Mack Brown fired up for North Carolina's opener at Virginia Tech on Friday

Mack Brown is one of college football’s most spirited head coaches. While he’s always fired up, the 70-year-old North Carolina head coach has some extra juice for this Friday’s game against Virginia Tech.

Prior to the opening game of the 2021 season, Brown joined ESPN to discuss why he still gets so fired up in Year 34.

“I don’t feel any different. I feel more confident,” said Brown via ESPN. “Because I know more about what I’m doing now than I did in the early years.

“I asked Coach Royal at Texas one time, ‘How did you feel before a ball game?’ He said, ‘It was six months after I quit before I realized that not everybody gags before they brush their teeth on Saturday mornings in the fall.’ So I’m not doing that anymore.

“I’m gonna have fun Friday night.”

For Brown, the advice he received from Royal must’ve helped put things in perspective for him. After over three decades of being a head coach, Brown still brings that energy before a game.

‘I love going on the road’

While some coaches would opt to play their games in front of their home crowd, Brown loves going on the road and competing. Moreover, the Tar Heels head coach feeds off the opposing crowd’s energy, using it to pump his team up.

Before Friday’s visit to Virginia Tech, Brown mentions that it’s a fantastic place to play.

“I’m gonna have fun Friday night. Virginia Tech’s a wonderful place to play,” said Brown. “I always get a smile on my face when people say you’re going on the road, it’s really difficult.

“I love going on the road to a place where fans are passionate, love their team. There’s no better place to open up than Virginia Tech. Those are great fans that love their team, love college football. I think they’ll see a great game.”

The atmosphere in Blacksburg is going to be electric. When Enter Sandman is blaring and the crowd is rocking, everything Brown loves about going on the road will be on display.

North Carolina playing Enter Sandman at practice

To channel the energy Brown speaks of, the Tar Heels have been blasting the famous Metallica song at practice. 

UNC cornerbacks coach Dre Bly elaborated on why North Carolina is placing an emphasis on the Hokies’ entrance song. 

“Well, coaches do various things to try to get the guys prepared for the game. And actually, it’s a pretty cool song,” Bly said. “You know, when I had my travel baseball team and had my youth football team, that was one of my go-to songs.

“When they started playing it a couple of years ago, I was jumping and dancing like it was my song. But, no, it’s a great environment. It was something to get the guys going. But for the most part, we know that the stadium is going to be rocking and we look forward to going to Blacksburg for the game.”

When North Carolina visits Virginia Tech, the stakes will be high. As Mack Brown enters his 34th season as a head coach, he’ll be fired up from the moment Enter Sandman begins, until there’s zeroes on the clock.