Since Bill Belichick took over at North Carolina in December, he has focused on building the Tar Heels football program like an NFL team. That includes creating a disciplined, professional culture that many college players are not used to.
According to one analyst, Belichick has been removing players who do not align with his vision. The analyst believes adjusting to Belichick’s culture is the biggest challenge for both recruits and returning players.
Bill Belichick’s ‘Weed-Out Culture’ Taking Over at North Carolina
Belichick spent 29 years as an NFL head coach and is now making his first stop in college football with the Tar Heels.
Throughout the spring, the legendary coach has been shaping the roster, bringing in 71 new players through both high school recruiting and the transfer portal.
According to North Carolina analyst Andrew Jones, Belichick spent much of the offseason ‘weeding out’ players who don’t fit his NFL-style culture.
Jones believes the biggest test for Tar Heel players and recruits is fitting into Belichick’s culture. If they don’t, the head coach won’t hesitate to move on without them.
“Belichick’s way is a little bit different, and it required a lot of weeding out,” Jones said. “Weeding out occurs anyway now, but the way weeded out was, ultimately, you’re a Belichick guy or you’re not.”
The good news for North Carolina is that Jones believes the ‘weeding out’ process happened during spring ball.
Heading into fall camp, Belichick now has a roster full of committed players. That’s why Jones feels confident the Tar Heels will be ready for their season opener against TCU despite all the roster turnover.
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“I think that’s why some questions he’s been asked the last few weeks about how can you put together a squad with 70 new guys and march forward and play a game on September 1. Well, they all want to be there. You don’t have stragglers right now.”
Belichick’s approach to coaching at the college level is unlike anything seen before. The six-time Super Bowl champion is bringing a true NFL mindset to his new role, and players have been forced to adapt or move on.
Now that the transfer portal is officially closed, the current Tar Heels roster has nowhere else to go. Any players who haven’t bought in yet will have no choice but to do so before the season starts.
Jones’ theory will be tested soon. The Tar Heels open their season on September 1 with a Monday night matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs. Also, this season, the Tar Heels will face big tests in UCF, Clemson, Syracuse, and NC State, among others.
