BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — The Bill Belichick era at North Carolina already had endured several lopsided losses. Now the Tar Heels have a heartbreaking one to go with it.
The one thing that North Carolina is still searching for is its first victory over a power opponent since the six-time Super Bowl champion coach took over the program.
After losing its first three games against power conference teams by an average of 29 points, the Tar Heels hung tough against California on Friday night until Nathan Leacock’s fumble at the goal line turned a possible go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter into the defining moment of a 21-18 loss .
“We’ve been improving every week,” Belichick said. “I’m not going to back off. I think that’s true. But you can’t turn the ball over and win. It’s just