Latest news with #UNCFootball
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Belichick hype lifts UNC Football to sellout before week one
Bill Belichick hasn't coached a single game at North Carolina yet, but the Belichick effect is already making waves. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the Tar Heels have officially sold out every ticket for the entire 2025 season. Season tickets were gone in the spring despite a 25% price hike. Now, every individual game ticket has also been snatched up. That means Kenan Memorial Stadium will be packed for each home game before Belichick's debut season even kicks off. The former New England Patriots head coach shocked the football world earlier this year when, just months after his NFL retirement, he agreed to lead the UNC program. MORE: Paul Finebaum calls Lincoln Riley a fraud After more than 20 years and six Super Bowl rings in Foxborough, few expected his next move would be to the ACC. But here he is, wearing Carolina blue and generating a buzz that UNC football hasn't felt in decades. Historically, North Carolina has been a basketball-first school. Even during Mack Brown's better years, sellouts were rare and football often played second fiddle to hoops. That's changed overnight. Belichick, already destined for the Hall of Fame and tied to legends like Tom Brady, Bill Parcells, and Nick Saban, has put UNC football squarely on the national radar. Recruiting has already seen a noticeable uptick. North Carolina's class ranked 29th for 2025, then improved to 19th for 2026. National TV slots are filling up with UNC matchups. Now, the ticket office has nothing left to offer. Whether Belichick's defensive brilliance translates to the college game remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Tar Heels are no longer flying under the radar. This is no longer just a basketball school. More College Football News: Jeremiah Smith picks Cris Carter as Ohio State's top all-time receiver Paul Finebaum calls Lincoln Riley a fraud Dave Portnoy defends Curt Cignetti after SEC scheduling jab
New York Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bill Belichick's hand-picked QB recruit has the background to thrive under legendary coach
Playing for Bill Belichick might seem like a daunting proposition for a kid still in high school. On one hand, Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history, having won an unprecedented six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. On the other hand, the 73-year-old Belichick's gruff persona, with his monosyllabic utterances at news conferences, has become the stuff of legend. Advertisement Travis Burgess, the 17-year-old son of a retired U.S. Army captain, though, is not your typical high school recruit. 'I know a lot of guys have mixed emotions about Bill Belichick just because they see some of his interviews on the internet, but actually meeting him in person, I got a relationship with him,' said Burgess, a Class of 2026 prospect who committed to North Carolina in May. 'Being able to talk with him and understand him, he is very relatable.' The quarterback from Georgia said it was Belichick who sold him on the Tar Heels and convinced him North Carolina was the program that could best develop his skills. When Coach Belichick calls you answer!OV this weekend see yall at Chapel Hill🐏🐏 #TarHeelNation #GoHeels @UNCFootball @grayson_fb #4theG — Travis Burgess (@TravisBurgess_) May 29, 2025 Burgess and his parents visited Chapel Hill in May and were blown away by Belichick and his staff. Belichick said to Burgess, 'I'm gonna show you why I wanted to recruit you,' and then proceeded to pull up his game film from the 2024 season, when the quarterback led Grayson High School in Loganville to a 7A state title. For an hour, Belichick went through Burgess' plays, asking him why he made this read and why he made that read, but also talked about his progress throughout the 2024 season, his first year as the starting quarterback. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Burgess threw 24 touchdown passes with just four interceptions and also ran for four more TDs and almost 600 yards. When he committed to UNC in late May — picking the Tar Heels over Auburn, NC State and others — he was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 30 quarterback in the country by 247Sports. Now, after an impressive week at the Elite 11 Finals in June, he is a four-star and ranked No. 16 among QBs. Advertisement 'He really stood out,' said Elite 11 coach Justin Hoover, who has trained several NFL quarterbacks. 'He was a big riser for me.' The recruiting process, especially the part connected to the online rankings, can be frustrating for many high school prospects. With quarterbacks, it can be even more soul-crushing since there's a domino effect in play, with most colleges only looking to take one QB per class. Being patient can be difficult for many prospects. 'Honestly, for me, it wasn't because I knew that my time was coming,' he said. 'And just like with me not starting till my junior season, once I got the opportunity you could see, I won a state championship. The rankings never really affected me because I knew my time was coming, whether I was a three- or a four-star. And once you get to college, that stuff doesn't matter. It might help as far as popularity or maybe NIL.' He actually received his first offer late in his sophomore year from Arizona State. 'They were able to see a little bit of JV film, but they took a chance on me,' he said. In addition to leading Grayson to a state championship in football, Burgess also helped the Rams win their first title in basketball. His mom, Jennifer, played basketball at Brewton-Parker University, an NAIA school in Mount Vernon, Ga. 'He gets all his athleticism from his mom,' said Burgess' dad, Harold. Harold, who retired after serving 24 years in the Army, sees Belichick and North Carolina as an ideal fit for his son. 'He's very disciplined,' Harold said. 'He sticks to his routine. Every morning, he does the same routine over and over. Friday nights and Saturday nights, when a lot of his friends are having fun, we're at the house watching film. The next morning, we're getting up, working out. And he's waiting on me in the morning, like, 'Hey dad, let's go!' I think the discipline that he's been around for his entire upbringing will definitely benefit him.' Advertisement The elder Burgess said Travis picked up good habits from being around the military while growing up. But he also credited the culture at Grayson, where he learned the attention to detail required to play the position from JD Davis, the Rams' previous starting quarterback, who recently transferred to Alabama A&M after one season at Western Michigan. As part of his daily routine, Travis will put his phone away for three hours every night to read a book, do homework or watch film, his dad says. 'He sets a goal and he doesn't get distracted,' Harold said. 'Him being around a lot of military people, he's seen how once they have an objective, they try to conquer it. The distractions are minimalized. His ultimate goal is to be in the NFL one day and he knows the little things matter. He's realized that at an early age, it's how you do anything is how you do everything.' The Burgesses have raised their three children (Travis is the oldest) in a very competitive environment. After each of the kids has a sporting event — whether it's a flag football game for Trinity, an eighth grader and the youngest child, or one of Travis' varsity football games — the family will convene in Harold's Dodge Ram 1500 truck and each rate the performance on a scale of 1-10. It's a tradition Travis' mom implemented. 'In the truck, we keep it real,' Harold said, adding that they've given out some 1s in there. The Burgesses grew up as Falcons fans, which meant Belichick spoiled what would've been the greatest day in their team's history when his Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit to beat Atlanta in Super Bowl LI in February 2017. The family sees Belichick much differently now that he wears Carolina blue. Travis describes being recruited by Belichick as 'awesome.' Even though Belichick is best known for his defensive acumen — he also won two Super Bowls as the Giants defensive coordinator — his grasp on all aspects of the game will prove to be a great resource for Burgess. After all, Belichick drafted and helped develop Tom Brady from a sixth-rounder into the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Burgess said he's already reaping the benefits of being part of Belichick's program, meeting often with the coach and the rest of the quarterbacks either by Zoom or in person when he visits the campus. Advertisement 'The quarterbacks meet every Wednesday and talk about the game of football,' Burgess said, 'and then they talk about the life of football because there is the physical and the mental, so just being able to sit in there in those meetings with Bill Belichick and the other quarterbacks has been awesome. He could coach any position.' (Photo courtesy of the Burgess family)
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bill Belichick addresses Jordon Hudson relationship backlash
The post Bill Belichick addresses Jordon Hudson relationship backlash appeared first on ClutchPoints. Bill Belichick's return to the college sidelines was already headline-worthy, but his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson has taken the spotlight in ways no playbook could have predicted. Now the 73-year-old UNC head coach is speaking out, brushing aside the noise and making it clear that his priority lies between the hash marks, per TheSpun. Advertisement When asked about the recent swirl of controversies during a Tuesday press conference, Belichick kept it short: 'It is what it is.' That phrase alone captured his no-nonsense approach to the growing scrutiny surrounding his personal life. The drama hasn't exactly been subtle. From reports about Hudson demanding editorial control over a now-canceled Hard Knocks season, to her cutting into a CBS News interview, the off-field distractions have been persistent. Some even claimed Hudson was banned from UNC's football facilities, though that rumor has been refuted. Add in the couple's reported engagement and Pablo Torre's probing coverage of the situation, and you've got a media firestorm building in Chapel Hill. Still, Belichick isn't budging. 'I'm really focused on doing my job here at North Carolina… that's my big focus,' he told reporters, emphasizing the need to build a strong team and develop players' careers rather than engage with gossip. Advertisement No Sideline Access for Hudson As the questions kept coming, Belichick kept his cool. When asked whether Hudson would join him on the sidelines during games, he cracked a rare smile. 'No, she doesn't have any role in the UNC football program,' he said, dismissing that speculation before returning to his trademark mantra: 'There's been noise out there about a lot of different things. Our focus is day to day. Getting better. Stacking good days.' He also touched briefly on his book, The Art of Winning, saying it was a personal endeavor during his year off from coaching. Nothing more. Bill Belichick's responses may not satisfy every headline chaser, but they signal one thing loud and clear—he's not letting the off-field chatter interfere with what he's building at UNC. Whether the noise fades or grows louder, the Tar Heels kick off their season against TCU on September 1. Related: Reggie Miller flamed for unruly Game 3 Pacers outfit Related: Nikki Bella's sister eyes bombshell WWE reunion after 3 years
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UNC Football Reacts to Major Bill Belichick Announcement on Friday
UNC Football Reacts to Major Bill Belichick Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Bill Belichick is heading into his first season as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels football program. Advertisement While Belichick is making a late-career move into the college football game, he'll always be remembered for his incredible decades-long career in the NFL. Belichick spent 29 seasons as a head coach in the NFL, winning six Super Bowl rings during his dynastic run with the New England Patriots. With his unprecedented championship success, he's widely regarded as the greatest NFL coach of all time. With that in mind, it's no surprise that Belichick was selected as the head coach of ESPN's NFL All Quarter Century Team. Six of his New England players — Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Rob Gronkowski, Vince Wilfork, Darrelle Revis and Matthew Slater — were also named to the team. "We wrestled back and forth here, considering both Belichick and Andy Reid," ESPN's Aaron Schatz wrote." Reid has the advantage of sustained success with multiple quarterbacks and multiple franchises, but we went with Belichick because of his superior success in the postseason: nine Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl championships." "Belichick also won in different ways. His early Patriots teams were more about the defense, highlighted by a game plan that slowed down the 2001 Rams' dynamic offense. The midcareer Patriots were offensive juggernauts. At the end of his New England tenure, the team went back to being defense-first, highlighted by a 13-3 victory in its final Super Bowl." Kyle Shanahan was recognized as offensive coordinator, and Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator behind Belichick. Advertisement UNC football took to social media to react to this announcement on Friday. "Congratulations to @Belichick_B on being selected as Head Coach of the @espn NFL All Quarter Century Team!" the team wrote on X. North Carolina Tar Heels football coach Bill Donnan-Imagn Images Belichick's college football coaching career will begin when North Carolina kicks off its regular-season schedule with a matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs on Sep. 1. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
North Carolina GM says 'noise' surrounding Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson has 'no relevancy'
Print Close By Ryan Canfield Published June 14, 2025 University of North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi is adamant about making sure reports about Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson's relationship don't become a distraction. Hudson shut down a question about how the couple met from Tony Dokoupil during Belichick's interview with "CBS News Sunday Morning" in April, and the interview generated widespread criticism. "I mean, a lot of it is just noise," Lombardi said during an appearance on ESPN Radio's "Marty & McGee." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON "And for us to be distracted by something that has no bearing, that has no relevance whatsoever, that is a complete falsehood, in terms of what people are saying or what they're writing. It's comical. And, for me, to really even attack anybody who's saying it, gives them credibility. Which I don't, because it's a completely false narrative." Lombardi pointed to the success the program has had this offseason avoiding the "noise." "And the noise out there comes from a direction of people trying to be disruptive within our program. We're not going to allow it. We're not going to acknowledge it. We're gonna move on," Lombardi said. BILL BELICHICK INSISTS GIRLFRIEND HAS NO UNC FOOTBALL ROLE, WON'T BE ON SIDELINES "And, look, let's face it, the proof's in the pudding. We're having a tremendous recruiting class. We had a tremendous portal, and we're going to continue to get better every day." Lombardi said when the interview first aired, there was no reason for concern. He said his concern stems from North Carolina's football schedule, not the Belichick-Hudson drama. "Everybody looked at each other and was like in complete amazement. I mean, so, we didn't have any reason to circle the wagons. The reason we had was to focus on what we're going to do, as Bill said in a lot of the interviews — and I don't want to speak for Coach Belichick — but he said, 'Look, Jordon does stuff in his business outside of North Carolina football, not here.' I mean, it's just completely a story that was generated from — basically, made up," Lombardi said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "I mean, it's a tremendous, you know, you could be a great novelist, some of the people that report this stuff. So, we had no, there's no reason to circle any wagons. Look, when we play Clemson, we're gonna have to circle the wagons. But we play TCU on the opening game, we're going to have to circle the wagons. Those are competition. This is just noise." Belichick's coaching debut with North Carolina will come against TCU Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. ET. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Print Close URL
