Paul Finebaum reacts to UNC loss to JMU, reports of Mack Brown saying he would walk away

It was a long Saturday for North Carolina and head coach Mack Brown, as the Tar Heels gave up 70 points in a loss to James Madison. Then, after the game finished, it was reported that Brown told the Tar Heels team that he would leave if things weren’t getting straightened out.

In the fallout from those reported comments and the stunning loss, analyst Paul Finebaum reacted to the situation Mack Brown now finds himself in on The Matt Barrie Show.

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“I’m gonna get in trouble here because one of the greatest experiences I’ve had in television has been with you and Mack Brown on Sunday mornings doing SportsCenter,” Paul Finebaum said. “He’s one of the great people, but Mack, when you lose to JMU don’t joke about walking away because your fans will take you seriously and hope that you follow suit.”

Shortly after the initial news broke that Mack Brown told the UNC locker room he’d step away broke, it was reported by ESPN’s Chris Low that Brown would be back to work Sunday and wasn’t stepping away. However, in year six of his second stint at UNC, there are plenty of concerns.

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“I’m not gonna tell Mack Brown what to do because he’s beloved by his athletic director…I’ve had Bubba Cunningham tell me repeatedly, ‘I am lucky to have Mack Brown as my coach,'” Finebaum said. “Well, I’m not so sure that’s accurate anymore because he does this every year. He throws away a game. I don’t know enough about JMU to say that they don’t deserve respect. They probably do. I know they’ve been a name program for a long time, but that shouldn’t ever happen and that doesn’t happen to programs that are at the high level that Mack Brown should have this Tar Heel program at.”

At that point, Matt Barrie pointed out that there’s a chance what Mack Brown said was how he honestly felt in that moment, and not a joke as Paul Finebaum has previously suggested. However, he also did highlight that once they kind of honesty gets out in public, it stays out for a coach.

“That’s where we are in college football coverage. Anything that has happened becomes a part of narrative. If they had beaten JMU, none of us would really care until they get to the bigger games on the schedule. I don’t know what’s going on with Mack Brown. He got redemption after Texas fired him. He brought North Carolina to the cusp. They have been very close to breaking through and becoming a real power,” Finebaum said.

“When you’re his age, people look at you a little more cynically, like what’s the deal? That’s where he is right now.”

Since getting to UNC for his second stint, Mack Brown has helped to produce plenty of NFL talent, including players like Drake Maye. He’s also put together a record of 41-28 since 2019. So, there have been positives. The loss to JMU and continued struggles on defense, however, are a knock on the team.

“The only good news is he’s got a fan base that’s a little more laid back than maybe Auburn or somebody else who would have late-night meetings,” Finebaum said. “I mean, he’s got to go clean this up, though, and he has to clean it up quickly.”

Mack Brown and UNC will look to bounce back next week when they play rival Duke.