Skip to main content

North Carolina Fans Leave Stadium Before Halftime Amid Ugly Rout vs. Clemson

North Carolina fans had seen enough of Bill Belichick's Tar Heels.
Tar Heels fans headed for the exits with the team trailing 35-3 before halftime.
Tar Heels fans headed for the exits with the team trailing 35-3 before halftime. | Screengrab Twitter @BleacherReport

North Carolina fans had seen enough of Bill Belichick's Tar Heels amid a lopsided first half in a rare matchup against Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers on Saturday at Kenan Stadium. In a listless first half, the North Carolina offense mustered just 64 yards while the defense yielded over 300 yards and 35 points to Clemson. After the Tar Heels' fourth straight three-and-out led to yet another Clemson touchdown in the second quarter, making the score 35-3 Tigers, the North Carolina fanbase headed for the exits in a mass exodus with 2:02 still remaining in the first half.

So poor was the first half performance that Belichick and the Tar Heels even lost Baby Shark.

And if you wanted more of an in-depth temperature check on the Tar Heels fanbase in general, look no further than an interview with a North Carolina student—aired by ESPN midgame—who said that the Tar Heels' season-opening loss to TCU was "one of the saddest feelings" she's had at the University thus far.

Judging by the early exits, it's safe to say that most Tar Heels fans share her sentiments. If there's a bright side for North Carolina and Belichick, it's that things can't get much worse in the second half.

Right?


More College Football on Sports Illustrated


Published | Modified
Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated, primarily covering MLB, college football and college basketball. Before joining SI in November 2023, Capurso worked at RotoBaller and ClutchPoints and is a graduate of Assumption University. When he's not working, he can be found at the gym, reading a book or enjoying a good hike. A resident of New York, Capurso openly wonders if the Giants will ever be a winning football team again.