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North Carolina Coach Mack Brown met with the media via zoom on Sunday afternoon to discuss the ACC Championship game against Clemson. He also had comments on Coach Dabo Swinney, recruiting in Charlotte, and many more topics.
The Tar Heels are 9-3 overall and will face the TIgers (10-2) on Saturday night in Bank of American Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
Here are some pulled quotes from the press conference:
Opening statement on playing Clemson in the ACC Championship:
“We are really excited about playing in the ACC Championship game. It’s only the second time for us since the divisions were established in 2012. In 2015, we actually played Clemson and Gene Chizik was our defensive coordinator and Charlton Warren was our secondary coach at that time. We are very very proud of these guys. So, they’ve done something that has only been done two times since we’ve had divisions, so I’m proud of them. Winning nine games here is important because we haven’t done that except one other time since 1997. So, these guys have accomplished a lot. Winning six games on the road and having a chance to play a great team like Clemson is something that is very important for us.
“When I got back, I wanted North Carolina football to be relevant again and we have been to four straight bowl games. One of those bowls being the elite Orange Bowl and here we are playing Clemson. We get a chance to play a national program like Clemson. Clemson has been the standard in the ACC for many years. When I was here before it was Florida State. Florida State was in the national picture every year. I think Coach Bowden had 14 straight years of being in the top four. So, all the rest of us were second and below. And that’s pretty much what Clemson has been. Last year it changed a little bit. Dabo (Swinney) has done an amazing job of getting his team back this year and being in the national picture.”
On hitting the reset button for Clemson after two losses:
“You are in a championship game. None of these kids have ever been in this championship game. So, they will be really excited about it. We haven’t played Clemson since four years ago. I think next year we play them in Death Valley, so playing Clemson is an exciting thing and a great challenge. They know that they’re playing as good of a group of athletes as anybody in the country. So, it will be a fun challenge for us.”
On playing Clemson in Charlotte and the importance in recruiting:
“I think it’s good. They have beaten us a bunch in recruiting. Most of the guys on our team weren’t offered by them. So, there’s a lot of great players on their team that I’ve tried to recruit that decided to go down there. They got a great program and they are the standard in this league. They got outstanding facilities and Dabo has done an amazing job, so I get it. We will be playing a lot of great players that I wished we’d had gotten.”
On the talent in Charlotte and playing in Charlotte:
“It really is and playing in Charlotte is special for us and it is for Dabo because Clemson is not very far from there either. Then, next year our opening game will be with South Carolina in Charlotte which was the first game I had four years ago when I was here. So, playing in Charlotte is special. I have been told it’s a sellout. I know those Clemson fans are going to show up. Our fans have been unbelievable in the last two home games. Thanksgiving is always iffy to know how many people can come and some with the weather question marks. We had a packed house and the student section was full. Our crowds have been absolutely unbelievable, so I expect them to be the same way Saturday night.”
On playing in high calibur games:
“We love to play and we love a challenge. For us, we are trying to take steps in our program. I mean four years ago, we won five games in two years and the team we took over won two games and hadn’t been to a bowl game in a number of years. So, every step we take is a step closer to North Carolina football being relevant again. One of your goals at the beginning of the year is to win the Coastal. Another one of your goals is to win the ACC Championship, so that’s what makes this special for these young guys. Today, I thanked them for getting us to this point. There are only ten teams will play in Power 5 championships this weekend. And they’re one of ten out of 131 teams so that’s pretty cool.”
