Mack Brown expresses serious concern over the current state of college football, tampering

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown has one big bone to pick with college football. And recently, as he prepared for the ACC championship game against Clemson, the Tar Heels headman expressed serious concern over the current state of recruiting and teams tampering with rostered players.

“It’s one of the biggest concerns I’ve got for college football. I hate the fact that people tamper with people on certain teams. And I hate the fact that kids are just being absolutely bought off campuses,” said Brown.

“I don’t know how you stop it. You say you can’t have tampering. Well, it’s usually a third party. It’s a high school coach, a friend, or somebody on your team. We had guys that were people trying to buy off our team last year, and they just stayed here. But that’s absolutely happening across the country, and I’m sure it’s happening this week in preparing for next week. And I hate it, and I don’t know what you can do about it.”

North Carolina’s talented young star at quarterback, Drake Maye, recently talked with his head coach about offers on the table for him at other universities. However, Maye, who was born and raised a Tar Heel, reaffirmed to Brown that he was not going anywhere. Still, the thought of someone having side conversations with his young star doesn’t sit well with Brown as they shouldn’t.

Brown says it’s a problem in the FCS too

Not only is this an issue at the FBS level, but the tampering is hurting those at the FCC’s level as well. Brown may not be affected by individuals poaching players from FCS schools, but to him, it’s all the same, and wrong is still wrong.

“Affecting recruiting is one thing, but when people are actually being bought off college teams; people are being chosen off of FCS teams, you see somebody like anymore on TV somebody calls them and tells them you wanna come? We got a scholarship for you. So, it’s hurt FCS ball. It’s hurting college football, and that’s the one thing. I like the kids getting money, I think it’s good that a guy can transfer, he’s a backup, and he’s got a chance to play somewhere else. I got that, (but) I really don’t like the fact that some people are just buying people off campuses.”

Brown will not have to worry about Maye leaving him anytime soon, according to the vote of confidence he was given by his young quarterback. Still, like every other college head coach, he should be concerned with the possibility of outside forces being in the ear of his players.