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Legendary UNC QB to boycott UNC football games
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- Legendary UNC QB to boycott UNC football games
Few fan bases understand Marquise Williams ' loyalty to North Carolina better than Tar Heel fans.
The former star quarterback has long been one of the program's most visible supporters. He's a regular at Kenan Stadium and is often on hand for UNC football games.
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He's more than a familiar face on the sideline, too. His on-field résumé carries weight.
Williams set more than 20 North Carolina records, including most career rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback as well as career total offense. His 99 total touchdowns were a school record before Sam Howell surpassed it.
His best season came in 2015, when he led the Tar Heels to their first ACC championship game appearance and an 11-win season, the program's first since 1997. That year, he threw for 3,072 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and added 948 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
That history is what makes his latest social media activity so alarming. On Thursday morning, Williams posted on X that he will not attend any UNC football games this season .
For someone who has consistently backed his alma mater and the program he once led, that's a troubling development.
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What went wrong?
Dec 28, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams (12) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina defeated Cincinnati 39-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
While more context is needed, there could be several reasons Williams is frustrated with the football program.
For starters, Williams might not be happy with the direction of the program under Bill Belichick, whose tenure began with a 4-8 season and no bowl appearance for the first time since 2018.
Williams and other former Tar Heels also may feel pushed to the margins under the new regime. During his tenure, Mack Brown made the family element central to the program, creating space for alumni not just to visit Chapel Hill, but to stay involved in mentoring the current team and contributing to its development, chemistry and success.
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If it's in fact a Belichick-related issue, this is the price UNC chancellor Lee Roberts and the board of trustees must pay, especially given Belichick does not care for the program. Given how much of a PR move his entire tenure has been, he might have used UNC as a way to get back into the NFL, which obviously did not work.
If Williams' boycott holds, it is a bad omen.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Football: Former QB Marquise Williams boycotts UNC football games
