UNC coach Mack Brown: ‘I am a Brennan Armstrong fan’

While it is Brennan Armstrong’s first go around in the NC State and North Carolina rivalry this week, Tar Heels coach Mack Brown is very familiar with the Wolfpack’s quarterback. 

The Virginia transfer squared off against Brown’s Tar Heels three times with the Cavaliers, and he was 1-2 against the team in Carolina Blue. Brown, who is in his fifth year during his second stint in Chapel Hill, raved about the quarterback in his press conference Monday.

“I am a Brennan Armstrong fan,” Brown said. “He threw for 500 yards over here two years ago. He’s tough as nails. He comes out and isn’t playing, he’s got a great attitude. He played some after Morris became the starter, and now he comes back and is playing better than ever.”

Armstrong posted his best game since his return to starting for the Wolfpack in NC State’s 35-28 win at Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon. He threw for 203 yards and two scores, while he ran for 89 more yards and added a pair of touchdowns on the ground. 

Brown continued to compliment Armstrong by pointing out his confidence, toughness and leadership, but he also spoke highly of the quarterback’s ability to run the ball. 

“They used him like a tailback some in the last few weeks,” Brown said. “He’s running quarterback counter, he’s running quarterback draw. He’s so elusive when he drops back to throw and he doesn’t see what he wants and he feels it, he’ll run and get it. He is definitely a dual threat, and he’s a problem.”

While Brown spent a good amount of time on Armstrong, he focused on this weekend’s game against the Wolfpack in the rivalry game. But unlike some of the younger coaches around college football, Brown said he does not openly despise any of the Tar Heels’ rivals, including NC State.

“I’m not a guy that hates rivals,” Brown said. “I don’t get up every morning [and] hate NC State, hate Duke or hate Wake Forest or hate Clemson. I like the coaches. I love kids. I love the way the kids play.”

Brown went on to rave about Wolfpack freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, who was heavily recruited by the Heels, graduate linebacker Payton Wilson and Armstrong.

Why did Brown spend so much time complimenting the Wolfpack’s players? It may be the relationships that he built with the Pack’s players on the recruiting trail.

“You can’t coach and not like kids,” Brown said. “And when kids play well, like Concepcion, he’s playing good. I’m proud of him. I’m proud of our guys, but I’m proud of Payton Wilson. He’s playing so well, and he stayed healthy. He had some tough luck there early, I’ve coached against him, this will be the fourth year. I’m proud of those guys. When they play well, you have to be proud of the kid.”

Concepcion chose the Wolfpack over the Tar Heels as he came out of Charlotte (N.C.) Julius Chambers High last year, and Brown thought NC State was utilizing the freshman the right way. 

The Charlotte, N.C., native has accounted for 878 yards of total offense with eight receiving touchdowns and he threw a 17-yard score last week against the Hokies, too. 

“We recruited him hard, he’s a really good player,” Brown said of Concepcion. “He’s done a tremendous job. They’ve used him well. He’s great in space, he catches the ball well. He’s obviously just a natural football player because they line him up everywhere and he does it as a true freshman, so you have to give him a lot of credit.”

Brown spent time on individual players, but he also spoke on the Wolfpack’s defense, which has been stout all season. NC State leads the ACC in interceptions with 15, while Wilson is the conference’s leading tackler with 123. 

The 72-year-old coach expected to see a strong defense from defensive coordinator Tony Gibson on film, and that is what showed up. 

“They’re well coached, Tony does as good a job as anybody,” Brown said. “They play so hard, and they’ve got good players. That’s it. We had trouble with them last year, and that will be another fit this week. They’ll enjoy Clemson slowing down our passing attack.”

The Tar Heels will arrive at Carter-Finley Stadium for the Wolfpack’s senior night, as well as the rivalry game. Brown added that the Tar Heels will have their “hands full going to NC State this week.”

But in any game against the team’s No. 1 enemy, the team’s records — though they are the same — and the statistics can go out the window. Instead, it is a time for players to step up and leave their mark. 

“Rivalry games are like a whole season,” Brown said. “It’s something that heroes are made in, it’s something that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. So nothing matters this week except focusing on this game.”