Aninternal investigation into the University of North Carolina football program regarding behavioral allegations against defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and former General Manager Michael Lombardi continues during the team's bye week.
UNC players maintain the situation is not a distraction. Starting center Christo Kelly addressed the inquiry during Monday's news conference, emphasizing strong internal cohesion across the roster.
"We don't really focus on anything like that," Kelly said. "We're here to play football. The bond in the locker room is so strong. It's not anything that we're focused on or worried about in any sense of the imagination. … We just block out the outside noise."
Kelly credited leadership across position groups and age
brackets with keeping the Tar Heels focused. "It's tremendous," Kelly said of UNC's leadership. "There are so many guys across positions and age groups that are leaders. That's keeping guys focused. Everyone's bought in to what we're doing here."
UNC running back Benjamin Hall affirmed Kelly's statements.
“I’m gonna be honest with you, no one or anyone in this building is losing any sleep over that,” Hall said.
The investigation, first reported by WRAL-TV, comes after Lombardi recently resigned from his position. Despite the off-field scrutiny, North Carolina opened its season with a victory over TCU.
UNC hosts East Tennessee State University in its home opener at Kenan Memorial Stadium at noon Saturday. A win would move the Tar Heels to 2-0 for the first time since 2024.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC players address investigation into program during bye week
