UNC Football Archives

UConn beats Carolina in Fenway Bowl, dominating Bill Belichick’s next team in his old backyard

BOSTON (AP) — Joe Fagnano threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns to help UConn beat North Carolina 27-14 in the Fenway Bowl, embarrassing Bill Belichick’s new team in his old backyard. Belichick was not spotted in the home of the Boston Red Sox, about an hour north of the stadium where he and Tom Brady hung six Super Bowl championship banners. Interim coach Freddie Kitchens, who like Belichick is a former Cleveland Browns coach, took over when Mack Brown was fired and handled the bowl preparations. Mel Brown rushed for 96 yards for the Huskies.… Continue Reading

Kitchens will lead Tar Heels in Fenway Bowl against UConn. Another ex-Browns coach is standing by

BOSTON (AP) — Bill Belichick hasn’t taken over yet on the North Carolina sideline but he still looms over the program as the Tar Heels prepare to play UConn in the Fenway Bowl. A lot of the attention for Saturday’s game at Fenway Park is focused on the former New England Patriots coach returning to his old backyard for the first game since he was hired in Chapel Hill. It’s his first college coaching job ever after six Super Bowls and more NFL wins than anyone except for Don Shula. Former Cleveland Browns coach Freddie Kitchens is the interim coach for the bowl game.… Continue Reading

Belichick’s bid to reshape football at UNC another sign of rising pro influence on college level

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s hiring of NFL coaching great Bill Belichick marks another sign of the growing influence of the NFL on college football. The challenges of managing the transfer portal and looming revenue sharing for athletes has led teams to take on more NFL-like structures to their programs. Belichick is set to structure North Carolina’s program like an NFL front office. That includes hiring former NFL executive Michael Lombardi as general manager. At Florida, coach Billy Napier is interviewing general managers while saying the program is going to “a business model” to deal with a “major math puzzle.”… Continue Reading