There is always too much news swirling around Chapel Hill, and not for the right reasons. Bill Belichick’s arrival promised NFL discipline. But instead brought dysfunction, with blowout losses to TCU (48-14) and Clemson (38-10), where fans fled Kenan Stadium by halftime. Off the field, things are worse. Belichick skipped team activities during a bye week for a Nantucket getaway, while internal reports reveal a “toxic” locker room and a fractured coaching staff. But let’s embrace the fact that UNC is not just Belichick’s college football program, as his confidante, GM Michael Lombardi, plays his own part in the antics.

Just two weeks before the season opener, Lombardi took a fundraising trip to Saudi Arabia. Now it’s an understandable move, looking at the team struggling to work efficiently with 2-3 and 0-1 in ACC play. But that move brought a whole new lot of backlash on Lombardi’s part. And can you blame them when you remember that both Lombardi and Belichick envisioned building the 33rd NFL team? But their contradictory results and off-field chaos ended up backfiring. It all started when a major donor reportedly threatened to pull all donations over Belichick’s controversial relationship with Jordon Hudson.

“What a total embarrassment to UNC. I am withdrawing all my donations and future donations,” the individual wrote. After this, most probably, Lombardi made that trip to Saudi Arabia. On a recent radio show, Lombardi painted a picture of dedication and progress behind the scenes, despite the public perception of dysfunction. “It’s been business as usual,” Lombardi said, reflecting on the bye week. “It has been wonderful, actually. Everybody who works in the building has been great. I mean, obviously there’s a lot of noise on the outside, but one of the things that we preach to our team… is mental toughness is blocking out distractions.”

Now the plethora of distractions started when Bill Belichick first walked into Chapel Hill with a massive $10M annual price. That whole investment was done in order to bring in NFL-level training into the Tar Heels’ facility. But what came was a 24-year-old girl always tagging along with a 73-year-old coach. Her frequent presence at practices, games, and team events fueled rumors about her influence in the program. All these reasons during the offseason were pretty much enough for the donors to rethink their donations, and Lombardi to fly off to Saudi Arabia. Sure, the revenue generated from vast oil reserves, economic dependence make them a perfect fit to be a contributor in American football.

But what Lombardi needs to understand is that the problem is at the house. But then, Lombardi capitalizes on investment in the freshman. In his communication, Lombardi outlined the plan to bring in upwards of 40 high school recruits. He is essentially planning on signing two classes at once to build a foundation for sustained success. Twenty years of sustained success in New England was due to investing in the long term, Lombardi said to the donors. “Establishing continuity within the program allowed growth and development of the players. This is the formula we intend to use by signing a large high school class.” It’s almost like both Lombardi and Belichick are having each other’s backs to avoid accountability.

That’s why even Belichick jumped at Lombardi’s defense when asked about the roster changes. “I think Michael and his staff did a great job of upgrading the roster, and then it was upgraded again in the spring after spring ball,” Belichick said. “I mean, our football team is a lot better than what it was at the end of spring ball, I can tell you that.”

Fans wouldn’t let go of Michael Lombardi’s trip to Saudi Arabia

Fans roasting UNC’s football circus have piled on Michael Lombardi’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia. “Raising money for the buyout?” A fan writes. Bill Belichick is walking all over Chapel Hill with a hefty $50M contract and no results. If UNC fires him before 2028, they owe him roughly $30 million. But if Belichick can leave voluntarily by paying UNC $1 million, it would be a rare escape hatch. With UNC struggling 2-3 this season and rumors swirling, it’s no wonder fans joke about fundraising to cover that potential six-figure buyout.

“The laughingstock of college football keeps getting funnier,” a fan chimed in. UNC is facing major turmoil with parents being frustrated over the leadership. And with all this happening, their HULU docuseries got cancelled. With all of this happening, Michael Lombardi is still trying to manipulate the donors and parents with a trip to the Middle East. “You guys literally have Michael Jordan. Why are you doing this?” A fan added.

Now this one’s spot on, considering how Michael Jordon is a prized glory of UNC since he entered in 1981. That iconic game-winning shot in 1982 put UNC on the map forever. Since then, MJ’s net worth soared to a staggering $3.5 billion, thanks to his historic career and killer deals like Air Jordans. So, when UNC has an asset like Jordan, why not ask for help from him?

“WOW, Imagine having the ‘sponsor money’ and still managing to lose games like this,” a fan added. “At least teams like Manchester City & Paris SG still win games with the bs cash.” Belichick had the most lucrative contract in the whole CFB fraternity, given his NFL pedigree. And that’s why UNC took a chance on him. But all of that produced no results but just controversies. On the other hand, top European soccer giants turn massive investment into trophies.