“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work, reporting or approval of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com.
Let Him Cook
A perspective from Phil Hawkins
The wolves are already calling for Coach Belichick’s head after the pasting Clemson put on the Heels Saturday. Nothing went right. There was no facet of UNC’s game that one could even remotely call “good.” Not even in UNC’s past weakest seasons was every aspect of the game a trainwreck like these early games. I’m straining to find a glimmer of hope for this season. Having said that, I am still a late-blooming supporter of Coach Belichick. I heard a report during the Clemson game that Carolina has 70 new players, 40 of which did not even join the team until after the spring “Open Practice.”
New assistants, new organization, new administration administrators, even new diet regimens, new everything. These staff and player additions are so new they could not find Franklin Street if they were standing in the middle of it. Nor the Bell Tower from the 50-yard-line. They don’t know each other, I mean, at all, much less able to assess talent, form relationships, formulate new culture, and implement new players into what so far is a non-existing system.
The Heels are basically playing backyard pickup football. NOBODY knows what they are supposed to do at any position. Yet, having heard the changes coach Belichick is implementing, I’m of a mind to give him time to plug everything in the way he sees it. This year is a throwaway. He should just treat it as glorified practice and position evaluations.
Do we really want to go to Dublin next year and embarrass ourselves?
Now, next year – yeah, we always say that – Coach will have no excuse not to show major improvement. But as for this year, bite the bullet and give the man time to mold his program. Support the Heels as best you can, but in any case, it’s not fair to throw him to the curb and say “Next!”
Meanwhile, when does basketball season start?
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
