Outside of games against the NC State football program, the former Wolfpack star says he’s rooting for Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels.
There’s clearly a natural connection among Super Bowl-winning head coaches. In this context, it’s no surprise that Bill Cowher, a former NC State football player and the leader of the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XL, holds the newly appointed UNC football head coach and six-time New England Patriots champion Bill Belichick in high esteem.
However, during Sunday’s NFL on CBS broadcast, the 67-year-old Cowher, who still holds NC State’s single-season record for tackles (195 in 1978), was sure to mention one notable exception regarding his appreciation for Belichick’s work in Chapel Hill.
“Well, I believe one key thing about Bill Belichick is that he’s a football coach,” Bill Cowher shared with his colleagues. “He didn’t want to spend another year out of the game, and opportunities in the NFL weren’t looking promising for him. He had to make a choice about college, and I think he really got invested in that situation. I believe he’ll be a positive influence on the game.
“When it comes to what he brings to the table, I’ve learned two important lessons from Bill Belichick: humility and respect for the game. These qualities are something I think young college football players will appreciate.
“It’s going to create a pathway to the NFL. I hope he stays around; he didn’t come just to leave. I wish him all the best—except when he plays NC State.”
The Tar Heels will need support against the Wolfpack. Currently, NC State football has triumphed in four consecutive matchups against their rivals and has won seven of the last nine encounters, including a 35-30 victory on the road that marked the end of Mack Brown’s tenure at UNC just over two weeks ago.
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