The genius behind the Patriots’ iconic dynasty is back in the discussion! “We’re talking about none other than Bill Belichick—the guy who helped Tom Brady snag six Super Bowl rings and, let’s be real, played a role in his big Patriots exit too.” However, this time it’s not about the NFL or a Netflix roast special. The excitement stems from North Carolina, which has recently mentioned Belichick in relation to their college football situation.
But wait, fans! “Sadly, there is nothing much to be excited about.” The athletic director of North Carolina, Bubba Cunningham, has made a definitive decision. Prior to Belichick, Arthur Smith (the Pittsburgh Steelers OC) was a name in the mix, but that option has lost traction.
Indeed, Cunningham faced a significant decision for North Carolina this season after parting ways with 73-year-old HC Mack Brown. “They didn’t waste much time and started the scouting process early.” Now, they seem to be turning their attention to the six-time Super Bowl champion, Belichick. Reports indicate that Cunningham and his team “interviewed the ex-Patriots HC on Thursday, December 5.”
Interestingly, both Belichick’s father, Steve, and son, Steve, have coached in college football, leaving Bill as the only one yet to enter that arena. “However, there seems to be no assurance whether he would at last fill in Brown’s place or not.” As Andy Staples mentioned during a conversation with Ari Wasserman, “I think this is my theory that Bubba Cunningham at North Carolina is having some fun with all of us.”
What made the analyst feel so? For so long, the Steelers HC Smith’s number has been on North Carolina’s speed dial. As Staples stated, “He’s called Arthur Smith former North Carolina player, current Steelers offensive coordinator who is getting a little criticism.” For those who think that if it’s not Belichick, it has to be Smith, here’s some reality check. If it had been the NFL HC, they could have sealed the deal within days since Belichick does not have any commitments at present
As Staples observed, “They fired Mac Brown on a Tuesday morning last week; Bill Belichick they could have hired by Tuesday afternoon.” It appears that North Carolina is playing the waiting game because “the person they’re going to hire is coaching a game this weekend.” So, it seems likely that the next head coach is currently busy preparing for an important match. Meanwhile, did you know that Cunningham’s program was overlooked by Smith?
The Option North Carolina Considered Before Bill Belichick
After Brown was let go, Smith’s name circulated even before Belichick’s did. On The Audible podcast, analysts Bruce Feldman and Stewart Mandel discussed the potential of North Carolina hiring the Pittsburgh HC. Here’s the twist: Cunningham and his team appeared to be more interested in Smith’s father, Frederick Smith, rather than the coach himself. As Mandel speculated, “I also love the idea of Arthur Smith. We have not yet in NIL ever had a case where the billionaire is the coach’s dad.”
This point is significant. “Smith’s father is truly an influential man.” He is the founder and executive chairman of FedEx, a major player with a valuation of $ 5.4 billion in the international shipping and courier industry. If North Carolina had brought Smith on board, they might not have needed to worry about NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) issues at all.
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