Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
‘Laughable’: College football analyst’s blunt take on Bill Belichick’s start at UNC
"Bill Belichick's always been a petty, small-minded man, but when you win six Super Bowls and you're an assistant on two other ones, you can get away with that."
Paul Finebaum’s unsparing take on Bill Belichick: Based on events on and off the field, it appears Bill Belichick isn’t winning many fans so far in his first season as head coach of the University of North Carolina football team.
Belichick, 73, began his tenure in Chapel Hill disastrously, losing at home to TCU 48-14 on Sept. 1. The Tar Heels won the second game of the season 20-3 against UNC Charlotte a week later. Off the field, however, Belichick made further waves when he acknowledged banning Patriots scouts from UNC campus.
“It’s clear that I’m not welcome there around their facility, so they’re not welcome at ours,” Belichick said after the win against Charlotte. “Pretty simple.”
Advertisement:
The reaction to the quote, and Belichick’s start as coach, was discussed in a recent interview of ESPN college football commentator Paul Finebaum on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
Asked by Eisen to describe the opening stages of Belichick’s college coaching career, the longtime analyst did not hold back.
“Fairly laughable,” Finebaum replied of Belichick’s early tenure. “I want to be a fan of Bill Belichick, but he makes it impossible. The first game was just an absolute and total disaster on the biggest stage that he will ever have at North Carolina. The second game meant nothing. I mean they’re playing at Charlotte, not exactly the bastion of college football.”
Advertisement:
Beyond Belichick’s on-field results (or lack thereof), Finebaum also chided the former Patriots coach for his decision to ban New England scouts, as well as his comments about the matter.
“I think he’ll struggle,” Finebaum added of Belichick’s future at UNC. “I think his comments this week make it even more difficult. Why do you have to continue to be Bill Belichick? I guess maybe because you’re 73 years old. But to say what he did about locking the Patriots out, it’s just downright stupid. And by the way, we both saw the first game against TCU. Did you see a single prospect on his team that anybody would want to come visit? I didn’t.
“In deference to your players, you can’t say that,” Finebaum continued. “You want to open the doors. But Bill Belichick’s always been a petty, small-minded man, but when you win six Super Bowls and you’re an assistant on two other ones, you can get away with that.”
UNC will play Richmond at home on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Trivia: In the spirit of an ESPN personality expressing a strong opinion about Bill Belichick, what former analyst once declared that the Patriots “hate their coach” during the 2003 season?
Advertisement:
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: A three-time Pro Bowler, he played his entire career with the Denver Broncos before finding a role as part of ESPN’s NFL coverage.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox lost to the Athletics 5-4 on a walk-off on Wednesday afternoon. Boston returns to play the Yankees at Fenway Park in a three-game set starting Friday at 7:10 p.m.
Elsewhere, the Revolution face Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Boston College football will also play on Saturday, matching up against Stanford on the road at 10:30 p.m.
And on Sunday, the Patriots travel to Miami to play the Dolphins at 1 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Red Sox fall to A’s 5-4; Chapman’s hitless streak ends at 50 batters, 17 appearances
- Stefon Diggs says Drake Maye isn’t a ‘softie’ when it comes to criticism
- Patriots injury report: Christian Gonzalez not practicing, along with 2 key vets
- Drake Maye talks starting fast, capitalizing in the red zone, and the throws he wished he had back
- Rob Gronkowski: Patriots QB Drake Maye looked ‘timid’ against Raiders
- What Celtics star Jaylen Brown said about potentially playing for hometown team
- Do the Bruins have a potential breakout prospect in camp in Dans Locmelis?
- Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson announces engagement
Mike Vrabel’s tape breakdown: The Patriots’ coach went over some of the plays from Week 1 with Scott Zolak.
On this day: In 1918, the Red Sox defeated the Cubs 2-1 in Game 6 of the World Series to clinch a fifth title. Carl Mays pitched a complete game for Boston, yielding just three hits. Right fielder Max Flack’s error in the bottom of the third inning allowed both of the Red Sox runs to score.
It remains the only World Series to be played entirely in September, as the season was reduced due to U.S. involvement in World War I.
Advertisement:
The series win would remain notable for Red Sox fans for decades, as it would be the team’s last until 2004. In 2018, Boston became the first MLB team to win a two World Series titles 100 years apart.
Daily highlight: UConn’s Nico Tomerius scored with an unstoppable strike in the Huskies’ 3-1 win over Brown on Wednesday.
Trivia answer: Tom Jackson
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com