Ahead of his highly anticipated debut as the head coach of the UNC football program, Bill Belichick spent some time with Rece Davis for an exclusive interview that was aired on College GameDay.
Of course, Davis asked Belichick about his emotions leading up to kick-off, a question that Belichick responded to with one of his typical answers. He noted that he would do his best to do his job, helping put the players in a position to succeed, and emphasized that he (and his coaches) can't go out on the field and make plays (jokingly adding that this is a good thing).
One of the most interesting things Belichick had to say was in response to a question about whether he believes his team is ready for opening day. Here's what the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach had to say:
'I dont know if you ever think you’re really ready. Opening day’s always a tough day. You prepare the best you can, then you move forward, whether in it’s that game or succeeding games based on what you see.'
For a guy who focuses on preparation, hearing him say that truly puts context into how coaches feel as they head into a new season. Especially with how roster fluctuation occurs now, essentially on a yearly basis, it's nearly impossible to determine how ready a team will be for the upcoming season until they actually take the field against an opponent.
While Belichick and his staff have gone above and beyond to ensure the players are as prepared and ready as possible, we ultimately won't know until the game gets underway if that's the case.
Belichick's quote illustrates the stress coaches face, especially leading up to their first game of the season. This year will add a little more to Belichick's plate, given the anticipation around his debut at the college ranks, as all eyes will be on him and his program on Monday night in Chapel Hill.
The new head coach of the UNC football program hopes his team is ready for the challenge.