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This reminds me of John Bunting’s famous do-or-die game from 2004.
Twenty years ago, John Bunting faced the same circumstances Mack Brown may face when he heads to Florida State on Saturday. Besides the fact that they are both great guys who love Carolina, they don’t have much else in common. Bunting was a star player for UNC and in the NFL. Brown took up coaching early and reached the Hall of Fame.
The Tar Heels are not having a great season in Brown’s sixth year on the job. Alumni and fans were fed up with high expectations and poor finishes, and there have already been discussions about whether this will be Mack’s swan song. Virginia’s 41-14 victory was impressive after four straight losses, but created a new crossroads.
With a favorable schedule in the final four games, Carolina could win them all and a bowl game to finish 9-4, which would be Brown’s best record in his second UNC stint. If the Heels did that and Brown wanted to stay, who could argue with that?
In Bunting’s fourth season, after becoming the popular choice to fill the coaching vacancy when Frank Beamer changed his mind and stayed at Virginia Tech, he worked to a 16-28 record as fourth-ranked Miami came to town.
Rumors swirled that Steve Spurrier, who hung around Gainesville, Florida, after coaching the Gators to the 1996 national championship and bombing with the NFL Redskins in less than two seasons, was the old “sleeping giant” description of the Tar used. Chopping program.
UNC Chancellor James Moeser and athletic director Dick Baddour decided whether to keep Bunting or tell him he was gone after that season. If the latter, they could approach Spurrier before anyone else hired him (South Carolina eventually did). It came down to how the 3-4 Tar Heels played against the mighty Hurricanes. Connor Barth kicked his famous 42-yard field goal as time expired to break a 28-28 tie and Kenan went crazy.
Now, two decades later, Brown may have to validate the victory in Charlottesville by beating Florida State, which is having a horrible season, 1-7. The Heels are favorites and on paper should win. Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins is excited about the talent the Seminoles have “all over the field.”
If FSU gets it together and beats Carolina, Brown will be back in the same old spot. After a bye week on Nov. 9, he would likely have to win his final three games to finish 7-5 and reach a mediocre bowl. Or worse, go to a bowl with a 6-6 record. The Noles are indeed 17th and last in ACC offense, so what exactly is Collins talking about? FSU doesn’t have a running back in the league’s top 25 or a quarterback in the top 16.
So it seems like a must-win for Brown, if not his Heels.
Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward
Art Chansky is an experienced journalist who has written ten books, including bestsellers ‘Game Changers’, ‘Blue Bloods’ and ‘The Dean’s List’. He contributed to the WCHL for decades, after making his first appearance as a student in 1971 “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his opinion column “Art’s Angle” airs weekly on Chapelboro.
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Art Chansky is an experienced journalist who has written ten books, including bestsellers ‘Game Changers’, ‘Blue Bloods’ and ‘The Dean’s List’. He contributed to the WCHL for decades, after making his first appearance as a student in 1971 “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his opinion column “Art’s Angle” airs weekly on Chapelboro.
