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CHAPEL HILL — Bill Belichick’s short tenure at North Carolina has produced fewer on-field victories than shocking headlines, including last week’s report of program in-fighting and dysfunction from WRAL.
Despite three blowout losses in three games against teams from Power 4 conferences, Belichick and the Tar Heels (2-3 overall, 0-1 ACC) promised they are making progress in this week’s lead up to Friday’s game at California (4-2, 1-1). UNC has been outscored 120-33 in games against TCU, UCF and Clemson.
“I’ve always believed you’ve got to keep working and grinding away,” Belichick said Monday. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
On Monday, Belichick dismissed reports that he was seeking a buyout from his five-year, $50-million contract as “categorically false. There’s zero truth to any of that. Glad I’m here.”
Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots, suggested that the same program that resulted in his professional success with the NFL’s Giants, Browns and Patriots would work in Chapel Hill — despite the early returns.
“We’re making a lot of progress, and the process will eventually produce the results that we want to produce, like they have everywhere else I’ve been,” Belichick said. “I’m very confident in that.”
UNC will get a chance to reward that faith Friday night. The game kicks off at 10:30 p.m. Eastern and will be televised on ESPN.
Starting quarterback Gio Lopez, who missed UNC’s loss at Clemson on Oct. 4, isn’t listed on the team’s availability report released late Wednesday night. That means he’s cleared to play. Lopez is listed ahead of Max Johnson on the team’s unofficial depth chart.
Lopez, a transfer from South Alabama, and the UNC offense has struggled badly. The team ranks 131st among 134 teams in total offense at 257.7 yards per game. California, which ranks No. 96, is averaging 351.7 yards per game.
UNC ranks last in the ACC in third-down conversion percentage, passing offense, total offense and scoring offense and next to last in time of possession.
“Doesn’t always show up on the scoreboard, but we’ve made progress in different areas, and we just need to continue to stay where our feet are and get better each and every day, and eventually we’ll get the results that we want,” offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens said Wednesday.
Kitchens, who calls plays, said the Tar Heels have not considered changing playcallers. “That’s never been brought up, never been discussed,” he said.
Kitchens is one of the few holdovers from former coach Mack Brown’s staff. He downplayed reports of division in the locker room between players brought in by Brown and those brought in by Belichick.
“What I see is a bunch of guys trying to come together and be one team,” Kitchens said.
Players acknowledged frustration, particularly after a noncompetitive 38-10 loss to Clemson. Clemson scored on a 75-yard touchdown on its first play from scrimmage and led 28-3 after the first quarter. Fans fled Kenan Stadium, which was nearly empty by the fourth quarter.
Defensive lineman CJ Mims said players have increased their communication and accountability with each other in the weeks since the loss, especially after reports of dissension.
“Talk about it, address it, move on from it and get ready for Cal,” Mims said.
Cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins, who coached with defensive coordinator Steve Belichick last year at Washington, is suspended by the university for violating NCAA rules. WRAL reported that Hawkins provided extra sideline passes for a player’s family members. UNC is also investigating “other potential actions detrimental to the team and university,” it said in a statement. Belichick declined to comment on Hawkins.
The defense ranks 107th in the nation in pass efficiency defense. It ranks 11th or worse in the 17-team ACC in rushing defense, pass defense, total defense, scoring defense and third-down conversion percentage.
And now UNC is without its top cornerback in Thaddeus Dixon, a transfer from Washington. Dixon suffered an injury while diving for an interception in the first half against Clemson and didn’t return. He is expected to miss several games at least, Bill Belichick said.
Sophomore Jaiden Patterson is listed as the starter at cornerback in Dixon’s place.
Steve Belichick said some level of frustration is to be expected given the Tar Heels’ level of play and results. He said he didn’t anticipate any changes to coaching assignments with the absence of Hawkins or changes to play-calling duties.
“Anybody who’s a competitor is frustrated when they lose,” Belichick said. “Starts with me on defense, I got to do a better job, and trickles down through everybody. We all got to do better. I appreciate the frustration to a point, just because it means they care. We’re putting in a lot of work to go out there and compete at a high level, and it hasn’t always shown so we’ll try and get out there and do better. But you should be frustrated when you lose.”
Note: Dixon is among 12 UNC players listed as out for the game against California. Reserve cornerbacks Ty Adams and Khalil Conley and backup offensive guard Aidan Banfield were listed as probable on the Tar Heels’ ACC availability report released late Wednesday.
Contact or follow Brian Murphy:
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