Bill Belichick is going to debut as a college football HC. The stakes are nowhere near the same when compared to the NFL. So, seeing Belichick doing what he does best in this new arena still looks like an oddball combo. That man has coached the best modern players of the NFL, hands down. In a way, the Tar Heels HC’s image surpasses that of college football as a whole. Fans are excited for this new era of UNC football. But broadcasters? They have dollar signs gleaming in their eyes and can’t wait to show the Tar Heels games.

When you add ‘Bill Belichick’ in any conversation about football, it automatically adds this weight. That man is such an elite personality in the sport and is almost untouchable. UNC pulled the most shocking hire in the offseason by landing the coach as its new HC. He comes to college football as a six-time Super Bowl-winning NFL head coach – the highest for anyone in the league. Before Belichick took to the stage to announce his new job, more than 200 people had gathered to witness that moment. That’s the power of the veteran coach, which broadcasters and the ACC are looking to capitalize.

Commissioner Jim Phillips told the media, “(ESPN) ran to us, before we could even run to them (about televising more UNC games). It’s a great thing for ACC, a great thing for North Carolina & we are all following the massive coverage that Coach Belichick draws.” An example of Belichick dominating viewership is the 2021 Patriots vs Buccaneers game, aka Tom Brady vs. Belichick. It stopped the continuous downfall of Sunday Night Football ratings, after tallying a colossal 28.5 million across multiple platforms. UNC is not only experiencing a new era of football; they’re witnessing a phenomenon.

Bill Belichick’s arrival is a saga for Hollywood to make films on. Former HC Mack Brown breathed some life back into the Tar Heels football in his first season, but the trend of losses following continued. He retired as the oldest FBS HC after 2024, which was an emotional decision, but he was ultimately fired when he was planning to return for one more year. Belichick, on the other hand, was stuck at a crossroads after stepping away from the Patriots. With no job in hand, he reached out to his friend in the government. It would make sense if the said friend was a representative or a senator. Instead, it’s Marco Rubio, the country’s Secretary of State. And then, the cards started falling into place. That’s the reach of the veteran coach, which tells how towering his impact is in football.

Belichick came to Chapel Hill with a slew of cameras, spotlights, and heaps of money. He is breathing back life into an NIL program that was poorly funded under Brown. Yet. The school’s reputation is poised to take a hit, as Belichick’s personal life threatens to overshadow the impact of his career.

Bubba Cunningham tries hard to avoid media glare at Bill Belichick’s life

Jordon Hudson’s controversy with CBS Sports seemed to add more fuel to the fire surrounding Bill Belichick’s debut in college football. ESPN reported that Belichick may miss Week 1 of the season due to personal issues that have begun to overshadow UNC football. The backlash against Hudson has continued to linger, despite the team’s efforts to move on. Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham has done his best to steer the conversation back to football, avoiding further distractions and trying to keep the focus on the Tar Heels’ new era under Belichick’s leadership.

He refused to highlight Hudson in a recent ESPN interview. Cunningham claimed that Hudson was not banned from UNC athletics. Instead, he launched into high praise for Belichick. “Bill’s been great to work with,” the AD said. “He talked about practicing like a pro and he runs a professional organization that is teaching students how to be professional in all aspects of their life. He is a very determined, professional individual, and that’s the way he carries himself and the way he conducts the program.”

This comes days after Belichick stood by his girlfriend amid the CBS drama. Fans attacked her and accused her of controlling the coach’s life. Hudson used to be involved in UNC operations without her role being disclosed to the public. But Belichick dismissed those comments as well. “She doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football,” Belichick said at a SportsCenter appearance.

While UNC football might have won big with Bill Belichick, they did not anticipate the media floodgates it’d open. It’s a bittersweet victory for Cunningham. On one hand, the program has networks rushing to broadcast its games. On the other hand, it is under the media’s constant glare, that too for an aspect absolutely related to its new era of football.