Bill Belichick discusses UNC football before spring practice
UNC football coach Bill Belichick spoke with media members ahead of the Tar Heels’ second spring practice on Wednesday. Here’s what Belichick said.
- UNC football will hold an open practice, “Practice Like A Pro,” instead of a traditional spring game.
- The practice, styled after Bill Belichick’s NFL practices, will be free and open to the public at Kenan Stadium.
- Fans can get autographs and meet players after the practice session.
- Several other major college football programs are also forgoing traditional spring games this year.
UNC football will not have a spring game in its debut season under head coach Bill Belichick, but fans will be allowed to watch the Tar Heels practice at Kenan Stadium on Saturday.
Dubbed “Practice Like A Pro” day, UNC’s 15th spring practice under Belichick is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., with free admission. In a release, UNC said Saturday’s practice session will have the look of practices the NFL’s New England Patriots held under Belichick, who led the Pats to six Super Bowl championships.
The practice will feature “multiple periods of action,” with an in-stadium emcee providing details on what will happen in each period. UNC’s spring roster features 32 newcomers, including 18 additions from the transfer portal and 14 freshmen.
Following practice, players will be available for a brief autograph session. At that point, fans will be invited to come to the field level wall to meet the Tar Heels as they exit the field, which is natural grass for the first time since 2019. UNC played on a synthetic turf field from 2020-24.
Free public parking will be available at 5 p.m. in the Bell Tower Deck, Bowles Lot, Cardinal Deck, Jackson Deck and Manning Lot. Concession stands will be open.
College football programs are allowed 15 on-field practice sessions over a 34-day period. Teams have traditionally ended the practice period with spring games, but many programs are opting out of that format. Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Texas and LSU are among the notable schools not hosting traditional spring games.
Duke hosts its spring game on April 19, but N.C. State closed its spring period without a game or open practice for fans. The Tar Heels kick off the 2025 season against TCU on Monday, Sept. 1 (7:30 p.m., ESPN) at Kenan Stadium.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
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