CHARLOTTE — North Carolina coach Mack Brown, along with Conner Harrell, Max Johnson and Kaimon Rucker met with the media Thursday during the final day of ACC Kickoff at the Hilton Uptown Charlotte. The first video is from the formal press conference and the transcript is from that press conference. The second video is from the breakout room; there is no transcript for that video.
Coach Mack Brown
MACK BROWN: — they’re using it to reach out and help their brand, they’re using it to get to meet new boosters.
One of our guys was talking about the storm damaged the roof on the house. Mom was able to fix the roof because of NIL money.
We’ve got a young guy with Stage 4 cancer that he’s been able to help some of those costs. His mother is a police officer, help her. It’s really helped him.
Tez Walker, when he was dealing with his NCAA stuff, was able to get an attorney. We couldn’t have done that three years ago.
There’s so many things that our guys are doing. They’re helping with Table to feed kids that are poor and can’t eat. I can’t imagine a child not eating. We’re all so blessed, get to eat what we want when we want to.
35 of them were at Habitat for Humanity when it was 97 degrees. Conner and a bunch of guys the other night were raising money to fight an awful disease.
NIL for us has been good. It’s a great learning experience. The guys have handled it really, really well. And I’m really proud of them.
Quickly to reflect on our last five years, really proud of the things that have been accomplished. We are the best in academics with the APR in the ACC this year. We’ve had the best four years in North Carolina history. I’m proud of that.
These guys are tied with Northwestern for the third best APR in the country. They come to school to get a degree. That’s going to help them even more than the NIL money that they’re going to get when they get out.
I’m really, really proud that these guys with the best academic situation right now in the history of North Carolina football. The best in the ACC. The third best nationally.
We are also second in the ACC with number of draft choices over the last five years. That means our coaches have done a good job of recruiting. It means we’re developing young people. A lot of those guys are getting opportunities at the second level. I’m really proud of that.
Third, we’re tied with NC State for the second most wins in the ACC, in ACC games, over the last five years. I’m proud of that.
We’ve been to an Orange Bowl, which North Carolina has never done. We won a Coastal championship, which North Carolina has only done once in our history.
A lot of wonderful things that these guys have done. We won some games that really we shouldn’t a won, surprised people. We’ve had national rankings that are really high.
What we haven’t done, though, is we’ve lost some games that we shouldn’t have lost. That’s really hurt us. That’s on coaching, that’s on us, because we’ve had good enough players.
We also finished the seasons like we should. The old adage of media and fans: remember November. That’s why we don’t have the respect nationally that we should have over the first three comments that I made simply because we haven’t finished right.
We’ve played some really good teams at the end, but we’ve lost to our rival three years in a row, one of our rivals. You can’t do that. At the end of the year, we’ve lost to Clemson in a title game. We lost to Oregon. These are all good teams, but to be where we want to go, we have to win those games.
Our whole focus since the end of last season is why are we not finishing right. Coach Bowden had a quote that kind of said, If you keep making the same mistakes, you’re going to have the same results. That’s true. Why not change?
We’re going to play more people. We have to play more people and create more depth. We’ve said it for five years, haven’t done it. Geoff Collins is committed to doing that, and we’ll do it on offense as well.
When you have starters that are not as tired at the end of the year, you can have them more involved with special teams. We got to get better on special teams, on defense. We’ve had some injuries, guys get tired at the end. Those are all things that we can do better. They’re simple answers for a very difficult problem, but they’re things that we can do.
Questions that I can answer for you?
Q. You look at this conference as a whole, how it’s evolved over time, SMU in Dallas, Texas, two on the West Coast with Cal and Stanford, how would you define what the ACC is becoming in collegiate football?
MACK BROWN: I was here when Florida State came in. I remember Florida State was so good. John Swofford came to me, and we weren’t good. He said, Do you mind in Florida State comes in the league?
I said, Yes. I said, My Lord, why would I want them in the league? And I said, Wait five years and we’ll do it, and we put them in the next year.
Then I saw the changes with Syracuse and Boston College, all of those, Virginia Tech, those teams coming in. Then I was at Texas when we were down to hours that I thought Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech were going to the Pac-12. All of that was going to change ’cause it changed your recruiting areas. It changed the travel for your teams. It changed the travel for the parents. It changed the expense for the parents.
When you start looking at what’s happened to this league really in a third change. We had the change with a lot of different dynamics with teams coming in. Then we had Notre Dame’s addition. Now three new teams.
It makes it exciting for our players to go a Cal, Stanford or Dallas that maybe they haven’t been to before. It makes it fun for fans.
At the same time you have to think about what does it change in recruiting, for your academic schedule, and how much more difficult is it for the parents to get to see their sons play.
Q. When we think of your national championship, we sometimes think first of Vince Young, your great quarterback. When we think of your recent Carolina teams, they think of Sam Howell or Drake Maye. Your ’96 and ’97 teams were built differently, without the dominant quarterback. Can you do that in 2024, given your three-headed quarterback and the rest of your personnel?
MACK BROWN: I think first, you’re going to hear from Max and Conner. I think they’re both really good. Then we have Jacolby Criswell coming back. He competed with Drake Maye down to the last week.
I remember the year that Drake started. Andrew told me the other day, There’s not much buzz about your team right now. I think that’s what was said when Drake and Jacolby were competing for the quarterback spot. We started 9-1.
Conner has played enough now that he gets it. He’s got to chance to be really good. Max has thrown 900 balls in the SEC.
I do think what will happen is our defense is going to be better. Last year we ran the ball more like we did when Michael Carter and Javonte Williams were here. We’re going to help the defense more with our offense. These guys have to step up and they can’t be Drake, they can’t be Sam, but we can be a better team.
That’s what we’re working towards. You kind of said that. We were never great in the offensive line even with those two teams that we had in ’97 and ’98. That was where we didn’t get to where we could block a Florida State. Today they beat us when they were No. 1, we were No. 4, they beat us 20-3. Quarterback got hit nine times because we couldn’t block ’em.
I do think we will be better in the offensive line next year. That’s a compliment to our coaches, the recruits that they’re bringing in, and Randy Clements being back for a second year. Randy and Chip are really on the same page. Our coaches are all on the same page.
I expect us to play better complementary football. That’s what I’m excited about. I think we can have a good team. I don’t want to talk about it. Everybody said, You’re not talking about your team. If you talk about them, they’re not any good, then you’re stupid. There’s not a coach up here that knows how good his team is going to be.
None of us. Who gets hurt. You have to be in a tight game, usually on the road to see if you win. If you do, then you pull together. If you get beat early then some teams fall apart. After 36 years of this stuff, you can ask me. I have no clue.
When I was in your seat and ESPN would say pick the four finalists for next year’s team, right before the national championship game. Are you kidding me? I don’t have a clue. They said, It doesn’t matter, just pick ’em.
That’s what some of you have done the last few weeks (smiling). That was humor, that was humor.
Q. Since you decided to return to coaching five years ago, how are you feeling going into your fifth year? You talk about coaching and player relationships. What does it mean to you to keep that bond going once they leave school?
MACK BROWN: I’ll answer the second one first.
We have a sign on our building, it’s not a four-year decision, it’s a 40.
I’m old enough now, some of these guys it’s a 50. I’m still with them. I get calls every day, Can I get a job, Coach? I love Father’s Day. I love Christmas when I can see pictures of their families.
People ask now, Why are you doing this?
I was meeting with Coach Bowden and Coach Paterno on a trip, Coach Bowden was 84, Coach Paterno was 86. I said, What are you all doing? Why don’t you go play something? Coach Paterno said, I got no hobbies. I got 17 grandkids. Sally actually said, Do you know all their names?
He said, Sure I do.
His wife, Sue, said, He knows Joe, but he may not the rest of them.
I asked Coach Bowden, Why are you doing this at 84?
He said, I have a purpose. The purpose is to help these young people with their lives. He said, When I quit coaching, the next significant thing that will happen in my life will be my death.
I thought that’s pretty strong. The way I feel is I love these guys. I don’t like these guys, I love these guys. They’re so nice and they’re such good people, they work so hard, they’re so mature that my life right now has a purpose that I get to see ’em every day and I get to talk to ’em, I help them grow. If they do something that I messed up, it’s worse now because of social media. We messed up, nobody knew. They mess up, it’s out there, public.
I feel such a purpose, more than any time in my life that I can help with their lives. That’s pretty powerful as you start looking at it. That’s why I got back into coaching. I feel even more strongly about that.
Now, like I said in the opening part, I’m more excited about them next week. A lot of people are questioning us, what we’re doing. We’ve done more good things than we get credit for. I get that. That’s okay. But I want them to win all the games. I want nice young people that have the best academic record in our league, one of the best in the country, that are doing everything right with NIL, to win all the games.
That’s my purpose.
Max Johnson
Q. How much do you lean on your dad’s experience, Super Bowl quarterback, but also a Florida State quarterback?
MAX JOHNSON: Yeah, I think he’s been through so many experiences in his life that I’ve been able to learn so much from him. He’s taught me never get too high, never get too low, lean on your guys. You got to be a leader in the good times and the bad times.
Everybody experiences those throughout their career, high school, college, NFL. I’ve been able to learn so much from him. I’ve gained so much wisdom from just some of the things he’s taught me, so…
Q. You’ve had a journey, the transfer portal, LSU, Texas A&M, now to North Carolina. To someone who maybe is in a place where it’s not the right fit, what type of wisdom and knowledge can you share about the portal and how to handle the re-recruitment of college football?
MAX JOHNSON: I think the transfer portal is a big part of college football now. You see Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, so many big-time guys transfer from school to school.
I think being at Carolina with Coach Brown, all these great players around me, I’m so excited for the opportunity, I’m so blessed to be able to be here.
It’s a tough time being in the portal. You’re getting phone calls every single day. For me it was just finding the best fit for me, building the relationship with these guys and Coach Brown was so important for me.
Q. At the end of it all, all the phone calls, what made UNC the right choice?
MAX JOHNSON: I think watching the guys coming here such as Sam Howell and Drake Maye, the success they had here. Just the type of offense that is run here.
Coach Lindsey has done a great job, like Conner said, working to everybody’s strengths. I’ve kind of fit in really well here. I’ve met some great guys, great friends.
For me, this is the place where I wanted to be coming out of the portal. Of course, I got other phone calls, but this was my first choice. This is where I want to be and I’m looking forward to this year.
Q. You came into UNC looking at this receiving group. What stood out to you the most of why you wanted to come and play at UNC?
MAX JOHNSON: I mean, we got some dudes at receiver. J.J. is one of them, No. 5, a baller. We got some dudes out there.
I can name every single one of them, but I don’t want to highlight any certain guy because we got a bunch of studs. Each guy can take a slant to the crib. I’m looking forward to working with them this fall camp, so…
Conner Harrell
Q. You were a valedictorian, you gave the speech at graduation, yes?
CONNER HARRELL: There were a couple of valedictorians. I did not give a speech. I remember a girl, Abby McGhee, gave a speech. I did not.
Q. To be on a team where not only you’re competing for the job at quarterback, but Max is here with you today, that relationship that you both have to be competitive but to also be family.
CONNER HARRELL: Yes, sir. Obviously I get asked this question a lot. I always say, me and Max are the only people in the world going through this situation with these coaches and with this team. Obviously it brings you closer. We’re together all the time, working together, trying to figure out how to make the team better. That brings you closer.
I think the end goal is we want to win a championship. That creates a bond, so…
Q. In these kind of quarterback competitions, we hear this guy versus this guy. What are you learning from Max and what do you think he can learn from you?
CONNER HARRELL: Obviously Max has played a lot of football. He has a lot of experiences, different receivers, a lot of good stories about different guys, LSU, behind Joe Burrow and stuff. He’s had a lot of experiences that I can learn from. He’s learned from a lot of different guys.
Whether that’s pocket presence or me just unconsciously picking up good things that he does, with him not even saying anything, is invaluable when you’re going against a really good player, so…
Q. This year on offense you guys got a lot of talent, running back, receivers. How has that helped you and the other quarterbacks kind of get acclimated to the offense, just gelling the offense together?
CONNER HARRELL: Yeah, we have, I think, really good players in every position. Tight end, receiver and running back. Leaning on all those guys to help us succeed in the spring, the summer, becoming closer in every position.
I think it’s going to be important to use everybody, every position. Just trying to get the most out of everybody, so…
Q. In high school you were a team captain. Are you a vocal leader or a lead-by-example leader?
CONNER HARRELL: I think both. I think I’ve done a lot better job of becoming vocal this year. I’ve been trying to make that a focal point in my leadership, talking more. Guys respond when you’re talking to ’em, and you’re speaking to ’em. There’s a lot of effect that can have on younger guys, freshmen, if I have a conversation with them, have dinner with them. I’ve been trying to get better at it. I think I’ve become a lot more of a vocal leader this year.
Q. What is it about UNC, about the coaches that allow the quarterbacks to be successful and give you the opportunity to be following that next line of past UNC quarterbacks?
CONNER HARRELL: Yeah, I mean, I think it starts with recruiting. Coach Brown is always going to recruit great guys, great humans, great players. Sam and Drake are great guys. The offense really plays to their strengths. I think that’s a huge thing, we all have different strengths, different abilities, different talents. Being able to cater to what we do best is very important. I think we’ve done a really good job of that the last few years. I think we’ll continue to do a good job of that.
Kaimon Rucker
Q. You got a new defensive coordinator with Geoff Collins. What have you seen so far this off-season that’s kind of let you know that this year will be different, a different defense from the Carolina of the past?
KAIMON RUCKER: For starters, man, I feel like day one when he hit the room, he set a standard for us. I feel in the past, haven’t really set a standard for the defense.
Doesn’t matter what conference you’re in, what opponents you’re facing the next week, everybody has their own little thing.
The thing is with us, we didn’t never established a standard, we ain’t never established a bar that we need to jump over, go over. I feel like the bar he set on day one is we want to be the best defense in college football.
From that day forward, that has been the mantra of our defense the entire time. Doesn’t matter if it’s winter workouts, summer workouts, conditioning, fall camp. That’s something we need to hang our hat on.
That is something we need to firmly believe in if we want to be the defense we need be, the best one in college football. We need to be the defense everybody talks about, not because of how many rushing or passing yards we gave up, or how we performed in the past five years.
We need to be talk about because of what we can do, the talent we have in our defense, the hard work and determination we with the guys on our side. If we can do that, we can genuinely be the best defense in college football.
Q. To have a head coach like Mack Brown who has had so much experience, what does that mean to you to have his knowledge and wisdom on a daily basis?
KAIMON RUCKER: I mean, first off, man, I’m getting coached by a Hall of Famer, first off. You know what I’m saying? Won a national championship. I mean, you can’t just get that anywhere. There’s not a lot of places that can say that. For me to say that is truly an honor and a privilege.
For him stepping into his fifth year of coaching, my fifth year of playing, for the 2020 class to be his first recruiting class coming back, that is also another honor and a privilege. I’m glad to be part of the journey just as he’s on his journey, as well.
Just to be really a part of the knowledge and the wisdom that he shares with our team each and every day, team meetings, practice, outside of everything. It’s just like I said, I can’t say nothing because it’s an honor and privilege.
This is a guy that not only has given me a shot when a lot of Power Five programs didn’t offer me out of high school, he took a shot on me. Nobody else did but him. He trusted me early on. Before I even had trust in myself, he trusted me.
Just to learn from him, to grow up with him really, just to learn from him each and every day, the X’s and O’s of football, also life in general. Like he said it’s not a four-year decision, it’s a 40-year decision.
For him to set me up in life, allowing me to be the person that I am on the field, off the field, get involved with the community, utilizing NIL not only for my own purposes, helping out in the community, serving others, obviously everybody else that benefits from that as well, teaching us life lessons every single day.
For Coach Brown to still be here, still pushing it, still going hard as if he was back in his first year of coaching, man, is truly an honor and a privilege.
Coach Brown, I appreciate you for trusting me, allowing me to stay this long, and me being a part of the journey with you. I love you and appreciate you for that.
Q. (No microphone.)
KAIMON RUCKER: Since we’re on the topic of NIL (smiling).
It was about a couple of months ago, a month ago, I went back to my hometown. This is a bunch of fifth graders at my elementary school, fifth graders that are going into the sixth grade. Anybody who has children going into the fifth grade, particularly boys, they go through a lot of bodily anatomically changes.
So I utilized my NIL. I purchased book bags, different hygienics such as deodorant, little bags of cologne. I kind of branched out with my Ruck the Butcher merch, as well. If you all feel generous as well, ruckthebutcher.com.
All jokes aside, I want to help them out with their hygienics as well. This is a very big change in their lives. I feel like there’s important changes in people’s lives, that’s transitioning from school, transitioning to another level of K through 12, transitioning into college, and from college to the reeled world.
I utilized my NIL to help them in their first stage of their life going from essentially being a boy to a young adult, going into that level in their lives where they start holding accountability and responsibility, and of course taking care of their body along the way.
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent | Record/ TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | |||
| 1 | L, 48–14 | vs. TCU | 0–1 |
| 6 | W, 20–3 | at Charlotte | 1–1 |
| 13 | W, 41–6 | vs. Richmond | 2–1 |
| 20 | L, 34–9 | at UCF | 2–2 |
| October | |||
| 4 | L, 38–10 | vs. Clemson | 2–3, 0–1 ACC |
| 17 (Fri.) | L, 21–18 | at California | 2–4, 0–2 |
| 25 | L, 17–16, OT | vs. No. 16 Virginia | 2–5, 0–3 |
| 31 (Fri.) | W, 27–10 | at Syracuse | 3–5, 1–3 |
| November | |||
| 8 | W, 20–15 | vs. Stanford | 4–5, 2–3 |
| 15 | L, 28–12 | at Wake Forest | 4–6, 2–4 |
| 22 | L, 32–25 | vs. Duke | 4–7, 2–5 |
| 29 | L, 42–19 | at N.C. State | 4–8, 2–6 |
Photos courtesy of the ACC; transcript courtesy of ASAP
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