Bill Belichick’s UNC players have dismissed claims about his 24-year-old girlfriend’s “controlling” involvement with the team. Belichick, 73, got caught in a controversy after fans speculated that his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, was displaying “controlling” behavior toward the former NFL coach in an interview.

But Belichick, widely regarded as one of the greatest—if not the greatest—NFL coaches of all time, is already noticing differences between players at the college and pro level. And it goes beyond the obvious age and skill differences that one would assume exist between the levels of football.

Bill Belichick’s relationship with Jordon Hudson continues to be a hot-button issue in the media because of their 48-year age gap, but there are people in the football coach’s inner circle who support their controversial romance.