Of all the ugly moments so far — bad play, blowout losses, home fans fleeing early for the exits — the most telling moment of Bill Belichick’s first season at North Carolina came during an open week.It took the form of a pair of terse statements from Belichick and athletic director Bubba Cunningham posted on social media late Wednesday, reaffirming the marriage between the six-time Super Bowl winner from the NFL’s New England Patriots and the school desperately seeking to elevate its football program beyond decades of also-ran status.“I’m fully committed to UNC Football and the program we’re building here,” Belichick said.The fact it came at all, though — following a day of speculation and reports of behind-the-scenes troubles in the program — said more about how the first few weeks of Belichick’s first college season have gone.The confident messaging about building the “33rd” NFL team with a pro-style approach at a college program has given way to school leaders and the Tar Heels’ general manager pleading for patience from fans and donors jarred by the team’s lack of competitiveness. And now the school has suspended an assistant coach for violating rules tied to improper benefits.It all comes amid elevated financial investments into the program, none more significant than spending at least $10 million annually to hire the 73-year-old Belichick as a first-time college coach.“It’s not the kind of thing we judge after four games or even after one season,” Chancellor Lee Roberts told reporters after a meeting of university trustees two weeks ago. “These things take time.”The Tar Heels (2-3) have managed a total of four touchdowns in three losses to power-conference opponents, each coming by at least 25 points. One of their two wins came against a Championship Subdivision opponent in Richmond.In games against fellow Bowl Subdivision opponents, UNC ranks last among all 67 power-conference teams in scoring offense (13.3), total offense (253.0 yards) and third-down conversion rate (26.5%). The Tar Heels also rank amid the bottom dozen in scoring defense (30.8), total defense (416.8 yards) and third-down conversion defense (43.4%), according to Sportra …
