Bill Belichick was apparently watching “College Gameday” Saturday morning.
The North Carolina head coach supposedly called Kirk Herbstreit as the panel was discussing his drama-filled football program in what turned out to be a bizarre moment in a week full of them for Belichick.
“I think the most important thing is, is to understand,” Herbstreit said during the discussion as he showed his phone to colleagues Nick Saban and Pat McAfee, “that he is completely bought into what’s happening with this team and with this program. And him leaving or the idea of him leaving…”
McAfee then interrupted Herbstreit, telling him to “answer that.”
“I can’t answer,” Herbstreit said.
McAfee wouldn’t relent.
“Answer that,” he said. “He has to be watching right now. That’s literally Bill Belichick calling Kirk Herbstreit. He probably has something to say.”
“Yeah. He probably does,” Herbstreit replied.
The strange cold call comes amid a turbulent week for Belichick and the Tar Heels.
UNC brass reportedly had “potential exit strategy discussions” and “preliminary conversations” about firing the legendary football coach earlier this week, according to 247 Sports.
Belichick had also reportedly “discussed buyout options with North Carolina’s hierarchy” with chaos encasing the program.
But that all was shot down after Belichick and UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham released statements addressing the head coach’s future in Chapel Hill.
“Coach Belichick has the full support of the Department of Athletics and University,” Cunningham said.
“I’m fully committed to UNC Football and the program we’re building there,” Belichick stated.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported Saturday that Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi have “no plans to leave Chapel Hill” and that the legendary football coach is telling those around him that he “loves coaching at the college level” and “believes they’re building something meaningful at UNC.”
North Carolina is 2-3 and returns to action next Friday against California.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
