Josh Pate reacts to Bill Belichick first college game, coaches tired of hearing about UNC

Monday in college football was about one person and one person only. Bill Belichick made his debut at North Carolina against TCU, his first-ever game in the college ranks. After years of success in the NFL, one of the sport’s all-time coaches was taking on a new challenge. ESPN put a nice pregame show together, only adding to the theater.

And, apparently, other college coaches are sick of the whole thing. Conversation surrounding Belichick has reached the point of annoyance, according to Josh Pate. Some fans join in the sentiment but not to the same level as those in the game.

“You think you’re sick of watching the hype bubble build around Bill Belichick?” Pate asked on Josh Pate’s College Football Show. “You’re not close to as sick of it as coaches in college football who kept getting told for four, five months, ‘Oh, Belichick is here now. That guy has won Super Bowls. Imagine what he can do in college.’ They look at it and say, ‘You can have the most expansive English language imaginable. This is Portugal. Can you speak Portuguese?'”

Belichick looked like he did not know a lick of Portuguese on Monday. TCU turned on the motor late in the second quarter, never looking back. In a game that at one point was 10-7 with North Carolina having possession, it quickly deteriorated to a 48-14 final score.

Pate went on to say he agreed with those college coaches throughout. He never bought into Belichick being able to get the job done at North Carolina. However, just because Monday night went poorly against TCU does not mean the final determination has been made.

“I don’t think it’s going to work out for Belichick at North Carolina,” Pate said. “Last night is not proof of that. Because if I did think it was going to work out for him, Year 1 wasn’t going to be when it works out.”

It’s all about being able to get the right players inside the program. North Carolina hired Michael Lombardi to be the general manager, hitting the NCAA transfer portal hard. Over 70 new players took the field last night in Chapel Hill.

The rebuild will continue in the coming months and even years. For Pate to put any faith in Belichick finding success, finding the right guys is what matters the most.

“If they get the players, they’ll be fine,” Pate said. “Will they get the players to the degree they need to to be a Playoff contender? I don’t know that.”

Thankfully for UNC, the season is far from over. An in-state matchup is set to take place on Saturday against Charlotte. Belichick has plenty of time to right the ship in 2025, while also focusing on making sure the long-term health gets figured out.