Tar Heels followers lighting the torches and sharpening the pitch forks betters stand down … Antonio Gates tells TMZ Sports activities it doesn’t matter what occurs at UNC this season, Jordon Hudson shouldn’t be labeled a villain.

In fact, there seem like many in Carolina blue who’re already angling to make Invoice Belichick‘s 24-year-old girlfriend a scapegoat following a current rash of detrimental headlines about her … however once we acquired Gates out at LAX on Friday, he instructed us the haters ought to again off.

Whereas he did not essentially love that Carolina’s new head coach is intermingling a lot of his private life along with his skilled one — he made it clear, Jordon can have zero impression on UNC’s win-loss report in 2025.

“You may’t blame her if issues do not go proper,” he instructed us.

That being stated, the Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer did acknowledge all of the nationwide consideration Belichick’s relationship has drawn would require extra focus than ever from the 73-year-old legend — a process he is certain Belichick will not have concern with.

“He has the inexperienced mild to do what he must do,” Gates stated. “I feel he understands the preparation of what it takes. So, I feel he’ll be nice.”