CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Amid a dizzying week of bad publicity in early October, Bill Belichick took to the dais to deliver a sermon to the nonbelievers.
No, he was not leaving North Carolina.
No, he was not making changes to his staff.
And yes, despite all evidence to the contrary after a 2-3 start and, most recently, a blowout loss to Clemson at home in which the stands at Kenan Stadium had emptied before halftime, this Tar Heels team was vastly improved.
"Our football team is a lot better than what it was at the end of spring ball, I can tell you that," he said.