Bill Belichick's first college season is starting to look a lot like a two-minute drill. And not the efficient kind.
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The former Patriots coach, who spent 24 seasons running the show in New England, might not even finish one full campaign at North Carolina. In fact, his tenure could be in jeopardy before the week is out.
Andrew Jones of 247Sports, a CBS-owned outlet, reported Tuesday that "potential exit strategy discussions" took place at UNC in the morning. The conversations were described as "preliminary," but they centered on ways to reduce or avoid paying out Belichick's buyout if the school moves on.
The rapid shift comes as reports swirl of potential NCAA rules violations within the program. Earlier this week, news surfaced that an assistant coach was suspended for providing extra benefits to player families, while some players were caught selling complimentary game tickets.
According to Jones, those issues might just be the beginning. He cited a source who claimed "many other violations" have occurred, including on the recruiting front.
Belichick's team is off to a sluggish start on the field, and now the off-field storm clouds are gathering quickly. Jones concluded his report with a telling line, calling it his opinion but saying, "I don't think it's a lock that Belichick coaches the Cal game."
That game is just nine days away, with a late Friday kickoff set for October 17 in Berkeley. If UNC decides to pull the plug, it will need to act fast. Belichick may have traded the NFL spotlight for a college sideline, but his situation in Chapel Hill is escalating at breakneck speed.
