UNC football criticism reflects on fan base, faculty; student leader asks for independent review

Criticism of the Tar Heels football program is starting to reflect poorly on the university as a whole.

All week long, WRAL has reported on friction in the locker room, a failure of communication, even an assistant coach suspended. The exclusive reporting is based on information that sources have been sharing with WRAL's Pat Welter since spring practices.

Super Bowl champ and NFL Hall of Famer Bill Belichick was hired in December. He promised an NFL-style program, but parents and players say his culture is divisive and that contributes to poor results on the field.

Welter said sources provided him with an almost-overwhelming picture of a program in chaos.

"They were immediately volunteering information to me. Things like, from a parent, 'My son has no idea what's going on.' It is a complete mess," Welter said.

After an embarrassing 38-10 loss to Clemson last weekend, former UNC quarterback and analyst for Tar Heel Sports Network Bryn Renner called out that mess.

"You just see a lack of motivation on the sideline. You see a lack of sense of urgency from coaches and players," he said.

It’s not just urgency the coaches are lacking. It appears to be discipline as well.

The university suspended Cornerbacks Coach Armond Hawkins for violating NCAA rules related to extra benefits. Hawkins is being investigated further for what the university called, “potential actions detrimental to the team and University.”

Hawkins didn't answer texts, phone calls or email messages. When WRAL showed up at his door, he declined to comment, and said the university sports information director would be responsible for any statements on his status.

Chris Clemens, who until May 2025 was a vice chancellor and provost at UNC-CH said, "I don't know how you get out of this."

Clemens left his post after filing suit, alleging the UNC Board of Trustees violated open meetings laws in discussions about Belichick's hire.

Talking to UNC Sports Xtra, he called that hire a big bet, and said, "When you make a bet that's almost all or nothing, you might end up with the nothing. And I won't say we're there, but I think the bet has not paid off in the way that people were hoping."

The football foundational fractures have found their way to the UNC faculty as well.

Beth Moracco, faculty chair said on Friday, "It was frankly demoralizing to a lot of faculty to see that kind of investment made in athletics when we're struggling."

Belichick's 5-year, $50 million is guaranteed for at least three years. He is entitled to about $30 million total if he’s fired without cause.

"What has come since then certainly hasn't helped the situation," Moracco added.

Despite the frustrations around the handling of Belichick, Moracco said she has not been contacted by any faculty member who says they want to leave the university because of it.

UNC Student Body President Adolfo Alvarez is pushing for an independent review of the football program.

"It's not necessarily about how many games we're winning or the prestige over the football program," Alvarez said. "It's about the student-athletes who are part of our community and are part of the team and consistently get caught in the middle of crossfires when things like this happen."

After hearing about the dysfunction, division and concerns parents have for their children, Alvarez says an independent review could allow for players to speak for themselves with no fears of retaliation.

"It would be also great to hear firsthand from players about how that environment is playing," he said. "We can talk about the mental health resources that they are provided, but those have to be accompanied by successful team culture.

"They have to be accompanied by leadership within the team, working hard to make sure that they have a safe environment, that their feelings are being informed about their development, that they're being supported and set up for success, because we owe it to them."

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