The North Carolina Tar Heels are 1-3 in bowl games during Mack Brown’s second stint with the program. And while they have made four-straight bowl games, they aren’t finishing the job and getting wins.
One of those losses came in embarrassing fashion to South Carolina to close out the 2021 season in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The Gamecocks had their way with UNC, beating them 38-21 in Charlotte.
Now, fast forward to 2023 and Week 1 where the two teams will square off in that same stadium to begin the season. And North Carolina is using that as motivation according to tight end John Copenhaver:
“Yeah, I think having that bad taste in our mouths from two years ago here, I think that will really give us some motivation and stuff, but, I mean, to me it’s an old rivalry, and I think it will be a great game,” Copenhaver said at ACC Kickoff on Thursday. “I don’t think guys are going to have to be motivated for this. I think everyone is going to come in here with a chip on their shoulder and get ready to work. You just have to focus one game at a time, but we’re all very excited for this game in Charlotte.”
The Tar Heels enter this season with a Heisman hopeful in Drake Maye, likely his final year with the program. They want to not only get back to the ACC title game but win it this year.
And to make noise on the national stage in Week 1 would be a great start.
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