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Mack Brown has Miami’s number. Does he still have Duke’s?

The Carolina coach was hoarse and sweating after the emotional win at Miami Saturday, which was his fourth straight and gives him a 4-0 career record against the Hurricanes. That wouldn’t be the case had The U been in the ACC in the 1990s, like Florida State was, but that’s not Mack’s fault.

Reading the sometimes-vile Miami blogs after losing again to the Tar Heels, their fans are unforgiving about the result and are all over new head coach Mario Cristobal for being 2-3 at this point in his first season since returning to his alma mater after a successful stint at Oregon.

Clearly, the ‘Canes are not close to the program that dominated the sport for 20 years, lacking the speed and physicality they had under coaches Howard Schnellenberger, Jimmy Johnson, Dennis Erickson and Larry Coker and their 5 national championships from 1983 through 2001.

Sure, they have some good athletes but not enough of them, and their quarterback can be an effective passer but never a dual threat because he is too slow. Overall, Carolina has built a better program in Brown’s four years back in Chapel Hill.

At the end of his post-game comments to Jones Angell, Brown turned his attention to Duke and UNC’s 110th meeting at Wallace Wade Stadium Saturday night. He wants it to be more like a home game when the 5-1 Tar Heels try to secure a fourth straight bowl bid and stay unbeaten and on top in the ACC Coastal Division.

“Our fans can stick their chests out and be proud as we head to Durham,” said Brown, who has beaten Duke 11 straight times at UNC after losses during his two 1-10 seasons in 1988 and ’89. “And I want everybody who can get a ticket to go to Durham. It’s like a home game for us because it’s so close and our fans can see us play and these kids are playing hard. So let’s pick ’em up. Just pick ’em up and really cheer for them and brag on them and that way, hopefully they’ll continue.”

Since Brown’s return, the Tar Heels have edged Duke in the 2019 classic at Kenan Stadium, when Chazz Surratt’s interception stopped the potential winning drive on the goal line. The last two years have been blowouts, but the Blue Devils are improved under new head coach Mike Elko and surprising quarterback Riley Leonard, who won the job over, among others, Gavin Spurrier, the grandson of Steve Spurrier, the former Duke coach and the last one to beat Brown.

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