Jimbo Fisher backs up Bill Belichick's ability to turn UNC football around: "It takes time"

It seems that the entire ESPN family of networks has banded together to provide unlikely support for Bill Belichick and the direction he has the UNC football program. Earlier today, it was Nick Saban defending his long-time friend and on the ACC Network, Belichick had more coach support.

Jimbo Fisher, former coach at FSU and Texas A&M, said that Belichick needed time and more loyalty from the administration at UNC. Fisher believes that it's simply something that the current group will learn from and improve upon. 

Fisher, who often battled his administration at FSU and occasionally at Texas A&M, suggested that Belichick "dig out" whoever is leaking information to the media.

""We just praised Tony Elliott and Mike Norvell...it took them three years. It took them time. College football is a learning curve. And the new report coming out of the building, that means somebody there that is not loyal and shouldn't be in the building. Go dig it out, go dig out who that guy is and get rid of them. And a bet a hundred dollars that it's some administrator that's not happy and didn't want him in there in the first place. They've all got their own agendas.""

Jimbo Fisher on ACC Huddle

Is time on Belichick's side?

Pete Thamel's report about Belichick being at a high school football game in Maryland on Friday night shows that the coach is continuing to recruit and build on what will be a large 2026 recruiting class of at least 35 incoming freshmen.

"They've got to get better, but it takes time. You've got to learn what to do. We always gripe about players wanting instant gratification...they want to be successful right away, but it takes time to develop," Fisher added. "Well, this does too. I'm not saying it should take forever. Some guys have turned it around, but it took Tony three years, it took Mike Norvell two or three years. Just because it doesn't happen immediately. Give them time to get it done and learn from this."

That report backs up Fisher's point that Belichick will learn from these mistakes and get better. Whether Belichick gets that time or not, or if he'll be forced to make changes within the structure of the program, remains to be seen.