Report: North Carolina withholding player availability amid Mack Brown apology, Duke prep

North Carolina players will not be available to the media this week while they prepare to face off against Duke on Saturday, per InsideCarolina. North Carolina’s players also weren’t available for comment after their 70-50 loss to James Madison on Saturday.

It was a long day for the Tar Heels on Saturday. In the loss, UNC’s defense allowed James Madison to amass 611 total yards of offense. The Dukes’ 70 points are the most ever an opponent has scored against UNC.

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Although UNC’s offense recorded no shortage of yards in the game, they were far from innocent in Saturday’s outcome. The Tar Heels committed five turnovers against the Dukes, including two interceptions.

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown didn’t mince words after the team’s loss.

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“Embarrassing day, shocking day,” Brown said. “You shouldn’t be at North Carolina and lose to a Group of Five team, period. There are no excuses. Our defense looked awful. We had communication problems, we had missed tackles. We had guys wide open for a touchdown.”

Mack Brown asks players if he should resign

It was an ugly scene, with North Carolina fans booing their Tar Heels off the field after they gave up a program-record 53 points to the Dukes in the first half. Brown admitted that he asked his players whether he should resign after the game.

The 73-year-old head coach later stated he felt he put his players in an unfair position by asking them.

“As I was walking off the field, I thought ‘I’m responsible for all of this. It’s on me. So I should ask the players about leadership. If they feel good about me moving forward.’ That’s something I shouldn’t do. I shouldn’t put that pressure on those young people at that point,” Brown explained Monday.

“I’m supposed to be a leader, and probably the worst things I’ve ever said in my life are after losses. You all have heard most of them. And that’s just what I do.”

Brown shared that the players told him they want him to remain the head coach. He confirmed that he will continue to lead the North Carolina football program moving forward.

“Disappointed in me. I should’ve waited,” Brown said. “But the kids were overwhelmingly, ‘Nah, come on, coach. Let’s go. Let’s move forward.’ And we’re doing that and excited about the future and love my job.”

North Carolina and Duke will square off on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ESPN2.