Bill Belichick, in his first season as head coach of the UNC Tar Heels football team, staunchly defended the struggling program during a press conference by invoking Donald Trump’s iconic “fake news.”

The Tar Heels sit at 2-5 overall, having endured four straight losses. The latest involved a narrow defeat to No. 15 Virginia, in which Belichick opted to go for two after a touchdown in overtime rather than tie it and head to another extra frame.

The coach was asked if he thought the program was headed in a different direction ever since he released a statement weeks ago about his commitment.

“I’m fully committed to UNC football and the program we’re building here,” he said at the time.

Athletic director Bubba Cunningham added his own statement saying, “Coach Belichick has the full support of the Department of Athletics and the University.”

Since that time, North Carolina has lost both games, though the scores have been a little closer than some earlier-season blowouts.

Bill Belichick slams fake news

The fact that Belichick had to make a statement insisting he’s committed to the program was evidence that many doubt he actually is.

In fact, speculation was running rampant about an exit strategy despite Belichick’s $20 million buyout clause in his contract. The irked coach insisted that the team’s new direction was due to his players’ efforts, not to any renewed effort on his part.

“It’s never been anything but that,” he said of his players.

“Whoever that story came from, it’s already been taken down and everything else. It’s just total — as Trump would say — fake news. It’s just a novel,” Belichick fired back.

“Look, our consistency has been here since the day that Michael Lombardi and I came in and started hiring people and came into the organization in December.”

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Need to turn things around

It’s easy to see why Belichick took umbrage with the line of questioning. If it took a report about him leaving to ignite a fire under him and his coaching staff, then that’s a problem.

You’d think he’d have been motivated from the word ‘go,’ determined to get another look as a head coach in the NFL based on his performance in Chapel Hill.

It’s no secret that at 2-5 and having zero signature wins and zero wins in the ACC, Bill Belichick’s foray into college sports has been a thorough mess. We haven’t even mentioned the Jordon Hudson debacle yet.

If they’re going to turn things around and salvage something of the season, they’d better get into gear right now. And that’s not “fake news.”

The Tar Heels have an upcoming road game against Syracuse and no remaining ranked opponents on their 2025 ACC schedule.