Recapping Another Embarrassing Loss for Belichick, UNC

On this episode of the Tar Heels Insider Podcast, Grant Chachere recaps North Carolina's humilating loss to Clemson.

Here is a partial transcript from Bill Belichick's presser after the game:

Opening Statement

UNC Huddle; Oct. 4, 2025 | Jackson McCurdy, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

Well, disappointing outcome for us today. I thought we had a good week. I think we were ready to go, and unfortunately, we gave up some big plays early in the game that really tilted the game, and we're just never able to recover. So the big plays in the passing game, I mean, we probably gave up 200 yards of passing on five plays. You know, had interceptions in all the five. Sit in, look for the ball. Three alignment penalties that were, you know, all our fault. So we just got to do a better job of coaching, better job playing, and just eliminate the mistakes that are fixable. There's honestly not that many things that we can't get right, but we got to do a better job of it. We can't give up plays like that defensively at the beginning of the game, obviously it just tilts the score. It's too much. So get back to work here tomorrow, and I think I expect players to rebound like they did last week, and have another good week here. We'll get ready to go and keep improving and keep fixing the things that we need to fix.

Why the mistakes keep happening …

UNC — North Carolina running out on the field through smoke before its game against Clemson on Oct. 4, 2025. | Jackson McCurdy, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

Yeah, well, they don't have all time, but they have been two or three critical times today. And, you know, lack of concentration, and we need to do a better job coaching as part of it.

I mean, it's a lot of plays where nothing happens, and then we have an illegal formation three times. I mean, it's just, we just can't make those mistakes. So when the players make them, that's, it's obviously bad, but the fact that they happen is, you know, part of that's coaching too, so I'll take my share of the responsibility on that. We got to do a better job of coaching.

On whether it was bigger rebuild than he anticipated when he took the job…

UNC — Clemson running back Adam Randall catching a touchdown against North Carolina; Oct. 4, 2025 | Jackson McCurdy, Tar Heels On SI

I'm just not going to make any evaluations like that. We're just gonna keep working every day and every week and. So let the guys get better, and the guys that play play better and keep playing the guys that don't, you know, maybe there's other people that can compete and move ahead of them playing time. We're just gonna keep grinding. I'm not gonna evaluate where things are. Just take a week by week.

On overcoming results like these when you're talking to recruits?

We’re just honest about it.

Oct 4, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Christopher Vizzina (17) passes the ball as North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Gavin Gibson (5) pressures in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Honest how?

That we're building. And if you want to be part of the program, it's being built, and we're here for you. That's what we do.

On issues on third down …

UNC — Bill Belichick speaking to players | Jackson McCurdy, Tar Heels On SI

Well, it's several third and longs at the first half. I don't know the last three or four. I think we're third and 10 pluses. So part of the problem on third down is first and second down. You know, you get in third and long and extra long, it's just hard to convert. So combination of playing better on third down, but also staying out of the third and 10 pluses. We're just too hard to convert. Nobody has good stats converting those.

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