Mack Brown believes Deion Sanders embodies the best in college football

The most senior coach in college football welcomes a new generation

Few coaches have as much experience as North Carolina's Mack Brown. He continues to adapt to the changes of college football after being involved in the sport for the greater part of the past five decades. It's hard to believe at the age of 71 he's only a year older than Alabama's Nick Saban.

Brown talked about the challenges of modern day coaching, including NIL and the transfer portal at ACC Football Kickoff this week. He says none of this weighed on his mind when he returned to UNC in 2019. And if it had, he probably would've never returned to coaching.

"It didn't change that much until (the portal), and then NIL came in. I don't know if I would've come back if they said I've got to have all this on top of it," Brown noted. "Because the only thing that was different was Early Signing Day."

Brown also said he doesn't believe coaches will have as much longevity like he has enjoyed, with the burnout rate getting younger in college athletics. One of those who's fresh on the scene of Power Five football but still relatively seasoned is Deion Sanders. The Colorado Buffaloes coach steps into a situation much like Brown faced at Texas a quarter-century ago.

While the state of the Big 12 is much different with better management these days, a lot remains the same with recruiting in the state of Texas still being a top priority. Brown thinks Sanders coming to Colorado was a great step for the program and college football overall.

"I think the thing I would tell any young coach is do what you know is the right thing to do," Brown said. "Treat players right, show integrity in the game, and be positive. We've got so many negative things in our world right now. I'm one of those guys who likes to be positive about everything. Be realistic and understand what we gotta get done, but don't sit around and gripe about everything. Fix it. And Deion seems to be one of those types of guys."

Brown and Sanders are separated by 16 years, but have traveled similar paths in life. Outside of coaching, they both played football at Florida State. Deion's path went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player, and Mack's to the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach. Each of them also had respective stints on air in the broadcast world.

North Carolina opens the season against South Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. It marks the kickoff of Brown's 45th year in coaching and his fifth year of a second stint at Chapel Hill.