The North Carolina Tar Heels football team got embarrassed in Chapel Hill on Saturday, allowing 53 first-half points and more than 600 yards of offense in a 70-50 loss to James Madison. Based on one report, it sounds like the performance really affected UNC head coach Mack Brown.
According to 247Sports’ Adam Smith, Brown told his team that he would step away from the program if the Tar Heels felt like he was responsible for Saturday’s quality of play.
Smith’s report caught fire on social media after the game with fans misinterpreting the statement as a potential retirement, but Smith’s report said such conclusions were premature. It sounds more like Brown wanted answers for himself and from his players rather than making declarations about his future.
“Another source close to the situation emphasized that the 73-year-old College Football Hall of Famer, who long has taken losses hard in their immediate aftermath, isn’t resigning or quitting his coaching position,” Smith confirmed.
Smith reported that the players rallied around their head coach, but one comment in his story made it sound like Brown’s resignation was not entirely out of the question.
“Sources since have conveyed hope from UNC players that Brown will at least finish this season,” Smith wrote. “But if not, tight ends coach and run game coordinator Freddie Kitchens has player support to take an interim role.”
The stunning loss comes just seven days before Brown and his players come to Durham for the first ACC game of the season. Duke, for their part, handled business against Middle Tennessee for a 45-17 victory to improve to 4-0. The Blue Devils haven’t beaten UNC since 2018.