Following a disheartening 70-50 defeat to James Madison, University of North Carolina head coach Mack Brown took full responsibility for the team’s underwhelming performance. In the aftermath of the loss, Brown had a heart-to-heart with his players, stating that if they felt he wasn’t providing the necessary leadership, he would step down. However, this comment was misconstrued, leading many to believe Brown was planning to resign.
On Monday, Brown clarified his remarks, emphasizing that he loves his job, his players, and the university. He acknowledged that he shouldn’t have put pressure on the team and expressed disappointment in himself. Brown revealed that he had sent a message to the team shortly after the game, apologizing for his comments and promising to improve moving forward.
Brown, known for taking losses hard, admitted that he struggles to change his approach. He referenced a quote from Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry, “You learn from losses,” but confessed that he often needs time to process and reflect on defeats.
The veteran coach reiterated that he takes full responsibility for the team’s performance against James Madison and urged his assistant coaches to do a better job of preparing the players. With their sights set on the upcoming matchup against undefeated Duke, Brown emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and growing as a team.
“I hate losing,” Brown said. “It makes me physically sick, and I feel responsible. I put all the pressure on me, and I can’t do that.” Brown praised his team for handling the situation better than he did but expressed disappointment that rumors of his departure spread beyond the locker room.
North Carolina, currently 3-1 this season, has faced challenges with three different quarterbacks starting in four games. The Tar Heels’ loss was attributed to five turnovers and 611 yards surrendered by the defense. Brown acknowledged his role as a role model and vowed to learn from his mistakes, turning negatives into positives and growing from the experience.
Leave a Reply