Bill Belichick Gets More Bad News After UNC Loss to Duke

By Anne EricksonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Bill Belichick is coming up on the end of his first season as the head coach of the University of North Carolina football program, and on Saturday, Nov. 22, it started to wind down with a disappointing loss to rivals Duke, 32-25. While North Carolina's defense is solid, the team's run game was a disappointment, and it's something to worry about going forward.

Duke running back Nate Sheppard was especially explosive during the game, taking 22 carries for 90 yards, an average of 4.1 yards per carry, and snagging one reception for 18 yards, according to ESPN research. It was also the first time this season that Sheppard had more than 20 carries. Overall, Duke rushed for 177 yards on 43 attempts, and it was all too much for the Tar Heels to handle.

After the game, Belichick praised Sheppard's performance, which ultimately was the nail in the casket for the Tar Heels. "There are certainly fundamental things we could have done better tackling. I mean, [Nate] Sheppard is one of the best backs in the conference," Belichick said. "So, I mean, tackling a pretty good guy. I mean he's he doesn't go down easy. He's very good back. So, yeah, we got him a few times, and there's a couple times we didn't get him."

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

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Belichick went on to praise Sheppard even more, perhaps rising his draft status in the process. "This was one of the best backs in the conference," the coach added. "I mean, guy missed a few games, but he's still got, you know, big numbers, which you give a good back some space, or if you don't get him a lot of space. I mean, those guys make yards against everybody."

On top of the loss, Belichick got more bad news after the game. Thanks to the Duke loss, UNC's record is 4-7, and they'll be ineligible to quality for a bowl with their upcoming game against NC State.

Read more: Bill Belichick Under Fire After North Carolina’s Latest Setback

So, UNC will go up against NC State for an away game on Saturday, Nov. 29, to round out their season. Then, the offseason will begin. Belichick will have a lot of soul-searching to do to get ready for a hopefully better next season with the Tar Heels, or, the NFL could also be calling.

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