"Bill Belichick is smiling at the rebuild opportunity": CFB world rips UNC's Fenway Bowl performance under Freddie Kitchens

The North Carolina Tar Heels are closing their season in a less-than-ideal way. Despite finishing the regular season with a modest 6-6 record, the Tar Heels were a 1.5-point favorite over the UConn Huskies entering the 2024 Fenway Bowl on Saturday.

The Huskies dominated UNC in the first half, taking a 24-7 lead at halftime. Fans on social media went in on the Tar Heels and interim head coach Freddie Kitchens following a lackluster first-half performance.

"Bill Belichick is smiling at the rebuild opportunity he has on his hands," Unnecessary Roughness posted on X.

"Man no wonder Bill Belichick opted out of watching this game," a fan added.

"Nothing against UConn, which played a splendid first half against North Carolina, but the way NC is playing, Bill Belichick might want to consider that buyout clause before June 1," sportscaster Dan Lovallo posted.

Some fans added that UNC's turnaround will be no easy feat for Belichick.

"Bill Belichick has a lot of work to do," a fan tweeted. "That team stinks."

"Bill Belichick is not saving this team," another fan added.

"Bill Belichick having buyers remorse," a third fan posted.

UConn tops UNC in Fenway Bowl

Freddie Kitchens couldn't lead the Tar Heels to a second-half surge, as North Carolina fell to UConn in the Fenway Bowl. The Tar Heels finished the season with a 6-7 record, their worst mark since 2021, capped off by a 27-14 loss versus the Huskies.

The Tar Heels were shut out in the second and third quarters offensively despite a strong effort on the defensive side of the ball. UNC limited UConn to just three points in the second half but was held to two punts and two turnover-on-downs before a garbage-time touchdown with under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Bill Belichick will look for a quick turnaround in his first season as UNC's coach and has already brought in ten transfers to help overhaul his roster.