The University of North Carolina (UNC) took significant backlash from donors, alumni, and faculty over the hiring of Bill Belichick as head football coach, primarily due to his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson.
Hudson and the eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach generated interest in their relationship with absurd social media posts, including the 73-year-old college football coach on the beach helping her with the ol' morning yoga routine .
But the novelty wore off when the young Siren interrupted a CBS interview after a question about their relationship.
"We're not talking about this," Hudson told interviewer Tony Dokoupil, attempting to redirect the conversation to Belichick's book.
The network later claimed she interrupted the interview multiple times and was a "constant presence" on set, raising concerns about her influence over Belichick.
It didn't take long for UNC donors and alumni to voice their displeasure in numerous emails.
Emails obtained through a public records request by the Daily Mail reveal widespread anger with the hiring of Bill Belichick, with one donor threatening to withdraw all financial support, calling the situation a "total embarrassment" to UNC.
"What a total embarrassment to UNC. I am withdrawing all my donations and future donations," the individual wrote.
From there, the anger grew more palpable.
Another complained that there isn't "enough money to hire the numbers of professors we need, but paying a 73-year-old guy with no college football experience [sic] 10 millions is OK?"
According to the outlet, a faculty member blasted athletic director Bubba Cunningham and pleaded with him to end the experiment.
"When you agreed to pay a king's ransom to hire Bill Belichick, did you also know that you [were] hiring Jordon Hudson to serve as the primary face of UNC athletics?" they asked. "She's already an embarrassment, and it's only going to get worse. Please end this circus before the season begins."
Belichick has stated Hudson has no official role in the football program, but her influence continues to fuel negative perceptions.
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Rob Gronkowski , who won three Super Bowls with Belichick in New England , has been very vocal in his criticism that Hudson is only causing distractions as the coach tries to make his mark at North Carolina.
He said Belichick's successful career has been marked by a desire to eliminate distractions: "And we're just looking down at the program in North Carolina, and it feels like there are just distractions 24/7 down there."
Not everything is negative, however. Julian Edelman , who won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots as a wide receiver, defended Bill Belichick and his girlfriend following the CBS interview dustup.
Edelman, on his "Dudes on Dudes" podcast with Gronkowski, argued that Hudson was acting in a professional capacity, similar to Belichick's former aide Berj Najarian.
"From what I've heard, Jordon is playing the Berj role — handling all the football ops, handling a lot of his social, a lot of his PR," Edelman said.
Whether it's UNC or a future NFL team, Belichick and Hudson, despite being separated by nearly 50 years in age, may be a package deal that fans will have to accept going forward.
Hudson, the 24-year-old former cheerleader, has been spotted wearing a ring on her left hand. The display further fueled engagement rumors. As did the coach, changing the name of his boat from "VIII Rings" to "I + VIII Rings."
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