Was that the real Mack Brown who stood up on game week?
He didn’t exactly have his game face on five days before the Tar Heels kick it off at Virginia Tech, but Brown seemed ready to play and take what may come Friday night in Blacksburg.
He even said something about possibly losing, which he insisted two weeks ago he never thinks about before a game.
“If we get on that bus with a loss, that No. 9 or No. 10 (ranking) will be gone,” he said. “And we’ll know we have to keep working to improve and get ready for Georgia State.”
Now, this might be Brown’s version of game face, or it might be his true feelings after meeting with his coaches and finding out there are some weaknesses that have to be covered against the Hokies.
He talked about their speed and toughness on offense and the running quarterback his defense will be facing at wild Lane Stadium. He talked of the Hokies offensive line with three of the biggest and best players in the country, particularly the 6-foot-9, 322-pound Luke Tenuta. He is the son of former UNC assistant coach (Jon), who is now a Virginia Tech senior analyst and supposedly thirsts to beat Carolina.
And Brown talked about the experienced defense his team will be playing in its second season without retired veteran coordinator Bud Foster, which means the Hokies might be more in tune with their new DC Justin Hamilton. And Mack is anxious to find out how much new RB Ty Chandler and talented, but young, WRs can replace of the 4,000 yards Carolina lost and now playing in the NFL.
Brown has told his third Tar Heel team (stint II) to remember how revved up the Virginia Tech fans were two years ago and not to be surprised by the atmosphere. “We can’t worry about Virginia Tech; we can’t control how they will play. Just play, you be you.”
And in talking about how COVID remains part of the preparation and game plan, Brown offered thoughts on the war in Afghanistan and Hurricane Ida hitting Louisiana. “So keep it in perspective,” he said.
As if to say it’s only a (very big) game.
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