UNC football aims to avoid any immature moments against Georgia State
North Carolina coach Mack Brown’s message to his team after last week’s win at Appalachian State wasn’t all about execution, but it was something the team needed to hear:
Grow up.
The Tar Heels (2-0) travel to face Georgia State (0-1) Saturday in yet another “biggest home game” for a Sun Belt Conference opponent. Brown again will be watching for signs of maturity.
The Heels had a few immature moments against App State that Brown needs them to learn from.
“I look over after Ced Gray’s interception, the whole defense is over there celebrating with the fans,” Brown said. “And I’m saying: ‘Really? C’mon man. Let’s grow up.’ We’re in our fourth year, so come on. Act like you’re excited to get the interception, but come over and get ready to stop them again. Celebrate when the game’s over.”
Freshman receiver Tychaun “Doc” Chapman thought the game was over when Bryson Nesbit returned an onside kick attempt 43 yards for a touchdown. That’s the only way to explain why Chapman, who did not play in the game, ran on the field and received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting.
Obviously, these aren’t situations that come up in practice. But having experienced them against App State, Brown said they’re the easiest areas the Heels can clean up.
“That’s why I call it teachable moments,” Brown said. “You can’t make that stuff up.”
Carolina will once again be in a charged environment at Atlanta’s Center Parc Stadium. UNC will be the first school from a Power Five conference to play at Georgia State.
The Heels beat the Panthers last season 59-17 in Chapel Hill, but Brown said he doesn’t expect much to be similar to that meeting. Georgia State is coming off a 35-14 loss to South Carolina in its season opener — the Panthers had a lead briefly in the third quarter before allowing two blocked punts to be returned for touchdowns.
Brown also made note of LSU’s kicking woes, including the blocked extra point attempt as time expired in its 24-23 loss to Florida State, too.
“That’s the great and bad thing about college football,” Brown said. “It is a bunch of kids running around playing hard on national TV with a lot of pressure against each other, and some respond well and some don’t. The ones that respond the best over time win, and we’ve just got to keep working till ours get better.”
How to watch UNC’s football game
The game will be broadcast on ESPNU. It is also available on the ESPN App with an ESPN+ subscription, and through various subscription apps that carry ESPNU, such as Hulu and YouTube TV. The link to watch it is here.
Pregame reading
- UNC football vs Georgia State first look: Top storylines, players to watch and odds
- UNC defense searching for answers after fourth-quarter ‘implosion’ against App State
- UNC football enjoying red zone success after not making most of opportunities in 2021
- Three things we learned about UNC football as it escaped App State with a 63-61 win
This story was originally published September 9, 2022 at 6:10 AM.