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Video: #UNC coach Bill Belichick game week press conference ahead of Saturday's TCU game
Aug 24, 2026
Video: #UNC coach Bill Belichick game week press conference ahead of Saturday's TCU game
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0:00
Yeah, before we get started here,
0:02
Lee, thank you for being with us here
0:04
today.
0:06
Um
0:07
So, you know, Lee's been
0:09
after 30 years of, you know, writing
0:11
books and being involved in Tar Heel
0:12
football, 22 years on the radio
0:14
broadcasting. Um just want to say thank
0:18
you and and if you could come up for a
0:20
second,
0:21
I have a something we like to give to
0:23
you.
0:26
On behalf of UNC football
0:29
Thank you for your
0:31
dedication and
0:34
service to UNC
0:36
football.
0:40
>> [applause]
0:42
>> Yeah, appreciate it very much.
0:44
Appreciate your books and your long
0:46
service to UNC football and your
0:48
broadcast on the radio.
0:51
Yes, sir.
0:52
>> Can you guys step in front just so we
0:53
can get a quick photo, please?
0:58
Trick, Lee, any comments today?
1:05
>> Yeah.
1:07
>> One of the most humble people I know.
1:10
Thanks, Lee.
1:12
Appreciate you, man.
1:14
Um
1:16
So, yeah, we're we're you know, diving
1:18
in here.
1:20
You know, all in this week on
1:21
on TCU. Obviously
1:24
You know, we got to do a lot of um
1:27
Uh you know, certainly some good reviews
1:30
from last year in the kicking game and
1:31
and on TCU's defense. You know, new
1:34
offense offensive coordinator here and
1:36
you know, new quarterback, things like
1:37
that on the other side of the ball. So,
1:39
you know, opening day is always
1:41
you know, the tough game to prepare for
1:43
because there's so many unknowns.
1:45
There's unknowns on our team. There's
1:47
unknowns on our opponents and you know,
1:49
even though we practice things, we
1:50
haven't seen them in any real game
1:51
situations and
1:53
you know, how we'll react and how
1:54
quickly we'll react to those things. Um
1:56
you know, it's it's the same for both
1:58
teams, but it's it's always
2:01
you know, a little bit of an unknown
2:02
here. So,
2:03
we had a good opportunity yesterday to
2:05
go out and and go through game
2:06
situations and replicate um
2:10
what a game's going to be like, you
2:11
know, from practice standpoint, but
2:13
again, it's always
2:14
always different when the when the real
2:16
lights come on. So, um
2:19
you know, big thing with TCU for us is
2:21
you know, number one, not not to beat
2:23
ourselves. You know, we gave up 14
2:25
points last year on offensive turnovers
2:27
and
2:28
had a couple long runs and passes where
2:30
they, you know, gained a lot of yards on
2:31
just one or two plays. And so,
2:34
um
2:35
you know, we we got to do a better job
2:37
than we did last year in in those
2:38
situations in terms of taking care of
2:40
the ball and
2:41
you know, not giving up explosive plays.
2:43
Um
2:44
but you know, the quarterback, you know,
2:46
is an impressive player, you know, great
2:48
from Harvard. Um you know, Payne played
2:50
well against us last year. You know,
2:52
Demus, obviously, you know, receivers,
2:55
one of the top receivers in the country.
2:57
So, you know, that the wire will be a
2:59
problem um like he was last year. So, we
3:02
have to do a good job on them. And you
3:04
know, defensively, I mean, it starts
3:05
with O'Neal inside. He's a good
3:06
defensive line. Um you know, Johnson's a
3:09
real experienced player in the
3:10
secondary. And
3:11
>> [snorts]
3:12
>> you know, they got a few
3:13
you know, a couple transfers at corner
3:14
and all that who look pretty good. So,
3:16
um you know, it's a solid team and um
3:19
solid in the kicking game. Again, with a
3:20
couple new players there, you know,
3:22
left-footed punter. So, it's always
3:25
a little little bit of a
3:26
uh different look, especially when we
3:28
don't have one.
3:29
Um so, um you know, things like that.
3:31
There's so a lot of things that we need
3:33
to
3:34
you know, be ready for.
3:35
Um but again, that's that's opening day.
3:38
And um
3:39
you know, excited to get started.
3:42
Think our players did a good job in
3:44
selecting the
3:45
leadership on the team with the
3:47
captains.
3:48
Um all those guys are
3:50
uh you know, hard-working group
3:52
um that have given us good leadership.
3:53
There are plenty of other players too
3:55
that
3:56
could easily have been selected. We've
3:58
had a lot of a lot of good leadership
3:59
from multiple people
4:02
on our team, both seniors and guys that
4:06
are
4:07
that have more eligibility left, but
4:10
that's that's been a big um
4:12
uh
4:14
I'd say improvement from last year has
4:15
been very noticeable
4:17
on and off the field. And
4:20
but these guys are
4:21
you know, strong leaders and they were
4:23
chosen by their teammates and so I think
4:25
that you know, says a lot about the
4:27
respect that that everybody has for
4:29
them. So
4:31
um
4:32
Yep, that's it.
4:34
>> We'll get started on the left side of
4:35
the room.
4:36
>> You mentioned Jake Coker earlier when
4:38
talking about the success he had at
4:40
Harvard and at the FCS level. I guess
4:42
when you watch his tape, what what stood
4:44
out to you about him as a player?
4:46
>> Yeah, he's a big strong kid, can run
4:48
well, he's athletic, good arm, he can
4:52
make all the throws and definitely get
4:53
the ball down the field, but he's I
4:55
don't know
4:56
225, 230 lbs whatever he is, runs well,
4:59
so he's he's a problem with the ball in
5:01
his hands too. So
5:03
very productive in in in the Ivy League.
5:06
And um
5:08
it's really does runs, throws well and
5:12
he really, you know, gives a lot of
5:13
leadership to the team. Made key plays,
5:16
you know, in some of the big situations
5:17
for him. So
5:19
he's a good player.
5:20
>> Front row on the right side.
5:21
>> Hey Bill, now with week two I wanted to
5:23
ask you about the update on your son
5:25
Steve.
5:26
>> Yeah, no update.
5:27
>> Do you plan on letting him call plays
5:29
and what does that process going to look
5:30
like for you guys here in a few days?
5:32
>> Yeah, not really going to talk about
5:34
that situation. You know, we'll work it
5:36
out.
5:37
>> Front row on the left side.
5:40
>> Bill, with the continuity
5:42
from the spring, is there more of a
5:44
comfort level with this group this
5:45
spring as far as what you feel you'll be
5:47
able to handle going into the season?
5:49
>> Oh, yeah, without a doubt. But, yeah.
5:52
It's a way different than last year.
5:53
Last year, half our starters showed up
5:55
and
5:56
um
5:57
well, really, we couldn't do much in
5:59
June and July. We were still training,
6:01
kind of, you know, getting everybody
6:02
getting those guys
6:03
um in shape. Players like Andrew
6:06
Simpson, Gilbert Smith,
6:09
players like that
6:11
um
6:11
weren't with us in the spring, weren't
6:13
with us until later in the summer uh
6:15
when they were admitted to school. So,
6:17
uh even though they they came in, they
6:19
didn't come in until late along with,
6:21
you know, three guys on the offensive
6:23
line. So, yeah, we're we're well ahead
6:26
of that from a
6:27
uh schematic standpoint and certainly
6:30
being able to communicate and
6:32
you know, be familiar with terminology
6:33
so that we all know what different words
6:36
and situations mean. Yeah.
6:38
>> All right.
6:39
Uh what was the last time you called
6:41
things on defense? Did you ever do that
6:43
while at Boston?
6:46
>> Yeah, absolutely.
6:48
I've called as a coach I've called plays
6:50
on um offense, defense, and the kicking
6:52
game.
6:53
Um but we have a a, you know, again, a
6:55
really good staff. I have a lot of
6:57
confidence in them.
6:58
Um
6:59
but, you know, if I need to do anything,
7:01
I, you know, I feel confident in doing
7:03
it. Yeah.
7:03
>> So, whatever happens this weekend,
7:06
you're in a good spot calling the
7:09
offense.
7:10
>> Again, I have a lot of confidence in our
7:11
staff and, you know, they can handle
7:14
um a multitude of duties.
7:16
>> On the right, Michael.
7:18
>> Bill, you coached in several
7:20
international games in your playing in
7:21
the NFL, and you won a fair bit of them.
7:24
What did you do then as far as the guys'
7:26
hydration, sleep schedules, all that
7:29
sort of help them adjust to the time
7:30
zone difference?
7:32
>> Yeah, um all that again, it's uh playing
7:35
in
7:36
um
7:37
you know, particularly
7:38
um here in Ireland, um
7:41
it's kind of the reverse of going to the
7:42
West Coast. It's about the same, you
7:44
know, we to Cal last year, so it's a
7:45
different direction, but from a timing
7:48
standpoint, it's it's similar. This game
7:50
has some different, obviously,
7:51
differences to it in terms of being over
7:53
there a little bit earlier, some other
7:55
activities around the the game and the
7:57
weekend and so forth.
7:58
Um,
7:59
so they're all different. I'm not saying
8:01
that, but in terms of travel, I mean,
8:03
it's not like going to Australia or, you
8:04
know, someplace like that. It's a little
8:06
bit different than that. Um, so we'll
8:08
take our usual, you know, things that we
8:10
usually do in terms of preparing the
8:12
players for the
8:14
you know, the travel, trying to get them
8:16
on as much of a schedule as we can once
8:17
we get over there, try to get things
8:19
back to normal. It's a 5-hour
8:20
difference, so we'll make the
8:22
adjustment, but it's um,
8:24
yeah, it's it's a little bit different,
8:26
but again, not that much different from
8:27
the reverse of the Cal trip last year.
8:30
>> Middle second row, Brian. The Golden
8:32
>> I wonder what you learned about the way
8:34
they call the game, played or officiated
8:37
or,
8:37
you know, the timing differences that
8:40
you will help you this year on your
8:41
staff
8:42
going into the season from last year. Is
8:43
there anything
8:44
that stood out that you adjusted for
8:46
this season?
8:49
>> No, I don't think so. I mean, there
8:51
there always changes every year. So, I
8:52
don't want to act like there aren't
8:53
changes. There are changes this year in
8:55
the rules. Um, you know, in the NFL,
8:58
there are rule changes every year, too.
9:00
Some a little more,
9:02
you know, dramatic than others from, you
9:04
know, replay to the way they officiated,
9:07
you know, defensive holding and
9:08
interference to
9:11
you know, some timing issues and so
9:13
forth. And it's been kind of the same
9:14
thing here
9:16
in college football. They've changed
9:17
like the some of the numbering rules and
9:19
punt formations and things like that.
9:21
They've changed the
9:22
um, you know, the targeting penalties
9:25
and how that is. So, again, it's there
9:28
there are changes every year.
9:29
Um, the 2-minute warning was something
9:32
that I was used to in the NFL that was
9:34
new here last year.
9:36
>> [snorts]
9:36
>> Um, but the obviously stopping the the
9:39
clock to move the chains and
9:41
in
9:43
you know, the end of game situations
9:44
gives the offense a little bit more
9:45
time. So the two-minute number of plays
9:48
opportunities is
9:50
more if the offense is getting first
9:51
downs. So things like that. But it's you
9:54
know, I don't think it's we've had to
9:56
adjust some of the last end of the game
9:57
plays for it for things like that. How
9:59
many seconds are left because there's
10:02
there are some timing issues that are
10:03
different. So
10:05
we you know, we try to make the
10:07
adjustments for those. I've talked to
10:08
other coaches that
10:10
you know, have been doing this and have
10:12
been in the NFL been in college football
10:14
and
10:15
also checked in with some of them on
10:16
that. So it's
10:18
yeah, it's a little bit different but I
10:20
think it's
10:22
you know, you just have to you have to
10:23
plan for those situations.
10:25
>> Next we'll go far right from Michael.
10:27
Welcome to the beat. I know it's new to
10:29
you but it's new to us as well.
10:30
>> I'm Mike.
10:32
>> With Billy, what's the process of
10:34
evaluating a player that hasn't played a
10:36
lot in the last year going back to
10:38
having him in the transfer portal?
10:41
>> Um
10:43
well, in the portal you're evaluating
10:45
the 24 season, right? And that's really
10:47
pretty much all you have other than you
10:48
know, that one game
10:51
last year. But
10:52
being here all spring was a big you
10:54
know, big advantage for him. So we've
10:56
had him since January
10:58
all the way through the spring, all the
10:59
way through the summer. You know, we
11:02
were able to you know, continue to build
11:04
out our situation of football and things
11:06
like that.
11:07
So all the quarterbacks have gotten you
11:09
know, really a lot of reps. Tory, Travis
11:12
and obviously Billy and Miles. They
11:14
they've gotten you know, a lot a lot of
11:16
reps. Again
11:18
way more than where we were at this time
11:20
last year when our two quarterbacks
11:22
really hadn't taken any reps up until
11:24
start training camp in August. So
11:26
but he's done a good job. Miles we have
11:29
confidence in all those guys. Travis and
11:31
whoever's in there, you know, I think
11:33
we'll we'll do a good job for us in
11:35
terms of running the offense and and
11:36
being productive as they have been in in
11:39
practice and training camp. So,
11:41
um
11:42
you know, we had to make a decision. It
11:43
was a hard decision, but um
11:46
that's where we are for now.
11:48
>> From where you're sitting, Rob,
11:50
how do you feel about the
11:51
development of the freshmen and your
11:53
confidence level in some of those being
11:55
able to So, those guys being able to
11:56
produce right out of the gate?
11:58
>> Yeah, again, big unknown. You know,
12:00
we'll we'll see how that goes. Um
12:02
certainly some of those guys have
12:04
uh put themselves into playing time.
12:08
They've earned some playing time.
12:10
Um how much uh will obviously be be
12:13
dependent on how they do with with the
12:15
playing time that they get. Uh they
12:17
could certainly earn more. Um
12:19
or they could become less, let's face
12:22
it. So,
12:23
uh we'll see we'll see how that goes. Um
12:25
but I think that we'll have a number of
12:27
them that'll
12:28
um will get those opportunities.
12:31
Um but ultimately,
12:32
you know, it'll be up to them to to um
12:35
take advantage of those opportunities in
12:37
order to gain gain more. Um it really's
12:39
the same for everybody, but just more
12:41
unknowns with good guard guys that have
12:43
never been in college football before.
12:44
So, um
12:46
but they they've earned it out here on
12:47
the practice field. Nobody's been given
12:49
anything. So, the players that have
12:51
uh performed uh competitively with with
12:53
the other players um will get an
12:55
opportunity to play just like, you know,
12:57
everybody else will.
12:59
>> Coach Orgeron, you mentioned Orgeron
13:01
back in the spring.
13:02
>> Bill, uh you you've talked about
13:04
embodying the success of the season by
13:06
stacking wins,
13:08
but and the fan base understands that,
13:10
but they're also focused on winning
13:11
tournaments, maybe at least six wins,
13:14
maybe at least uh
13:15
maybe their goal is
13:17
What can you tell the fan base about
13:19
their goals for the season?
13:22
>> Yeah, we're day-to-day right now focused
13:24
on TCU.
13:25
You know, we're not worried about games
13:27
in November, December, Oct- October,
13:29
whenever they are.
13:30
When we get to them, we'll get to them.
13:32
Right now, focused on TCU and get ready
13:34
for the game here, you know.
13:37
Prepare as well as possible, go out
13:38
there and play, you know, to our maximum
13:40
potential, and when that game's over,
13:42
then we'll turn the page and
13:44
move on to the next opponent. That's
13:45
what we do every week all year long. I
13:47
mean, I don't know any other way to do
13:48
it.
13:49
>> Coach Odom, it's Brian Davis. Two quick
13:51
ones. So, can you Can you update on
13:53
Reese Moore's status?
13:55
You guys are planning for him at all
13:56
tomorrow?
13:57
>> No updates. It's in the courts, and
13:59
we'll go by what the courts decide.
14:01
>> Is he practicing with the team or is he
14:03
not practicing?
14:04
>> He is eligible to practice with the
14:05
team, yes.
14:06
>> Okay.
14:06
>> Mhm.
14:06
>> And then secondly,
14:08
I'll approach the question about the
14:09
freshman. This new 505 rule change how
14:12
you might use some of them because
14:13
you're not necessarily burning through
14:15
your eligibility by by playing them.
14:18
>> No, I don't think so.
14:21
Well, first of all, it doesn't really
14:22
have any bearing on it at all now. I
14:24
don't think it had very much before.
14:26
Um until maybe you get into that like
14:28
third, fourth, fifth game where you
14:29
start to see, okay,
14:31
you know,
14:32
that kid's been in there for a couple
14:34
plays on field goal. Are we going to use
14:36
a year of eligibility on, you know, 10
14:38
field goal plays? You know, I don't
14:39
know.
14:40
That's really not the case anymore, so
14:42
it's not not really a consideration
14:44
whether he plays one play or a thousand
14:45
plays.
14:47
It's the same. It's the same for him, so
14:49
and it's the same for us. So, I don't I
14:51
don't think the preservation of that
14:53
really is is a factor at all. They're
14:55
here or they're available.
14:57
And if they're available and they can
14:58
help us win, then then they'll be in
15:00
there.
15:01
>> Thanks, everybody.
15:02
>> All right.
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