It took three minutes for somebody to dare to ask Bill Belichick about the decision to go for two in OT, to put the game between UNC and #16 Virginia down to a final play.
It took him three seconds to answer.
“Trying to win the game,” was the classic Belichick I’m not interested in talking to lowlifes like you any more than they make me response.
The guy who asked, to his credit, tried a follow-up.
Belichick: doesn’t play those games.
“Just trying to win the game.”
ICYMI
- Team of destiny? #16 UVA wins another by the skin of its teeth
- ‘Hoos 17, UNC 16: Not sure how, but #16 UVA wins, again, in OT, again
Reminds me of the story, obviously apocryphal, but anyway, still a good story, about a woman at a dinner party, trying to coax conversation out of the taciturn Calvin Coolidge, nickname: “Silent Cal.”
The woman tried to get him talking by saying to Silent Cal: “I have made a bet, Mr. Coolidge, that I could get more than two words out of you.”
To which he replied, “You lose.”
Calvin Coolidge is a former U.S. president.
I feel the need to mention that.
The education system isn’t what it used to be.
Right after, another reporter tried to get Belichick to break down the two-point play, which had quarterback Gio Lopez, a left-hander, rolling to his left, and throwing a checkdown pass to tailback Benjamin Hall.
Who was the number-one option on the play, was the question.
“Whoever was open.”
You lose.
We all know what happened by now. Hall was met first by UVA defensive back Emmanual Karnley, who cut Hall’s legs out from under him, as safety Ja’Son Prevard finished the tackle at the 1.
🔥 OVERTIME, OUR TIME 🔥
📺 @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/txsxeAnSOI
— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) October 25, 2025
Virginia coach Tony Elliott is a 180 from Bill Belichick. He can give you 1,000 words clearing his throat.
So, Coach, a reporter asked – I’m paraphrasing here – did you expect Bill Belichick to go for two, and what did you expect the play call to be?
“You know, I didn’t, to be honest with you, I would have kicked it and given the guys another opportunity in the second overtime, because then you have to go for two,” Elliott said, quickly adding, out of respect, because though Belichick is now 2-5 as a college coach, he did win six Super Bowls, before the NFL decided it didn’t want him anymore:
“But, man, he’s won a lot of football games, and, I mean, he’s one of the, you know, best in the business, for a reason, and so obviously he felt good about the call.”
You’re damn right Bill Belichick felt good about the call.
“Trying to win.”
“Just trying to win.”
To the play call: Elliott admitted being surprised that UNC wanted the ball on the left hashmark, given that Lopez is a left-handed QB.
“I was hopeful that there were some plays that may be eliminated by bringing it over there,” Elliott said.
That’s hard to say.
All we know from the Carolina side was that the play was designed to get the ball to “(w)hoever was open,” which could be anybody, coming from any direction.
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Chris Graham
