Bill Belichick officially welcomed to Chapel Hill at halftime of UNC-La Salle basketball

The Dean Dome crowd was treated to a special surprise at halftime of UNC-LaSalle on Saturday.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are the talk of the sports world right now – and surprisingly, it has nothing to do with basketball.

On Wednesday, December 11, UNC hired NFL legend Bill Belichick to be its next head football coach. North Carolina showed initial interest in the likes of Tulane’s Jon Sumrall, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell and came close to hiring Tommy Rees, the former Notre Dame quarterback.

It was Belichick, though – with his winning mentality, continued passion for coaching and desire to get back on the sidelines – that led the Tar Heels to hire him.

On Saturday, Dec. 14 at halftime of the UNC-La Salle basketball game, North Carolina officially welcomed Belichick to the entire Dean Dome crowd.

Everyone in attendance greeted Belichick with a roar of applause – expectedly so. The Tar Heels go from one of the ACC’s most mediocre programs, to one that is now expected to contend for conference championships – and hopefully, CFP national titles.

UNC is already seeing the effects of hiring Belichick. 2024 starting offensive linemen Austin Blaske and Aidan Banfield pulled themselves out of the transfer portal. 5-star transfer portal prospects are planning visits to Chapel Hill.

Also on Saturday, 4-star quarterback Bryce Baker confirmed he will remain a Tar Heel – and plans to sign on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Baker joined Belichick on the court at halftime.

The moves aren’t anywhere close to being over yet. Belichick wants to turn North Carolina into an NFL-style program, previously saying UNC will turn into an NFL pathway. This means that the top talent out there, both in high school and the portal, should seriously consider Carolina Blue.

After all, every college football player’s dream is to make the NFL. So why not come play for Belichick?

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