Mack Brown shares feelings about continued support for Tez Walker

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown had plenty to smile about after his team’s 31-13 victory over Minnesota on Saturday. Nonetheless, the 72-year-old head coach took time to address Tez Walker’s ongoing eligibility situation.

“This university, from our athletic director to our chancellor to our trustees to our coaching staff, cares about young people, and he is one of ours,” Brown said. “You want to treat the young man like you’d want your son to be treated, and that’s what we are doing.”

Despite multiple attempts from North Carolina, the NCAA ruled Walker ineligible for the season. North Carolina has been outspoken on the issue, with critical statements from Brown and UNC chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz.

Walker began his career at North Carolina Central but didn’t ever play for the program due to Covid-19. Walker transferred to Kent State, where he played two seasons before transferring to North Carolina this offseason.

Mack Brown condemns harassment

The unusual circumstances have generated fervent opinions, some reaching a dangerous level. Last week, the NCAA released a statement claiming the organization’s committee members are receiving criminal threats due to their decisions regarding transfer waivers.

Brown disavowed any fans responsible for such threats.

“We’re not griping, we’re not trying to cause trouble. They mentioned harassment for NCAA members or volunteers — those people should be put in jail,” Brown said. “If you’re harassing people, that shouldn’t be something that we allow. So, I’m totally for locking them up, charging them, because you shouldn’t ever harass anybody.”

The man behind the face mask

Brown doesn’t want to see harassment or violence. He wants to see change, and he believes it is his responsibility to push for that change.

“What [UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham] hired me for is to make sure that I do what’s best for our student-athletes and that’s what I’m doing,” Brown said. “Did we have way too many transfers a couple of years ago? Absolutely. Did coaches, including me, say we need to tighten the transfer rule? Absolutely. Did I ever say that everybody that transfers twice is ineligible without a waiver system? Absolutely not.

“We need to have some common sense and that’s all we’re asking for with Tez,” Brown said. “We have to worry about his mental state. What happens to him? He’s had his NFL short-term career taken away from him. Everybody says he can come back next year. Well, it’s probably without Drake Maye.

“A receiver’s dream is to play with Drake Maye. That’s why he came, or one of the reasons he came. NIL money is affected. NFL money is affected. I mean it changed his life, so every day we have to go back and take care of him.”