John Nieman
As I have previously written in this space, at the urging–actually, insistence–of Jeff, Stephanie, Burke and Larkin, I have made a real effort to follow UNC sports other than soccer. In that regard, I have, like most others, been fascinated by the Belichick UNC Football Saga.
Owing to an important family function Martha and I hosted on the Saturday of the Pitt football game, I was unable to watch the game. However, I watched the 15-minute highlight recap provided by ESPN and feel like I didn’t miss a thing. (I will forgo my usual commentary of the lack of actual action in football.)
It was clear to me that the defense for UNC has greatly improved since the resignation of Belichick’s son as defensive coordinator. I don’t know enough about football or the workings of UNC football to state that those two factors are related. I’m just saying.
What I observed in the week heading up to the game and then post game is that there is a real change in the attitude toward UNC and college football by Coach Belichick.
I sincerely believe that he came to UNC thinking that this was just going to be a walk in the park. That he would show the world what the so-called best NFL coach in history could do in the college game. That he would provide a platform for his son to have a job as head coach in the future. That he would allow a 20-something cheerleader to be his spokesperson and advisor and that would all be okay.
That plan clearly came crashing to the ground.
To his credit, Belichick could have gone in many directions after such failure. It appears that he has decided to show maturity and good judgment as opposed to his previous tactic. I think that is important.
Belichick and I are around the same age and so I can say that, at this stage of life, one can look to the past and have that be the focus, or one can look at the past and the future, knowing that the future will enhance and inform the past.
I am certain that Belichick does not want his legacy to be that he was lucky enough to be the coach of the greatest football quarterback in NFL history which he followed up by confirming to all those doubters that Brady was the reason for his success by being something of a joke as a college coach.
I hope that he realizes that he has been given a tremendous opportunity by being named the coach of the University of North Carolina football team. Coaching at a university that has won national championships in numerous sports. Coaching at a university in the tradition of the likes of Dean Smith. An ACC Championship and a berth in the national college football playoffs would be a legacy-making accomplishment. I hope with all of my heart that he realizes this and manages to accomplish it. I understand that I may be overreacting to one away win, but that is how dreams are made.
And speaking of legacy, I will continue to rant in this space about the absence of any mention of the founders of Rainbow Soccer on the Rainbow Soccer website.
When I went back to play in the program in the 2010s, I made it a point to reach out and compliment the operators of the program on the incredible improvement to the facilities and organization of the program and they certainly deserve that credit.
But to completely ignore the contribution that Kip Ward and Vicki Brawley made to the sport of soccer in the Chapel Hill and Orange County communities is outrageous.
The founding of a program where sport is focused on fun and fulfillment as opposed to competition resulting in high school championships, professional players, happy participants and incredible memories. And more than a few lifetime partnerships, including mine and Martha’s.
Rainbow Soccer in the ‘70s and ‘80s was a unique experience for all. And it was all due to the vision of Kip Ward, the support and hard work of Vicky Brawley, and, quite frankly, the financial support of Vicky and her family. That neither Kip nor Vicky are mentioned anywhere is petty and completely the opposite of the spirit of Rainbow Soccer.
I, along with thousands of Rainbow alumni, are grateful for their recognition through their induction in the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame. That induction was solely based on their founding, institution and maintenance of Rainbow Soccer, and the fact that they are not recognized by the organization today is quite a shame.
And so I guess I’ll keep proclaiming my disappointment until justice prevails.
Fat Boy Index: 230.