UNC’s Brown: ‘Disappointed’ I talked resignation
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David Hale, ESPN Staff Writer
In the aftermath of a dismal 70-50 loss to James Madison on Saturday, North Carolina coach Mack Brown said he told his team that if players didn’t feel they were getting the leadership they needed from him, he would step aside.
A number of people in the locker room left believing the 73-year-old Brown planned to step down, but on Monday, he said that was a misinterpretation while taking full responsibility for the rumors that swirled after an emotional meeting in the locker room.
“I shouldn’t have put that pressure on them, so I’m disappointed in me,” Brown said. “I love my job, I love these kids, and I love this place. That’s why I hate losing so much.”
Brown said he effectively offered his resignation to the team if players believed he was not capable of properly leading the program, but that the players “overwhelmingly” supported him. He said he sent the team a message 30 minutes to an hour after getting home Saturday night and apologized for his comments and promised he would be better moving forward.
Brown has a reputation for taking losses particularly hard, something he’d promised his wife, Sally, he would improve upon when he returned to UNC in 2019 after 16 seasons coaching Texas (1998-2013). However, he said he has struggled to change his stripes.
He noted he keeps a quote from Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry that says, “You learn from losses.”
“You do,” Brown said, “but I usually have to start learning on Monday or Tuesday.”
Brown on Monday repeatedly said he took full responsibility for the team’s performance against James Madison, but he also put it on his assistant coaches to do a better job of preparing players. He said the team is fully focused on this week’s matchup against undefeated Duke — a program led by Manny Diaz, whom Brown fired as the Texas defensive coordinator less than 24 hours after the Longhorns allowed 550 rushing yards to BYU Cougars in a 2013 loss.
“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 said his team handled the situation better than he did, but he also said he was disappointed to see rumors of his departure escape the locker room Saturday night.
“Things used to stay in the locker room,” Brown said. “The locker room is sacred. It’s obviously not anymore.”
North Carolina is 3-1 this season, and the Tar Heels have started three different quarterbacks in four games. Saturday’s loss was in part due to five turnovers by the offense as well as 611 yards surrendered by the defense. The Dukes scored 53 points in the first half, a record in any half against the Tar Heels.
“I’m supposed to be a role model for these kids, supposed to take negatives and turn them into positives and supposed to learn from losses,” Brown said. “I didn’t do that very well Saturday night. I’m disappointed in me, I’ll grow from it and won’t do it again.”
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is not expected to play against Mississippi State on Saturday, per sources, as the Longhorns staff is expected to sit him out in order for him to be fully healthy for the game against Oklahoma on Oct. 12.
A final decision on Ewers is expected later Saturday, per sources, but the decision is trending toward allowing him to use Texas’ week off following the Mississippi State game to get healthy. Ewers has been considered week-to-week since injuring his oblique against UTSA on Sept. 14.
Ewers finished the week at nearly 70%, as he practiced Tuesday, was limited Wednesday and ended up limited in practice Thursday to allow him to fully heal. Per sources, the Texas coaching staff wanted to give Ewers the extra rest to ensure he’d return at full strength.
The decision means that Texas will against start backup quarterback Arch Manning, who will make his first career start in an SEC game. Manning made his first start against Louisiana Monroe, completing 15 of 29 passes for 258 yards. He had two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Ewers’ oblique injury came in the wake of him displaying one of the season’s best performances at Michigan in Week 2, as he threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout Texas win in Ann Arbor.
Mississippi State enters the game on a three-game losing streak, which includes back-to-back blowout home losses to Toledo and Florida. The Bulldogs are trending toward finishing at the bottom of the SEC, as they have one of the country’s worst defenses. They are No. 111 nationally in total defense and No. 107 in scoring defense.
Mississippi State will also be without its starting quarterback, as starter Blake Shapen is out for the year after suffering a shoulder injury against Florida. Michael Van Buren, a true freshman, will make his first career start for the Bulldogs.
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams is a “true game-time decision” for the No. 2 Bulldogs at No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night, according to ESPN sources.
Williams has missed the previous two games with a Grade 2 ankle sprain, which he suffered against Clemson in the opener. He’ll be evaluated in pregame warmups and a decision will be made on his status.
Williams has been limited in practice this week, and it’s expected that if he does play it’ll be at less than 100 percent. He’s also unlikely to play a heavy snap count if he does play, as he’s working his way back.
Williams is a marauding defensive end who is the best player in Georgia’s front seven and is a high-end NFL prospect. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him ranked No. 4 overall player for the 2025 NFL draft.
Williams started the season hot before injuring his ankle against Clemson, as he had two tackles for loss and three quarterback pressures in that game.
They will be an onus on Georgia’s defensive line, especially on the ends, to help slow Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in Tuscaloosa.
Georgia’s defensive line will benefit from the return of senior Warren Brinson, who is listed as probable after missing the past two games. Sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Hall is questionable for the SEC showdown.
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Utah quarterback Cam Rising, who has been snakebit by injuries the past two years, is again expected to be a game-time decision against Arizona on Saturday night, sources told ESPN.
Rising has missed No. 10 Utah’s past two games after an injury to his throwing hand that he suffered against Baylor on Sept. 7. He missed all of last season after an ACL tear in the Rose Bowl following the 2022 season.
Rising’s status will undergo the same evaluation process with the Utah staff as before the Oklahoma State game last week. He’ll throw the ball pregame, and his ability to deliver spin and velocity on the ball will determine whether he’ll play, per sources.
As Rising has struggled to recover and get back on the field, one factor that could weigh into the decision is the chance to get him back fully healthy in two weeks. Utah has a bye before they play at Arizona State on Oct. 11.
Rising has practiced this week but remained limited as the staff has attempted to rest his finger.
Freshman Isaac Wilson has started the past two weeks, leading the Utes to victories over Utah State in Logan and in Stillwater against the Cowboys.
Wilson has shown both moments of promise and interspersed those with moments that have illuminated his youth. He threw for 207 yards on 17-of-29 passing against Oklahoma State. He also threw two interceptions. He threw for three touchdowns and 239 yards against Utah State.
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