Help is arriving at UNC! The program is reportedly in the final stages of hiring former Chicago Bears PR executive Brandon Faber to front some solid attempt at damage control. The move came after Pablo Torre’s podcast had cited 11 sources to claim that Bill Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, was banned from entering UNC’s football facility: “Don’t think you’ll be hearing much from Jordon moving forward.” In response, an athletic department spokesperson released a carefully worded statement: “While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the University or Carolina Athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina Football facilities.” You’d think that would have sufficed, but the noise hasn’t quite dissipated.

That, for the most part, was because Torre wasn’t one to back off. In fact, he stood by his reporting. Not only that, he went as far as criticizing UNC for not responding to the “dozens of FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests” they have filed to inquire about Hudson’s involvement. He tweeted, “UNC can now choose to describe or change its position on Jordon Hudson’s involvement however it wishes, following the publication of our episode.”

As per the latest reports available on this, Faber will work directly for North Carolina, with his title yet to be determined, and not Belichick. Yet, he is still very much a Belichick hire, and could work with the coach for non-UNC issues as well. At this point, it’s safe to say: UNC is looking for a rebrand, which became evidently clear when Breer reported, “I have heard that [Belichick] is aware of what’s being said, and how he’s being perceived, and that, at this point, he’s far from having it all figured out.” A timely intervention before Belichick’s Good Morning America live interview with Michael Strahan on May 16, wouldn’t you agree? Well, ESPN College Football‘s Pete Thamel and Rece Davis have their answers for you.

Thamel: “What UNC has said was clear, and clearly planned, and that going forward, we won’t see Jordon Hudson affiliated with UNC football other than being Bill Belichick’s girlfriend. And I think that’s the line of delineation that UNC has clearly put here.”
Davis: “And the other things they did say, she’s welcome at the facility. I imagine she’s helping him with the social media presence, which a lot of coaches nowadays need. So I’m not going to be surprised if she’s around. Formally, she’s not going to be doing anything with UNC football,” Thamel reiterated, and Davis continued, “Would anyone have expected otherwise? […]  I don’t think she’s going to be talking about the proper hand placement for the three techniques, is she?”
Thamel: “She’ll just resume a role as a coach’s significant other.”

Having someone who gets the digital game, like Jordon Hudson, could be strategic for Bill Belichick. But there’s apprehension because recently, words floated around that she might be filling in the role of the HC’s PR spot. Word is that she’s basically trying to be Berj Najarian, the man who ran PR for Belichick for 24 years, and helped Belichick navigate the ‘Spygate’ and ‘Deflategate’ drama during his time with the Patriots. 

Wherever Bill Belichick goes, Jordon Hudson is there. The PR nightmare that followed last month’s CBS Sunday Morning interview, where Hudson decided to toe the line on how far she wanted their relationship to be in the public domain, isn’t going to go away anytime soon. While Hudson remains the center of attention for now, there is something more interesting happening at UNC.

Will Bill Belichick coach at UNC?

Bill Belichick hasn’t even coached a single game at UNC yet. But rumors are flying that he might not make it to Week 1. According to Torre’s report earlier this week, “I think there’s a chance, an absolute real chance, that he doesn’t (coach UNC’s Week 1 game).” Why? It’s the money. June 1 is a magic date. “Everybody who follows contractual language pointed out that on June 1 the buyout of Bill Belichick goes from $10 million to $1 million if Bill wanted to escape hatch,” he reported. But for Rece Davis, that’s a laughable context.

“I will say this. From my interactions from my talks both on camera and off, this notion that it’s even a remote possibility that somehow he wouldn’t coach seems preposterous to me,” Davis said. And the ACC seems to agree.

Even ACC commissioner Jim Phillips made a bold revelation — “(ESPN) ran to us, before we could even run to them (about televising more UNC games). It’s a great thing for ACC, a great thing for North Carolina & we are all following the massive coverage that Coach Belichick draws.” The former NFL HC rolled into Chapel Hill with cash, cameras, and clout. It’s the perfect storm. 

While UNC may not have expected all this drama with their head coach, the spotlight could easily be shifted to their football program once the season starts. So buckle up! This isn’t just a football story anymore. It’s reality TV meets the gridiron with Bill Belichick front and center. What do you think?