New North Carolina coach Bill Belichick has no shortage of doubters

Chapel Hill: So, Bill Belichick is now the head coach at North Carolina, and wow, people are really divided about it. I mean, this guy is a legend in the NFL, but college football? That’s a whole different ball game.

Even some of his former players, like Julian Edelman and Tom Brady, are scratching their heads. Edelman flat-out said he can’t picture Belichick recruiting 18-year-olds. And Brady joked about how Belichick would approach potential recruits. It’s kind of funny when you think about it.

North Carolina wanted a younger coach after Mack Brown, and they ended up with Belichick, who’s just a few months younger than Brown. It’s a bold move, but some folks are worried it might not end well.

Belichick’s got this serious reputation, and while he’s a genius at football, college coaching is about more than just strategy. It’s about connecting with young players and navigating the wild world of recruiting and NIL deals.

He’s been on ESPN’s Pat McAfee show, and even Pat seemed surprised by this whole college coaching thing. Kliff Kingsbury, who’s been in both the NFL and college, said he’d have to see it to believe it.

At his press conference, Belichick seemed a bit more relaxed than usual. He cracked a few jokes and even had a laugh with the athletic director, who showed up in a casual outfit. It’s a different vibe for sure.

People know he’s prepared. There’s talk of a massive 400-page plan he’s got to make the Tar Heels successful. But can he really adapt to the college scene?

The landscape of college football has changed so much. Players are jumping in and out of the transfer portal like it’s nothing. It’s not just about coaching anymore; it’s about keeping your roster intact.

Some think top recruits might want to play for him, similar to how they flocked to Deion Sanders at Colorado. But it’s a gamble.

Rich Eisen pointed out how strange it’ll be for Belichick to sit in a living room and pitch himself to a teenager. It’s a different world, and many are skeptical.

Stewart Mandel from The Athletic has seen this before. NFL coaches come in thinking they can run things like they did in the pros, but it rarely works out.

So, who knows? Maybe Belichick will surprise everyone, or maybe it’ll be a tough road ahead. But honestly, would you bet against him?