All Tar Heels

UNC Football: Mack Brown on Watch List for Huge National Award

As things stand, the UNC football legend has to be at or near the top of any award list this season.

Matt Giles

UNC football head coach Mack Brown (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
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On Tuesday, UNC football head coach Mack Brown landed on the 26-deep midseason watch list for the American Heart Association's 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award.

Three other ACC coaches made the list: Louisville's Jeff Brohm, Duke's Mike Elko (reigning ACC Coach of the Year), and Florida State's Mike Norvell.

"The award is given each January to a college football coach for contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity," the release notes, "and a winning approach to coaching and life — both on and off the field."

Brown's career victories (280-144-1 between his stints at Appalachian State, Tulane, UNC, Texas, and again at UNC since 2019) trail only Nick Saban's 286 among active college head colleges.

In 2005, Brown won the Bear Bryant Award at Texas. While the 72-year-old hasn't done so at UNC, he looks like a legit contender this year as his Tar Heels continue soaring.

They rank No. 10 in this week's AP Poll as only the second 6-0 UNC football squad since 1983. The other instance (8-0 in 1997) was in Brown's first stint.

Mack Brown's Tar Heels (6-0, 3-0 ACC), already bowl-eligible for the fifth straight time since his return to Chapel Hill, look to move within one game of tying the 1997 team's 8-0 start when they host the Virginia Cavaliers (1-5, 0-2 ACC) in Kenan Memorial Stadium at 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday (The CW).

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Should they win and No. 4 Florida State lose to visiting No. 16 Duke, UNC would enter next week alone atop the ACC standings.

Tar Heels Extend Five, Probably Six Impressive Streaks

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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