Henry McKenna
NFL reporter
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Patriots gamers discovered the information identical to we did. The title, Belichick at UNCtransmitted to their telephones by way of push notifications. It populated their social media feeds. He appeared on the TVs at Gillette Stadium.
“Really simply shocked, you realize? Eight-time Super Bowl champion. Greatest of all time,” defensive finish Christian Barmore mentioned.
It did not really feel actual.
In the Patriots locker room, the place there isn’t any scarcity of males who know Belichick intimately, everybody admitted they have been shocked.
“I by no means thought he would coach in school,” quarterback Jacoby Brissett instructed FOX Sports on Thursday.
“No one anticipated Bill would do one thing like this,” defenseman Daniel Ekuale mentioned.
“I’m certain he desires to be within the league,” linebacker Jahlani Tavai mentioned.
“I used to be shocked. Definitely surprising,” receiver Kendrick Bourne mentioned. “I believed he was going to be within the NFL.”
Belichick should change. If he and the North Carolina Tar Heels are going to do what Belichick loves greater than something (profitable), then Belichick merely cannot be the identical man he is been with the Patriots for greater than 20 years.
This was one of many few issues Patriots gamers agreed on.
“He’s going to must make some adjustments,” Bourne mentioned.
“Those guys are going to drive him loopy. So he will have to alter,” Brissett mentioned.
But how a lot?
(Related: Belichick, UNC’s opening win complete is about at 7.5)
“He’s very adaptable,” Deatrich Wise mentioned. “He loves teaching. And I’ve a sense he will change his methods to achieve extra children and get extra out of them… But perhaps he’ll simply be himself. And he’ll let everybody conform to him, which could be factor. Who is aware of? Bill will shock everybody. He would possibly win the Natty in two years.
Belichick’s time at UNC could possibly be one in all two issues. Either it is the Michael Jordan period of baseball, or it is like when he got here again from baseball and gained three extra championships.
When requested how Belichick would take over as school coach, the gamers let loose loads of nervous laughter. They’ve all been extra forthcoming with the media since Belichick left New England. But maybe the mere point out of him made them suppose twice about talking freely about their former coach’s school prospects. As if Belichick’s ghost was again within the locker room with all of us.
“He’s a terrific coach. He’s been doing this a very long time. But I do not suppose the X’s and O’s are going to be an issue for him,” former Patriots linebacker and present linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower mentioned.
Did Bill Belichick make the suitable transfer taking the job at UNC?
What could possibly be an issue for him? How might it join with younger individuals?
“I’m in all probability as curious as you guys,” Hightower mentioned.
Former Patriots gamers — from Tom Brady to Julian Edelman to Gronk to Brian Hoyer to David Andrews to Damien Harris — talked concerning the greatest points going through Belichick: recruiting, NIL, grades, assembly deadlines. And the age distinction. Belichick is 71 years previous. He might spend a while recruiting a 16-year-old.
“Now he’ll say, ‘We have a very good gymnasium. And remember our swimming pools. And remember to go to class,'” Wise began laughing. “I simply wish to see the way it will look.”
It’s all unusual to think about. It’s not simply the unimaginable picture of Belichick sitting on a sofa that explains how UNC will change a younger man’s future. It’s equally weird to think about him within the boardroom because the youngsters’ instructor. And it is strangest of all to think about him on the sideline sporting something aside from a sweatshirt with the Patriots brand on it.
Will Bill Belichick’s legacy be affected by him teaching UNC?
But Belichick had a hoodie available — the one his father Steve wore when he was coach at UNC — for Thursday’s introductory information convention. Belichick mentioned he “did not come right here to depart” (even when the NFL was ) and that this can be a “dream come true.” He detailed his pleasure at having the ability to have extra time with gamers on the sector, even when it meant sacrificing assembly time with student-athletes, per NCAA guidelines. He will run UNC as a “skilled program.”
“I’m going to must see it on the sideline to imagine it is taking place,” mentioned Kliff Kingsbury, a former Texas Tech coach and former Patriots quarterback. He is now the commander’s offensive coordinator. “No, I do not see my man happening home calls or having completely satisfied hour after visits. I simply do not see him.”
This is the place delegation shall be key. It has by no means been the coach’s sturdy level. After all, he was greater than New England’s coach. He was additionally the crew’s basic supervisor. Some years, he selected to not award official titles of defensive coordinator or offensive coordinator, partially as a result of he performed a serious position in that position throughout that season. But maybe as an indication of Belichick’s newfound need to adapt, he named a basic supervisor, Michael Lombardi. Belichick additionally doubtless has a big employees that can little question assist him within the recruiting course of. That delegation will signify an enormous change. And you’ll be able to in all probability wager will probably be a well-recognized forged. We would possibly see Matt Patricia, Joe Judge and/or Josh McDaniels. And then there’s the chance he hires his sons Brian Belichick and Steve Belichick.
“Really completely satisfied for my dad,” mentioned Brian, who’s the Patriots’ security coach. “Lots of people are excited, together with him. It’s going to be enjoyable to observe. He loves teaching soccer. It’s what he is presupposed to do. It’s going to be nice.”
It’s laborious to think about Belichick’s teaching type altering. Belichick is without doubt one of the notoriously hardest coaches within the NFL. He will instantly grow to be the most important disciplinarian in school soccer. And it is an enchanting experiment to see whether or not Belichick’s intense strategy will work with college students. Because, as Tavai mentioned, Belichick does not work with grown males who accumulate their paychecks and go dwelling to deal with their households at evening. This is a special age group that Belichick shall be instructing.
“I’m simply curious to see how he’ll relate,” Brissett mentioned. “These children must go to high school. With Bill, it’s important to be at work 24/7. I’m attempting to see how he will cope with these children who’re simply going to say, ‘Okay, I’m leaving.’ “
Leave the assembly.
Leave faculty.
Several present Patriots gamers have expressed concern about Belichick with the switch portal. If younger gamers really feel pissed off with Belichick’s difficult and demanding teaching type, what’s to cease them from leaving for a extra comfy school expertise?
“If they do not like what you are doing over there, they’re going to transfer into the portal,” Ekuale mentioned.
The similar factor is true within the NFL, with gamers indulging in commerce calls for. And Belichick is not any stranger to turnover. From 2016 to 2017, the Patriots had 50% roster turnover. They went to the Super Bowl each years. Belichick traded for Randy Moss in 2007, and when the complications proved an excessive amount of, the coach traded the mercurial receiver in 2010.
Belichick is not any stranger to turnover. He is not any stranger to any a part of school, as there are pure comparisons between the 2 leagues. But, clearly, they aren’t in the identical league. And therein lies the uncertainty.
“It would possibly change, it may not change. I haven’t got a crystal ball. I want I’d have. I’d inform everybody what would occur,” Brendan Schooler mentioned. “So yeah, we’ll have to attend and see what occurs.”
This is the reality. You can have your individual opinions. You can take a look at the information. But given the quickly altering local weather of faculty soccer, there is no telling whether or not Belichick can get UNC right into a aggressive place for the school soccer playoff, not to mention a nationwide championship. But everybody will watch with immense curiosity, together with his former gamers at 1 Patriot Place.
Before becoming a member of FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years protecting the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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