CHAPEL HILL – As North Carolina prepares to play the 22nd game of the Mack Brown era Part II, there’s no denying this is a big one. In fact, it could be the Tar Heels’ most revealing game since the Hall of Fame coach returned to the program he guided to national relevance in the 1990s.
Brown’s mission is no secret: Return Carolina to that spot among college football’s elite programs.
To do that, the Tar Heels must play games like Friday’s versus No. 2 Notre Dame. And, as part of this process, they must win some of those games, too.
“We want to be relevant again,” Brown said during his weekly press conference Monday.
The task at hand Friday is considerable. The Fighting Irish (8-0) have no apparent weaknesses and carry on their resume the distinction of beating Clemson a few weeks ago. In that victory, the Irish held Clemson’s ground game to 34 yards on 33 carries. On the flipside, Notre Dame scored 47 points versus a rather stout defense – 33 came in regulation.
The No. 25 Tar Heels (6-2) boast one of the nation’s most prolific offenses and perhaps the top running back tandem in the land in Javonte Williams and Michael Carter. Quarterback Sam Howell is setting records.
Carolina went from wining five games in the two seasons before Brown was hired to going 13-8 since with the losses by a combined total of 30 points. UNC’s two defeats this season were self-inflicted three-point losses at Florida State and Virginia. Things are certainly headed in the right direction among the pines.
“It’s obvious we’ve made a lot of progress,” Brown said. “Are we ready to beat the No. 2 team in the country? Who knows? But it’s a great challenge for us.”
But unlike the Irish, the Tar Heels have some weaknesses, or at least areas that need smoothing.
Special teams have been costly at times and UNC’s defense hasn’t exactly been keeping opponents out of the end zone, as it’s No. 69 in the nation allowing 30.8 points per game. Carolina has given up 44 or more points in three of its last six games. But the Heels do get back starting cornerback Kyler McMichael for this game and could have back perhaps its best defensive player, cornerback Storm Duck, who hasn’t played since the second game.
This isn’t only a huge challenge for the Tar Heels, but 22 games into Brown’s quest for national relevance, it’s time to truly find out where his program is and where it’s heading. This game affords him that opportunity.
“I think it’s a great measuring stick,” said Brown, whose team is No. 19 in the College Football Poll. “This team’s (Notre Dame) as good as anybody in the country, and we’re in our second year. I think I had a press conference next Tuesday two years ago to take this job…
“It’s interesting in looking at the progress that we’ve made in winning one Power 5 game in two years to (playing) on a Friday, one of the heaviest and best days of college football in a year. We’re the ABC game against Notre Dame, No. 2 in the country.”
And that’s what adds to the matchup that would be a verifiable event if fans were allowed to fill Kenan Stadium. It’s not taking place on a crowded Saturday competing against a dozen other games. The Irish are vying for a spot in the CFP, so this game is a big deal outside of the ACC region, as well.
“This one has a little more juice packed into it since we’re playing at 3:30 on Friday and we’re on national TV a day after Thanksgiving,” UNC junior linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel said. “Everybody’s watching.”
And they will get an idea where the Tar Heels are in their journey toward national relevance. As will Brown.
