Chapel Hill fans will remember Bill Belichick’s first home win as UNC’s head coach for more than just the blowout score. From the opening whistle, the Tar Heels set the tone against Richmond. Freshman Demon June tore free for 148 yards and a score, while quarterback Gio Lopez found his new favorite target, Jordan Shipp, for two touchdowns. But the big moment arrived after the final whistle.

Mitch Mason, UNC’s beloved team chaplain since 2012, has been battling through serious health challenges. Back in 2020, Mason found out he had idiopathic small fiber neuropathy. It’s a rare, incurable nerve disorder that makes it tough for him to even get out of bed without help and has kept him in and out of UNC Hospital. And that was just the start. He’s already been fighting through a neurological disorder and an autonomic disorder. And now doctors think he may also have a rare mitochondrial disorder linked to a gene mutation.

He is in the middle of the diagnostic process right now, still pushing through it all. That’s what made Saturday so powerful for UNC. After the final whistle, instead of celebrating themselves, the entire locker room, along with Chancellor Lee Roberts, dedicated the win and the game ball to Mason. “He’s a real inspirational person for us,” Belichick said during his opening statement after UNC’s 41-6 win against Richmond. Instead of a typical postgame celebration, players huddled around an iPad to FaceTime Mason from his hospital bed, sharing both the victory and a surge of love and support. “He’s fighting and we’re praying for him,” Belichick said.

“Just all want to wish him well and let him know how much we’re behind him.” Belichick further said. It wasn’t just Coach Belichick or Chancellor Lee Roberts on that FaceTime call. Plenty of Tar Heel players crowded around the iPad. Standouts like wide receiver Chris Culliver, running back Kaleb Cost, and tight end Jake Johnson each took time to talk directly to Mason, offering thanks and encouragement for everything he’s given to the team. Belichick made a point to personally tell Mitch, “We want to present a game ball to you. Thanks for being with us. I hope you saw it today. These guys played great, and they played for you.”

The Chancellor echoed those feelings, calling Mason “an inspiration to everyone here.” In that moment, the locker room was less about Xs and Os and more about family. The culture Mitch Mason has cultivated over his 13 years as UNC’s team chaplain is clearly visible in the love he is getting. But what’s made Mason’s story especially gripping to this squad is his ability to fight through brutal adversity. And still, he never complains. He never hides. Legendary graduated tight end Kamari Morales put it simply: “If you ask me, he is the team. He is the glue of this team.” Former quarterback Drake Maye has pointed to Mason, along with teammates like Tylee Craft and Tez Walker, as foundational sources of inspiration.

Mitch Mason proves that even life’s toughest challenges can turn into strength for the whole program. And the Tar Heels managed a great victory in his memory.

“These guys played great, and they played for you”: All for you, Mitch Mason

Bill Belichick’s second win in Chapel Hill was as much about grit and togetherness as it was about the technicalities of the game. UNC started by putting immense pressure. They found the end zone on their first four drives and racked up 169 yards while holding Richmond to less than zero in the first quarter. Freshman running back Demon June seized his moment. Defensively, the Heels were relentless.

They locked in Belichick-style, holding Richmond to 199 yards and snagging three turnovers, one for a scoop-and-score. Highlights included a crucial forced fumble that led to a touchdown and Mikai Gbayor’s electrifying 62-yard scoop-and-score, a play that sent the Kenan crowd into a frenzy. The defensive front, led by Melkart Abou-Jaoude with two sacks, didn’t let Richmond find their rhythm all afternoon.

And this great playmaking was all for Chaplain Mitch Mason. He has been the backbone and spiritual heartbeat of the Tar Heels for more than a decade. This win wasn’t just about going 2-1 or stringing together dominant defensive stats. It was a reflection of a Tar Heel team deeply connected to its roots.