5 hours ago
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A North Carolina college football star has abruptly retired amid the team's ongoing struggles and rumors that head coach Bill Belichick may soon quit.
Legendary NFL coach Belichick has suffered a humiliating start to life in college football, slumping to a 2-3 record which was most recently compounded by a miserable 38-10 defeat to Clemson at the weekend.
In the wake of that result, bombshell reports claimed that the former New England Patriots coach was considering walking away from the job.
Now, just days later, one of his star players has decided to call it quits five games into the new season.
In a statement on X, UNC star Caleb Hood wrote: 'After much thought, prayer and discussion with my family, I have decided to retire from football.
'My journey at UNC has been special and I appreciate my time here. I am excited to start the next chapter and will always take my memories of Carolina with me.
Legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick has endured a difficult start to life in college football
UNC running back Caleb Hood has announced his decision to retire from football immediately
'I want to thank Coach Belichick, Coach Kitchens and Coach Means for giving me an opportunity, as well as all my other coaches and teammates throughout my years of football for the impact they've all had on my life!'
Belichick released his own statement shortly after. It read: 'Caleb came to me Wednesday and shared his difficult decision to retire from playing football. I could feel his conviction and the peace with his playing career closing.
'Caleb is a great person, a leader and an exemplary teammate. He has done everything we have asked him to do as a student-athlete both on and off the field and he has been a model representation of our program.
'He has battled through injuries the last couple years and worked hard this offseason to stay healthy and compete every day this season. He will always be a Tar Heel and I wish him nothing but the best moving forward.'
Amid the rumors that Belichick may be looking to walk away from the Tar Heels, reports also emerged which suggested that he was losing the locker room.
According to WRAL News, insiders claim the Tar Heels' struggles can be put down to 'a divided locker room, a disorganized coaching staff and a failure to communicate.'
Meanwhile, a parent of a current UNC star told the outlet: 'It's all starting at the top, and the boys are being affected.
'I don't fault the players; I fault the leadership that created this toxic environment. There's an individualistic mindset. The boys are young, and they are feeding into it'.
The legendary coach has suffered a humiliating start to life at the University of North Carolina
Insiders told the outlet that a large reason for the divide stems from the team's recruitment and, in particular, the preferential treatment that some stars get.
The outlet claim that some Belichick-recruited transfers are receiving 'preferential parking' and 'more tickets for games' compared to other teammates.
Shortly after these revelations came to light, reports suggested that Belichick wanted out of UNC - however he quickly came out and refuted those claims.
'I'm fully committed to UNC Football and the program we're building here,' the short statement shared by the North Carolina athletics department read.
Bubba Cunningham, the school's Director of Athletics, also shared a statement, insisting that Belichick 'has the full support' of the department and the university.
The joint statements came five hours after a blockbuster report from The Guardian's Ollie Connolly claimed that Belichick had opened discussions about leaving the program.
Belichick is said to have discussed his exit plans with the Tar Heels chiefs and was claimed to have even been willing to trigger is own $1million buyout, should he find a better alternative with another team or a return to the media.
'Bill shuts people out. He's limited in what he says,' a source said
After their most recent defeat, hundreds of fans piled for the exits before the game ended
To add insult to injury, members of Belichick's coaching staff were also already preparing to flee with some even reaching out to programs that are expected to make it to the CFB playoffs about potential roles, the report added.
Some staffers have reportedly predicted that the expected overhaul could come in the next two weeks with one saying that the 'rats are leaving the ship.'
They also alleged that Belichick's communication with his own coaches had become 'weird' and 'distant' over the past two weeks.
The head coach was said to be unreachable by some members of staff during UNC's recent bye week, which Belichick spent with his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, who has become an ever-present fixture on the sidelines of the Tar Heels' games.
