Bill Belichick’s first season with UNC hit a speed bump in Week 12. Wake Forest knocked off UNC, 28-12, leaving them at 4-6 with just two games left. With that loss, their bowl hopes have faded. Critics are calling him a loser, and rumors of termination are rising. To make matters worse, an alarming trend has emerged among UNC players – reckless driving.

On Monday, a joint investigation by WRAL Investigates and WRAL Sports uncovered that startling trend. Nearly 20% of UNC’s 101-player roster have faced speeding charges since last October, as per court records. Numerous players are associated with Bill Belichick’s coaching tenure. Breaking it down, while the total stands at 31 speeding citations, WRAL Sports reporter Pat Welter provides an update on the reckless driving from the Belichick era.

“Court records show 7 players with reckless charges, most notably Khmori House, who has 5 speeding and 4 reckless driving charges since February,” wrote Welter. The recent transfer from Washington has quickly become a red flag off the field, as officers noted that his Dodge Charger “must be too much car for him,” given his risky driving pattern. While that could have enormous consequences, two other players from the Belichick era are following a similar, albeit more dangerous, path.

Yes, Thaddeus Dixon, a Washington transfer, has four speeding tickets and a reckless driving citation, including one for 93 mph in a 50 mph zone. To cap it off, he was recently cited for speeding with a revoked license. Then there’s Gavin Gibson, with the same number of charges, including one in a school zone and another for 90 in a 70 zone. Now, while dangerous driving is becoming a serious problem among UNC’s roster, it points to a stark ultimatum that existed before the hiring of Belichick.

Tragedy struck UNC in January 2024 when student Molly Rotunda died in a single-car crash. While she was a passenger in a car traveling 124 mph, the driver, Flemeeja Brewer, later pleaded guilty to felony death by vehicle and speeding. In fact, at a high rate of speed, former OL Zach Rice was tailing the car, as per court records. He also pleaded guilty to driving after drinking and underage alcohol possession.

But the stakes here are too high to ignore. In 2023, a Georgia player and staffer died in a high-speed crash involving teammates, and the program cracked down hard on dangerous driving. Now, any athlete who breaks the rules behind the wheel risks losing their NIL compensation. Schools these days have children earning millions of dollars in the NIL era. At times, one wonders whether an intervention could help curb reckless driving and similar issues.

Moreover, UNC should take a decisive step to end this growing and dangerous driving behavior. It’s urgent not just for UNC players but for the entire community. Otherwise, this alarming trend could fuel criticism of the Belichick era. Regardless, the HC’s future with the Tar Heels already seems uncertain, given the various discipline issues that have arisen.

Bill Belichick’s job status reaches crisis mode

Bill Belichick’s shaky situation with the Tar Heels caught the attention of Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy. He didn’t hold back, calling for Belichick to retire and questioning his CFB chops. “Belichick needs to retire. This is disgusting. I’m not even sure he knows the score or where he is,” wrote Portnoy. While his words echoed the frustration of UNC fans, his criticism isn’t new.

Last month on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, he called Belichick his idol for his success in the Super Bowl, but admitted that college football is a different beast. “I think this experiment will be done. I want Belichick out of college football. He’s not a college guy,” stated Portnoy. That comes after several issues; just look at their struggle in the game against Wake Forest.

While Wake Forest dominated, scoring a TD in every quarter, UNC’s only points came from kicker Rece Verhoff, who drilled four field goals. But UNC’s struggles weren’t limited to their own mistakes. Wake Forest’s Carlos Hernandez turned a teammate’s fumble into a 50-yard TD and later hauled in a 70-yard scoring catch, leaving UNC reeling. Now, the defeat put UNC’s bowl eligibility on thin ice for the first time since 2019.

Still, by winning the remaining two games, Belichick has a chance to salvage the season.