Lopez blocks out ‘noise,’ focuses on growth amid criticism

By R.L. Bynum

CHAPEL HILL — As UNC quarterback Gio Lopez continues to navigate a challenging season, he’s faced mounting criticism from fans and media. But Lopez isn’t letting the “noise” shake his confidence or distract him from the work ahead.

The red-shirt sophomore South Alabama transfer says he tries to be himself and not worry about outside pressure.

“Coach [Bill Belichick] always says, ‘Don’t worry about the outside noise,’ and that’s how I’ve always been,” Lopez said, adding that he talks about everything with his dad and that he’s been a “great person for me to lean on.”

Lopez has dealt with adversity both on and off the field, including injury issues and red-zone turnovers that have cost UNC in close games. But he’s shown signs of progress, particularly in the first half against No. 15 Virginia, when he looked more comfortable and confident.

In that game, Lopez completed 23 of 36 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for another score. He was 17 for 25 for 173 yards in the first half, which was his best half of the season. Despite two second-half interceptions, his performance showed his progress.

“I think offensively, we’ve just been stacking days every day in practice,” Lopez said, adopting a common Belichick mantra. “It starts in practice every week, and we had a good game plan. I think [offensive coordinator Freddie] Kitchen did a great job with our game plan, and we just got to keep stacking days as a team.”

Lopez meets every Monday with Belichick to review game video and talk strategy, and says that those sessions have helped him stay grounded and focused. They talk about the game plan, what the defense is doing and how to be successful.

“Every time you get to talk to Coach Belichick, it’s a great moment,” Lopez said.

While the criticism has been loud, Lopez has leaned into leadership and accountability.

“I think from a team standpoint, just picking up everybody and having a good head on my shoulders, and just being uplifting wherever we’re at — in the locker room, on the field, whatever,” he said.

He’s also taken ownership of costly mistakes, especially in the red zone.

“I think the turnover situation, of course, starts with me,” Lopez said. “I’ve got to make a better decision in the red zone. Situationally, I just have to be better in the red zone. That’s something I just have to do better.”

Lopez’s numbers reflect both the struggles and the growth, passing for 597 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and a 59.8% completion rate and running for 80 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries.

“I think if we clean up some of the turnovers, and especially in the red zone, that changes a lot of our outcomes in the game,” he said. “If we can clean those things up, then we’re sitting on a different record.”

Despite the setbacks, Lopez says the team remains in a good mental place, considering that he admits the Tar Heels’ first two losses weren’t competitive.

“For us to have two competitive games against a good Cal team and a good Virginia team? You don’t want to say uplifting in the sense that you lost the game,” he said, “but I think it was in a sense that you can show we can compete and we can play with everyone in our conference.”

As UNC prepares to play at Syracuse on Friday at 7:30 (ESPN), Lopez is focused on continuing to build chemistry and confidence.

“I think I’m building chemistry every day,” he said. “I’m glad every day I practice, I build more chemistry with my guys. And there’s something that we just keep doing every day, keep being better.”

Team	ACC	All
No. 16 Virginia	7–1	10–2
No. 12 Miami	6–2	10–2
No. 25 SMU	6–2	8–4
No. 24 Georgia Tech	6–2	9–3
Pittsburgh	6–2	8–4
Duke	6–2	7–5
Louisville	4–4	8–4
Wake Forest	4–4	8–4
California	4–4	7–5
Clemson	4–4	7–5
N.C. State	4–4	7–5
Stanford	3–5	4–8
Florida State	2–6	5–7
North Carolina	2–6	4–8
Virginia Tech	2–6	3–9
Syracuse	1–7	3–9
Boston College	1–7	2–10

Friday’s result
No. 4 Georgia 16, No. 24 Georgia Tech 9
Saturday’s results
N.C. State 42, North Carolina 19
No. 12 Miami 38, Pittsburgh 7
Louisville 41, Kentucky 0
Clemson 28, South Carolina 14
Boston College 34, Syracuse 12
Duke 49, Wake Forest 32
Florida 40, Florida State 21
No. 16 Virginia 27, Virginia Tech 7
California 38, No. 25 SMU 35
No. 9 Notre Dame 49, Stanford 20
Saturday’s ACC championship game
No. 16 Virginia vs. Duke in Charlotte, 8 p.m., ABC

Month/ date	Score/ time	Opponent	Record/ TV
September
1	L, 48–14	vs. TCU	0–1
6	W, 20–3	at Charlotte	1–1
13	W, 41–6	vs. Richmond	2–1
20	L, 34–9	at UCF	2–2
October
4	L, 38–10	vs. Clemson	2–3, 0–1 ACC
17 (Fri.)	L, 21–18	at California	2–4, 0–2
25	L, 17–16, OT	vs. No. 16 Virginia	2–5, 0–3
31 (Fri.)	W, 27–10	at Syracuse	3–5, 1–3
November
8	W, 20–15	vs. Stanford	4–5, 2–3
15	L, 28–12	at Wake Forest	4–6, 2–4
22	L, 32–25	vs. Duke	4–7, 2–5
29	L, 42–19	at N.C. State	4–8, 2–6