC went more than two hours of real time without a completion, from 8:12 p.m. ET to 10:20 p.m. ET, the opening drive of the game to midway through the third quarter. Lopez, South Alabama’s starter a year ago, later suffered an injury on a sack and fumble the Horned Frogs returned for a touchdown. He finished 4-of-10 for 69 yards and the two turnovers. Lopez threw for 18 touchdowns and ran for seven at South Alabama, but Belichick and offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens were hesitant to use Lopez as a runner. They used his legs sparsely, and in the first half, he had just one run for positive yardage.

The early start made it easy to dream for the Tar Heels, but TCU quickly morphed it into a nightmare.

Max Johnson finished the game for UNC, completing 9 of 11 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. A sixth-year senior who previously played for LSU and Texas A&M, Johnson was making his return from a broken leg suffered in last year’s season opener. Who starts for UNC next week is an open question, depending on Lopez’s status.

UNC’s roster — a great mystery — looks lackluster

North Carolina declined to make a depth chart available before the game, leading TCU and coach Sonny Dykes to make the same decision.

The Tar Heels’ scheme and personnel — UNC added around 70 new players from a season ago — were a mystery. But all the secrecy is gone when America watches you on national television.

The Tar Heels didn’t add many major transfers aside from Lopez, but lost major contributors from a season ago when edge rusher Beau Atkinson left for Ohio State, offensive lineman Howard Sampson went to Texas Tech and linebacker Amare Campbell left for Penn State — all teams hoping to contend for the College Football Playoff.

The Tar Heels looked like a team feeling the impact of the talent exodus after Mack Brown was fired.

“We’re better than what we were tonight, but we have to go out there and prove it,” Belichick said.

Schematically, Belichick’s team played the greatest hits of his time with the Patriots. On the red-hot opening drive, UNC showcased one formation with two tight ends. Another had six offensive linemen looking to create holes for the running game, which had runs of 9, 8 and 8 yards on the opening drive. But the offense also spent time with five receivers and no one in the backfield, a frequent feature of the Patriots’ offense.

Caleb Hood was the Tar Heels’ featured back and Jordan Shipp was the team’s leading receiver. Both were on the team last season.

Stars come out for UNC

UNC clearly put a lot into the opener after making a $10 million a year investment to hire Belichick and more to support his efforts. Between UNC royalty and Belichick’s personal friends, there was plenty of star power in attendance.

Jordan made a rare appearance at Kenan Stadium, sharing a suite with Taylor, the former UNC star and former linebacker under Belichick. Former UNC basketball coach Roy Williams also appeared in the same suite.

Belichick’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, who made some of the biggest headlines of the offseason surrounding the program, was on the sidelines in pregame before watching the game from another newly constructed suite on the west side of the stadium, sitting next to Randy Moss, who starred for Belichick with the Patriots from 2007 to 2010.

Other UNC icons, including Hamm, Julius Peppers and Chase Rice, were in attendance. Petey Pablo, whose song “Raise Up” became an anthem for North Carolina pride, was recognized before the game, with his song playing over the public address system.

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)




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