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Mack Brown doesn’t like Carolina’s 2023 schedule because it is not fair.
The UNC head coach’s big beef about the next football schedule that came out Monday is that the Tar Heels finish the new season with games at Clemson and N.C. State. What about having to beat the best to be the best, Coach?
Brown has said repeatedly that his program “needs to take the next step” after losing such opportunities against Notre Dame at home and Clemson in the ACC Championship game. And here is his chance, perfectly positioned.
The real problem with last season, after starting 9-1, the Heels could not beat Georgia Tech and State at home in games that went down to the last possessions. And there are several things Brown should like about the new slate.
One, the Heels have seven home games and will be favored to win all seven, ending with Senior Day against Duke in week 11 on November 11.
Two, they play lightweight Campbell in week 10 before Duke and their first trip to Clemson since 2014 and the regular season finale at State. The Fighting Camels are no longer an FCS school, which have been all but banned from FBS schedules, but is still very much a warm-up game for the tough last three weeks against ACC contenders and returning bowl teams.
Third, the season opener against South Carolina in Charlotte will be a high-profile national TV game with heralded quarterbacks Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler of the Gamecocks. That will be followed by App State’s return visit to Chapel Hill, a home game against Big Ten also-ran Minnesota and a trip to Pitt where the Panthers have their third starting quarterback in three years.
UNC has a real chance to be 4-0 or 3-1 by the open date, after which come three straight home games against Syracuse, Miami and Virginia, all underdogs under the pines. Carolina goes to Georgia Tech, which has another new head coach, and should end two straight upset losses to the Jackets.
Brown also said last season that “next year is supposed to be our best team.” If so, that means facing Clemson and State with quarterbacks who came on late last fall and will play opponents far better prepared for them this year. Besides the possibility to start 9-1 for the second straight season and in undoubtedly Maye’s last year before turning pro, what is unfair about another shot at becoming the program we all want it to be?
“They didn’t do us any favors,” Brown whined of the ACC. “It’s really difficult. We start tough and end with an unbelievably tough schedule. I’m disappointed. I told them I didn’t like it, didn’t think it was fair.”
Get over it, Coach, and get your team ready.
Photo via AP Photo/Chuck Burton.
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… and so much for any chance of Art receiving a valentine from Sallie Brown this year.
Well I’ll be!!! Art actually almost criticized Mack. Well here’s more criticism. He’s the worst “Hall of Fame” coach in the history of football. But I admire Mack! He’s not stupid! He’s already making excuses for not winning next year! Hey, Mack, you really don’t need to make excuses as you’re there as long as you want to be!!
Thank you Art.
Finally someone who covers Carolina athletics calls it as they see it.
All to often, UNC sports are treated with kid gloves by the local media. In this age of multi million dollar contracts and NIL money that far exceeds what most average fans earn, these coaches and players should not be protected from the criticism they may deserve. This is big business.
Mack Brown should relish the opportunity to play Clemson and NC State back to back to finish what should be an historic year! Stop the whining Mack and get after it on the gridiron.
You go Art!
Go Heels!