Amid storm of reports, UNC and Bill Belichick release brief statements

Bill Belichick and Bubba Cunningham have finally spoken out.

After several days of reports that, taken together, paint a picture of dysfunction and deterioration within North Carolina football, the two program officials issued statements Wednesday evening, simultaneously. The messages were brief.

Belichick said, “I am fully committed to the UNC football program that we are building here.”

Cunningham, the university’s athletic director, said, “Coach Belichick has the full support of the athletic department and the university. »

That’s it. Nothing more. At least for now.

The silence had become deafening, especially after reports on Wednesday first indicated that the school was closed. consider possible exit strategies and then Belichick was discuss buyout options with UNC, which has been eliminated in its three games this season against FBS schools.

Whether this will be an effort to throw a half-filled bucket of water on the house fire or a truly unconditional renewal of vows remains to be seen. For now, they finally said something.

The late-night tweet is unlikely to stop journalists from seeking to slip behind the curtain to get more information about what’s really going on and where the relationship might be headed.