Paul Finebaum reveals biggest hurdle for North Carolina, Bill Belichick to overcome for eight-win season

The North Carolina Tar Heels have been widely talked about this offseason for what has happened off the field. They didn’t hire legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick for off-field drama, though. They hired him to win games, and that’s what he plans on doing next season.

Analyst Paul Finebaum appeared on Get Up on Wedneday. There, he shared that he thinks it’s possible to have a successful eight-win season at North Carolina. To do so, Belichick and the Tar Heels simply need to avoid distractions.

“There are two things,” Finebaum said. “Getting to eight wins, which I think is doable in the ACC. It’s a good league with Clemson at the top and, of course, Miami, but I think, looking at the Tar Heels’ schedule, they can get there.”

North Carolina is coming into the season with a Vegas win total of 7.5 games. That means that anything above that would likely be seen as a success in Belichick’s first season. For a first-time college coach, finding that success won’t be easy, even as Belichick has had, arguably, the greatest career ever for an NFL coach.

Belichick seemingly has an added challenge. That’s going to be to avoid distractions this season. His relationship with Jordon Hudson, who is 49 years his junior, has become very public. That’s included questions about what her role is within the program and how much control she has over Belichick, including reportedly acting as his de facto agent. Along the way, that relationship has become one that’s been consistently gossiped about and written about publicly.

“The one caveat, and I can’t believe I’m doing this on a show with such substance,” Finebaum said. “But staying off page 6. What am I talking about? Jordon Hudson. That has been the distracting story all offseason. The games will help take care of that as long as she is out of the way and Bill Belichick does what he does best, coach.”

Paul Finebaum calls for Bill Belichick to ‘fire his girlfriend’ Jordon Hudson

The distractions are real at North Carolina right now. They’re so bad that Paul Finebaum went so far as to call for Bill Belichick to fire his girlfriend over the issues.

“I’m going to go where I shouldn’t go,” Finebaum said. “But then again, we’re talking about Bill Belichick. He has fired coaches, gotten rid of great players, he separated from the greatest quarterback of all-time — it’s time for Bill Belichick to fire his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. Listen, I’m happy for them, but North Carolina hired him because he’s a great coach, not to be a distraction. He’s a major distraction right now in this game of football. I’m sorry.”

North Carolina will open its season on September 1st against TCU. In the meantime, Belichick will try and make sure the focus is on the field moving forward.