It’s no secret that NFL Hall of Famer and new North Carolina Tar Heel head coach Bill Belichick has been involved in his fair share of drama this offseason. From CBS Sunday Morning interviews to football facility bans, it feels like Belichick is making headlines every day.
The latest story is at least football-based, as a running back for the NC State Wolfpack, a major rival of North Carolina, has hung a picture of Belichick’s face up on a dartboard and is using it for target practice.
NC State RB Hollywood Smothers Sparks Controversy With Viral Dartboard Photo Aimed At UNC Coach Bill Belichick
Hollywood Smothers, who is a sophomore running back at NC State, posted a picture of Bill Belichick’s face on his dart board with countless holes going through it and the caption “target practice.”
NC State RB Hollywood Smothers is taking shots at #UNC head coach Bill Belichick.
Smothers took an unofficial visit to UNC as a recruit out of West Charlotte. The Tar Heels never offered. pic.twitter.com/2FHfpW2ej8
— Grant Hughes (@GrantHughesNC) May 15, 2025
The post sparked controversy with some referring to it as “violent” or “excessive.”
However, you may feel about the post itself, Belichick ought to know about Smothers when North Carolina and NC State face off on November 29, as the young running back is coming off a fantastic season.
As a redshirt freshman, Smothers ran for 571 yards and six touchdowns, averaging well over six yards per carry, including an 83-yard and two-touchdown performance to close out the season in a victory over the Tar Heels.
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Smothers, a North Carolina native, did take an unofficial visit to Chapel Hill in 2021 during his recruitment. This, along with the Tar Heels being in-state rivals adds some fuel to this fire.
The back began his career at Oklahoma in 2023 but soon transferred after one season back to his home state. Last season against UNC, he rushed 13 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns.
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