Fans of the North Carolina Tar Heels have reached their breaking point with head coach Bill Belichick, as demonstrated during the recent game against Clemson. During this match, which ended in a disheartening 38-10 defeat, a significant number of fans began leaving Kenan Stadium before halftime. With just two minutes remaining in the second quarter and North Carolina trailing 35-3, ESPN cameras captured the stark sight of fans vacating the stands in frustration.
The broadcast team, consisting of Mark Jones and Roddy Jones, echoed the sentiment of the departing fans. Jones remarked, “Leaking oil right now,” while also pointing out that the stadium appeared to be “leaking fans.” This comment came as Clemson's quarterback, Cade Klubnik, threw his fourth touchdown pass, further amplifying the disappointment among Tar Heels supporters.
Roddy Jones added, “The Bill Belichick experiment so far has obviously been disappointing, but this one feels more deflating than the TCU one did.” The disappointment was palpable, with many fans opting not to return for the second half, leaving Kenan Stadium nearly deserted at the start of the third quarter, predominantly filled with Clemson supporters.
In addition to the mass exodus from the stadium, the ESPN broadcast featured an interview with North Carolina student Anna Yi, who candidly criticized Belichick and the football program. Reflecting on the team’s previous blowout loss to TCU on September 1, Yi expressed that the 41-14 defeat was “one of the saddest feelings” she has experienced during her time at the university.
“I went to that game,” Yi shared, “and that was, that was one of the saddest feelings I’ve had in University so far. I’ve failed midterms before, so that’s saying something.” Her comments resonated with the audience, and the broadcast crew later revisited her interview in the fourth quarter. Mark Jones jokingly suggested that Yi might need academic support before criticizing the team further, stating, “I think maybe we need to get Anna a tutor first, so she doesn’t struggle with her next midterm.”
Roddy Jones chimed in, “First off, Anna, the fact that you failed midterms with an 's', plural; I’m with you, girl. I feel you.” He elaborated on the team's performance, declaring, “Look, each Saturday is a test, and let’s just say, North Carolina has failed miserably now on its third of the year.” The commentary highlighted the uncompetitive nature of the Tar Heels' games against top-tier opponents, including TCU, UCF, and Clemson.
As the season progresses, it’s clear that North Carolina fans are hoping for a turnaround, but the current sentiment suggests a growing frustration with the direction of the football program under Belichick’s leadership.
