By R.L. Bynum

CHAPEL HILL — While Bill Belichick has focused on the big picture, generating headlines and massive attention on the Carolina football program, Freddie Kitchens has been the steadying force getting the Tar Heels ready for the Fenway Bowl.

UNC named Kitchens the interim coach the day after Mack Brown’s second tenure as head coach ended with the N.C. State loss, and it’s been a whirlwind since then.

In his 25-year coaching career, Kitchens has seen a lot, so he’s learned not to be surprised by any changes on NFL teams or in college programs. He wasn’t shocked.

“I think the longer you stay in this business, the least amount you’ll be shocked. Not at all,” he said. “Coach Belichick is a ball coach, and I feel very fortunate to be able to extend and work here at Carolina, for him and for the people at Carolina.”

He’s also not shocked about the impact Belichick has had on every aspect of the program.

“I think any time Coach Belichick talks to someone on the phone — whether it be a recruit or recruit’s parent, or anything dealing with that potential athlete — for us, there’s definitely an excitement.”

While Kitchens and Belichick are in contact every day, Kitchens is running the practices and preparing for the 11 a.m. Dec. 28 game against UConn at Boston’s Fenway Park. He’s never been to a game there and only seen it from the outside while doing college tours with his daughter.

“He’s aware of practice and things like that,” said Kitchens, who is trying to make each practice competitive. “But, right now, I think we’re just going to finish the year out, and we’ll go from there.”

Belichick is leaving game-planning to the staff while staying updated on what’s happening every day.

Success in bowl games often depends on which team is happier to be there and more motivated to win, and that can vary widely. Will the buzz pulsating through the program since Belichick’s hiring help UNC in that regard?

“Anytime you have a new beginning, there’s going to be excitement,” Kitchens said. “But the excitement turning into a good thing is up to the individual player. I’m a short-term vision kind of guy right now, and my role right now is just to make sure I can do everything in my power — and the rest of the coaches do everything in their power — to get this team ready to play.”

Other than the exits of Brown and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey — who Michigan hired as offensive coordinator last week — the rest of the coaching staff for the bowl game is the same.

The offensive staff will collectively fill Lindsey’s role, with Lonnie Galloway — the assistant head coach, passing-game coordinator and wide receivers coach — scripting and preparing the team for each practice.

Kitchens has a job to do, and winning the game is important. But the Huskies haven’t been at the top of his agenda yet.

“It really hasn’t been about Connecticut at this point,” Kitchens said. “We’re just trying to do a good job of staying where our feet are and getting better each and every day, collectively and individually. And I think these guys have done a good job of knocking out some of the distractions and doing that.”

Kitchens, UNC’s run-game coordinator and tight ends coach for the last two seasons, embraces his key role in the transition from Brown and being the assistant coach Belichick hired.

The job description has changed dramatically but not his mission.

“However I factor in offensively or defensively or overall scheme of things, really it’s just to try to put the player in the best position to be successful, whether that be as a position coach, a coordinator, a head coach, it doesn’t matter,” Kitchens said. “You’re still trying to just put them in the best position to be successful.”

NOTES — Carolina has lured seven players out of the transfer portal: Delaware defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude, Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne, South Carolina tight end Connor Cox, Holy Cross offensive lineman Christo Kelly, Alabama offensive tackle Miles McVay, East Carolina defensive tackle C.J. Mims and Michigan place-kicker Adam Samaha. … Carolina has practiced every other day since exams ended and will practice every day after the team gets this Friday and Saturday off to be with their families. … The team will arrive in Boston on Tuesday. … Carolina has won all three meetings with UConn, 48–21 in 1990 and 38–12 in 2008 in Chapel Hill and 12–10 in 2009 at UConn.

Roster transactions

Incoming transfers (next season’s classes listed):
— Delaware 6–5, 260-pound senior defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude; 2024: 11 games, 10 tackles, 17 assists, 6.5 sacks for 50 yards, 8 QB hits
— Purdue 6–4, 210-pound redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Browne; 2024: 8 games, 34 of 76, 532 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 127.5 quarterback rating
— South Carolina 6–6, 251-pound junior tight end Connor Cox; 2024: 4 games, 1 catch, 9 yards
— Holy Cross 6–4, 305-pound fifth-year center Christo Kelly; 2024: Started 12 games, part of line that allowed 1.08 sacks per game, 11th-best in country
— Alabama 6–6, 340-pound sophomore offensive tackle Miles McVay; 2024: 5 games, 94 snaps
— East Carolina 6–2, 302-pound sophomore defensive tackle C.J. Mims; 2024: 12 games, 4 tackles, 19 assists, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
— Michigan 5–11, 195-pound junior place-kicker Adam Samaha; 2024: didn’t play (Wolverines had Big Ten Kicker of Year Dominic Zvada); 2023: 1 game, 1 extra-point attempt made
Entering but later exiting transfer portal (next season’s classes listed):
— Sophomore 6–3, 300-pound offensive linemen Aidan Banfield: 2024: 62.8 Pro Football Focus grade best in country among true freshmen
(6–3, 300-pound sophomore)
— Fifth-year 6–5, 310 fifth-year center Austin Blaske: 2024: Started 11 games with Pro Football Focus grade of 85.6
— Junior 6–0, 230-pound linebacker Amare Campbell; 2024: 12 games, 42 tackles, 30 assists, 11 tackles for losses, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
— Senior 6–1, 190-pound wide receiver Kobe Paysour; 2024: 12 games, 19 catches, 330 yards
In the transfer portal
— Offensive linemen Zach Greenberg, Jakiah Leftwich, Andrew Rosinski (committed to Georgia Tech), Howard Sampson and Eli Sutton (Austin Peay)
— Running backs Jordan Louie and Caleb Hood
— Quarterback Conner Harrell
— Defensive lineman Travis Shaw
— Place-kicker Noah Burnette

Month/ date	Opponent	Time/ score	TV/ record
August
29	at Minnesota	W, 19–17	1–0
September
7	vs. Charlotte	W, 38–20	2–0
14	vs. N.C. Central	W, 45–10	3–0
21	vs. James Madison	L, 70–50	3–1
28	at Duke	L, 21–20	3–2, 0–1 ACC
October
5	vs. No. 18 Pittsburgh	L, 34–24	3–3, 0–2
12	vs. Georgia Tech	L, 41–34	3–4, 0–3
26	at Virginia	W, 41–14	4–4, 1–3
November
2	at Florida State	W, 35–11	5–4, 2–3
16	vs. Wake Forest	W, 31–24	6–4, 3–3
23	at Boston College	L, 41–21	6–5, 3–4
30	vs. N.C. State	L, 35–30	6–6, 3–5
December
28	vs. UConn in Fenway Bowl	11 a.m.	ESPN