Family affair for Mack Brown? UNC prepares for bowl game against South Carolina
North Carolina coach Mack Brown considers former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer to be one of his best friends in coaching. So Thursday’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl against South Carolina will find Brown in the same position he was to begin the season, trying to beat one of Beamer’s rooting interests.
“When we went to Virginia Tech this year, the first guy I saw to hug his neck was Frank on the field before the game and he looks great,” Brown said. “Now he’s spending all of his time in in South South Carolina pulling for his son, so it’s fun to watch him be so excited.”
Shane Beamer, Frank’s son, is in his first year as the Gamecocks’ head coach. He led South Carolina to become bowl eligible — for the first time since its Belk Bowl loss to Virginia in 2018 — coming off a 2-8 season in 2020.
Brown said Shane Beamer was kind of like an “extended family member” to him and his wife Sally. That’s why Brown was an interested observer of how Beamer and the Gamecocks were progressing this season well before this bowl matchup was announced.
“Everybody talked about how tough the South Carolina year was gonna be and all the things they were fighting, and then he comes up beats Florida, beats Auburn, nearly beats Missouri on the road,” Brown said. “He has done a tremendous job coaching, so I can’t wait to see him. He and I’ve talked some on the phone about coaching. But I’m so proud of him. He’s killing it.”
Brown and the Heels just hope that doesn’t extended to Thursday’s game in Charlotte.
Gamecocks play quarterback shuffle
South Carolina started three different quarterbacks this season — Luke Doty, Zeb Noland and Jason Brown — but injuries and ineffectiveness kept the position rotating. The Gamecocks could end up using more than one player taking snaps against the Tar Heels too.
“It’s adventurous right now,” Beamer said. “...I’m not gonna say we’ve had open tryouts but you’ve kind of got a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ type thing as well.”
Noland will start the game, but Beamer hinted that, if need be, he’ll tap into his roster to play former high school quarterbacks. Receiver Dakereon Joyner is one of those players and he’s been used in the team’s Wildcat package to throw the ball. Running back Kevin Harris has taken direct snaps out of the Wildcat, but has only run the ball so far.
Doty was the preseason starter, but was hobbled by a foot injury that left Noland as the starter in the opener. When Noland got hurt, Doty tried to tough it out, but his foot hadn’t quite healed and that injury eventually ended his season.
Noland returned to the lineup, but was ineffective and replaced by Brown, who started the last four games of the season for the Gamecocks. Brown hit the transfer portal when former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler announced Columbia was his new destination.
UNC defensive coordinator Jay Bateman said the Heels have prepared for the “body of offense,” but are aware of the wrinkles the Gamecocks may use.
“We’ve talked to our kids about, we’ve got to be ready for Wildcat and the receiver quarterback (Joyner),” Bateman said. “We got to be ready for all of it. And I think that’s the great thing about a bowl game is people get two weeks to prepare for you and you better have a good answer to things.”
Three South Carolina players to watch
Zeb Noland, quarterback: Started preseason camp as a graduate assistant, but was asked to play after Doty suffered a foot injury. He hasn’t started since a 44-14 loss at Texas A&M on Oct. 23.
Jaylan Foster, safety: Tied for the NCAA lead with five interceptions. He was also named first team All-SEC.
JuJu McDowell, running back: Made his mark this season as a kickoff return specialist, averaging 26.3 yards per return. His longest was a 63-yarder against East Carolina.
Three North Carolina players to watch
Sam Howell, quarterback: Will likely play his final collegiate game in the stadium and against the team it all started against back in 2019.
British Brooks, running back: Had his breakout game against N.C. State, rushing for 124 yards. Brooks, who announced he will be back next season, could see the bulk of carries in relief of Ty Chandler.
Storm Duck, cornerback: Will be playing a lot of snaps in depleted secondary after Kyler McMichael announced he was opting out of the bowl.
North Carolina vs South Carolina game, TV info
Who: UNC (6-6) vs. South Carolina (6-6)
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
When: 11:30 a.m. Thursday
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN3
Vegas betting odds: UNC vs. South Carolina point spread
The Tar Heels are currently favored by 9.0 points, according to the VegasInsider consensus line.
This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 6:10 AM.