Former UNC wide receiver praises Bill Belichick for his coaching style
This former UNC football player had some nice things to say about Chapel Bill.
2024 was another lost football season for the North Carolina Tar Heels, whom – despite clinching their sixth-consecutive trip to a bowl game – finished with their second losing record in four seasons.
If you thought last year was bad for UNC, take a look at Florida State. The Seminoles started 2024 ranked, as they typically are, then proceeded to win just two games.
North Carolina reloaded its roster this offseason under new head coach Bill Belichick, who brings eight Super Bowls and countless experience to Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels' greatest replacements come on defense, though, replacing their entire starting defensive line with the likes of Pryce Yates and Vilbert Smith.
Gavin Blackwell, who played his first four collegiate seasons at UNC, had an opportunity to learn from Belichick for a few months. Now on FSU, Blackwell praised his former head coach, despite never suiting up for him.
"He was great," Blackwell said. "Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about Coach (Bill) Belichick. He loves football. Everything you see online and stuff like that, I would kind of say the media portrays it a little bit differently than what it is inside the building. He loves his players, he loves his coaches and he's all about ball. He kind of brought more of an NFL aspect to college and that's kind of what they're running there. But himself, he's down-to-earth dude, not a big-headed guy. You can go up to him, have a conversation, talk ball with him. He loves that type of stuff and when you show that you're interested, he's gonna make sure he gives you that same respect and try to help you as much as he can. He's got eight Super Bowls. Great dude, wish them the best."
Blackwell redshirted his first collegiate season in 2021, appearing in just one game, but emerged the following year with 239 receiving yards and his lone touchdown. Now on a Mike Norvell-led roster desperately searching for productive talent, Blackwell has a real chance to put up WR1 numbers.
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