Bill Belichick swapping the NFL for the college ranks? It's uncharted territory for one of football's greatest minds. But if anyone can adapt, it's Belichick. And he's already identifying the differences—and opportunities—that come with coaching college athletes.
Videos by FanBuzz
"In some respects, you have more time with college kids," Belichick said during his North Carolina introductory press conference. "Not as much meeting time, but more practice time. Certainly more opportunities to practice in pads and work on fundamentals and things like that. You know, it's a trade-off."
That extra practice time could be a game-changer for a coach like Belichick, who thrives on drilling fundamentals. Thanks to the NFL's 2011 CBA, offseason workouts and padded practices were slashed. In college, though? No such restrictions. It's a different playing field, one that Belichick seems eager to exploit.
But make no mistake—his approach to game preparation isn't changing.
"I want to be versatile and take advantage of the personnel we have," he said. "I believe in attacking a defense and defending what the offense does well. And that takes some versatility. All two teams aren't the same. And I think you have to play them differently from week to week."
The real question is whether Belichick can lure top-tier talent to North Carolina, where he's taking the reins. Recruiting will be the ultimate test for a man used to picking his players through a draft. But according to former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, the Belichick effect is already making waves. "I've heard from multiple Division I players who want to play for Belichick," Harrison said on PFT Live.
Belichick's name alone is a draw. Now, it's time to see if he can build a college dynasty the same way he built one in Foxborough.
