Mack Brown addresses fans' disappointment in current results for North Carolina
After starting off the season 6-0 North Carolina has lost in back-to-back games, most recently falling to Georgia Tech 46-42 after being upset by Virginia the week prior.
The Tar Heels are a veteran group that had their sights set on postseason play, whether that be a return to the ACC Championship or a push even to the College Football Playoff. But following two straight losses those goals become a lot more unrealistic, and with that in mind, head coach Mack Brown was asked if keeping his team motivated in the home stretch of the season is a priority.
“Sure, but if you’re trying to be the best you can be, and you’re trying to improve every week, and you’re to play up to a standard none of that should matter,” Brown said. “I mean these are human beings, and obviously there’s some disappointment for all of us. But they don’t cancel us games, they don’t cancel the season.”
Brown was also brutally honest and used some colorful language when going in-depth about the repercussions that come with losing and not meeting standards both internally and externally amid the team’s losing streak.
“There’s guys on our team that won two games one year, and there’s fans that didn’t show up for two games that are b******g about six wins. So I mean that’s just part of the deal, you just do the best you can do,” Brown said. “Trying to explain how 120 guys feel and if they’re excited, if they’re disappointed. Some that didn’t play are mad because they didn’t play, some that played good are really excited, some that played bad are blaming coaches, I mean across the country that’s just what happens.”
North Carolina has come a long way from their two-win season in 2018 a year prior to Brown’s arrival, and with over 30 years of experience as a collegiate head coach, he definitely understands the multitude of hardships that come with losing from all different directions.
“It’s a huge span of emotions when you start looking at a football team and you just have to kind of balance it all out and do the best you can do and try to get ready to not only beat Campbell but get better this week,” Brown said. “Because you’ve got one of the hardest schedules left emotionally that we’ve ever had.”
The Tar Heels’ last four games are all versus opponents from the state of North or South Carolina, facing rival Duke, Clemson, and NC State to close out the season following their matchup against FCS Campbell this weekend where they can hopefully regain some much-needed momentum.