NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Well, allow me to be that guy. Where is the public shaming of Bill Belichick in his first season as head coach of UNC, as there was with Deion Sanders in his first season at Colorado?
Belichick is highly decorated as a coach due to his time in the NFL. Now at the collegiate level, UNC is hoping he brings some of that magic over to the famous campus. But isn’t that the same thing Sanders was trying to do for Colorado? Wasn’t Sanders trying to bring glory, prestige, and eyes back to a school that became an afterthought in the world of College Football?
Wasn’t Sanders the one bringing College Gameday back to Boulder? Didn’t he have the fans and alumni hyped at what could be? Did he not bring 2 Heisman Hopefuls with him? Did he not coach at least 6 NFL players? And yet..
Here comes Bill Belichick, looking to do the same for the North Carolina Tar Heels Football team. There was a time when the Tar Heels were amongst the elite. But as we all know, it’s more about the lore of basketball on that campus than anything. The school did not necessarily need a big name attached to it, but as far as coaching goes, what name stands taller than the G.O.A.T?
But just like Deion, Bill comes with more than just rings and accolades. Since arriving, rumors have run regarding his personal life. It was the same with Deion. The media attacked everything they could about him. What should have been a focus on football became bigger than the game. It’s happening to Bill, but not on the same level as Deion.
The media loved to point the finger at the cameras following coach Sanders around. Instead of looking at the positivity it was bringing Colorado, it was viewed as him showing off. But wasn’t Bill and UNC Football set to do a show as well? Wasn’t UNC supposed to be the focal point of HBO Hard Knocks? Yes, the same program that follows NFL teams?
With Bill Belichick at the helm, they sought to adopt a college program approach. No one batted an eye at that. Imagine if they wanted to follow Colorado instead. It would have been an all-out attack on Deion. But for Bill, the crickets were out.
Now, when was the last time you saw a UNC Football opener on Monday night? What has UNC Football done in recent years to garner such a national stage? I’ll answer that, not a damn thing. This is all about Bill. Remember, when it was all about Deion, that had everyone in their feelings.
There are reports that a ton of famous alumni were in attendance at the UNC opener, which included Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, Lawrence Taylor, and others. Not a peep. But it’s a national headline and supposedly a distraction when Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and other athletes or entertainers attend a game at Boulder in support of Deion. Where is that same outcry where Bill is concerned?
Does he get a pass because of the name, or is it due to the championships? Deion Sanders is a household name. Deion has hardware. Yes, Bill is a better coach than Sanders; he’s also been doing it longer, and on a bigger scale. However, that doesn’t mean that he gets a pass from the same scrutiny that’s bestowed upon another coach for doing the same thing.
Bill knows his name holds weight. UNC knows his name holds weight. Deion knows his name holds weight just like Colorado knows it. Both schools are playing the same game, and yet, only one is being penalized in the media for it, while the other is being praised.
There is no way anyone should want either of these two coaches to fail. Belichick is a living legend in what he does. Why not root for him to achieve great things at the college level? As for Deion, he’s getting his feet wet and making a name for himself. But the media has a way of making people a villain. The media has a way of making sure no one becomes bigger than a program. They did it with Deion, will they try it with Bill?
A coach is hired to change the culture of a program. He’s brought in to win, instill discipline in his players, but most importantly, he’s the scapegoat of it all, good and bad. That’s what Deion has down on Colorado. He changed the culture of not just a football program, but of an entire city. Belichick and his football team can never overtake basketball as the top sport on campus as long as it remains around. The best thing he can do is pull a Deion Sanders and transform a losing program into one that wins, gaining national attention with what happens on the field.
