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UNC's Mack Brown is 0-11 against FSU football. Why is that? Bobby Bowden might play a role
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- UNC's Mack Brown is 0-11 against FSU football. Why is that? Bobby Bowden might play a role
As Florida State football (1-7, 1-6) is heading into a disappointing season under Mike Norvell, North Carolina's ( 4-4, 1-3) coach Mack Brown understands what he is going through.
After a 3-0 start, the Tar Heels went on a four-game losing slump, including a stunning 70-50 upset to James Madison.
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Last week, the Tar Heels picked up their first conference win over UVA, 41-14. They will look to make it two straight as Brown returns to FSU on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Doak Campbell Stadium.
"The only thing that happens when you go back to places like this or you have so many teammates and friends that want to see you, and it's kind of hard because it's a business trip," Brown said.
"You don't have time to hang out the guys are saying can I run by the hotel and I I'm kind of busy but it's that part is fun."
While UNC will enter with momentum, he is not overlooking the Seminoles . He spoke about it during his weekly press conference on Monday.
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"They've had struggles like we've had with injuries and tough breaks, and Mike (Norvell) has got them playing hard," Brown said. "They continue to play hard."
Mack Brown focuses on FSU football's 'talented' defensive line. Compares FSU's QB situation to UNC's
Head coaches Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels (left) and Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles talk before the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on October 17, 2020 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Character Lines)
Brown believed that FSU's defensive line would be UNC's toughest challenge. He mentioned previous games in which FSU had played competitively despite a losing result.
"They're really talented," Brown said.
"You watch them against Clemson . You watch them parts against Miami the other night and they're still really really talented, really good so it's on us to go down there and play."
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Brown also discussed FSU's quarterback play, with Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek getting significant offensive snaps. Going into the season, UNC had a three-man quarterback competition.
Max Johnson became the starter in Week 1 against Minnesota but sustained a season-ending leg injury during the game, leaving the QB position open to Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell . Criswell has started the last five games.
Glenn is expected to start on Saturday against the Tar heels, but expect Kromenhoek to play, too.
"They've been inconsistent on offense because they're got young quarterbacks," Brown said.
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"They've got inconsistent or inexperienced quarterbacks like we do. That makes it tough in modern-day football."
More: FSU football predictions, odds: Do experts think Seminoles can beat North Carolina?
Mack Brown is 0-11 against FSU football. He shares a brief story about Bobby Bowden
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels watches his team during the first half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Brown has a history with FSU as a former player throughout his 46 years of coaching. Brown played running back for two seasons at FSU after transferring from Vanderbilt (1972-73).
His first coaching job was as a wide receiver coach for the Seminoles in his first two years as a student.
As a head coach, Brown is 0-11 against his Seminoles. To be fair, all of those years were during the golden years of the l ate great Bobby Bowden.
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"We couldn't beat him," Brown said.
"We had our chances—a couple—but nobody else beat him either. It's interesting. Everyone says, 'Well, you never beat Florida State when you were here before.' I said, yeah, nobody else did either."
North Carolina coach Mack Brown, left, talks with Florida State coach Bobby Bowden on the field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., in this photo from October 1992.
During his presser, Brown told a brief Bowden story.
He recalled when he coached at Tulane (1985-87) and was blown out by Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Oct. 31, 1987.
FSU beat Tulane 77-13 as he recalled the Seminoles scoring on a reverse play that gave them their 77th point.
As this Thursday marks the 37th anniversary since that game, Brown still remembers what Bowden told him after the blowout loss.
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"So after the game, I said, why do you do that? I mean, why do you run it up like that," Brown recalled.
"And he said, 'I was coaching at West Virginia , and I was ahead of Pittsburgh 34-0 going into the fourth quarter. I took them all out, and I got beat 35-34', and he said, 'I will never ever take my foot off the gas again in coaching. '"
That memory stood by Brown all these years, and he understood why he couldn't beat FSU.
More: How Mike Norvell's plans to recruit and rebuild FSU football differ from Bobby Bowden
How to watch FSU vs. UNC game
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Date:Saturday
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Time:3:30 p.m
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Where:Doak Campbell Stadium/ Tallahassee, Florida
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TV:ACC Network
FSU football schedule 2024: TV channels, dates and start times
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Saturday, Aug. 24:vs. Georgia Tech * (Aer Lingus College Football Classic) Lost 24-21
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Monday, Sept. 2:vs. Boston College * | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN ( Fubo ) Lost 28-13
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Saturday, Sept. 7:Bye
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Saturday, Sept. 14:vs. Memphis | Noon | ESPN ( Fubo ) Lost 20-12
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Saturday, Oct. 12:Bye
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Saturday, Nov. 2:vs. North Carolina * | 3:30 p.m.| ESPN ( Fubo )
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Saturday, Nov. 9:at No. 9 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC ( Fubo , Peacock )
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Saturday, Nov. 16:Bye
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Saturday, Nov. 23:vs. Charleston Southern
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Saturday, Nov. 30:vs. Florida
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Saturday, Dec. 6:ACC championship game (Charlotte, N.C)
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All times Eastern
* = ACC
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here's what UNC's Mack Brown said about seeking his first win over FSU football
