Neil Redmond/USAToday sports
Mack: An emotional win, a significant win, a historic win
Mack Brown isn't one to shy away from hyperbole. But on this occasion, there wasn't any other way to describe a game whose outcome was both so significant and historic.
Carolina's 20-17 victory against Duke on Saturday came down to the final play, as it has in all but one game this season for the Tar Heels. And it ended on an interception at the goal line by linebacker Chazz Surratt, the same player who threw a decisive pick in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Blue Devils on the same field two years ago.
The win ensured that Carolina's seniors would finally get to ring the Victory Bell before their careers ended and coupled with Virginia's loss to Louisville earlier in the day, thrust the Tar Heels right back into the thick of the ACC Coastal Division race.
Almost as a sidebar, the triumph was Brown's 73rd as Carolina's coach, moving him past Dick Crum as the winningest in school history.
Here's what Brown had to say in the aftermath of the victory:
"A very emotional win. We are TV darlings because we come down to the last drive in every game we've played but one, and again the last play. I am so proud of our guys. I reflect back to last year sitting in your seat watching the Virginia Tech game, getting ready to put the game away and we fumble. Then they drive the length of the field and score. Give Duke credit for forcing the fumble and driving down, but this was different because our defense stepped up and made the play to win the game. I think our guys are learning. They are believing in each other."
Brown broke down the final clinching play that ended in Surratt's interception:
After getting shreaded by a running quarterback at Virginia Tech last week, the Tar Heels held Duke's dual-threat quarterback Quentin Harris to just 20 net rushing yards (minus-9 when factoring in sacks). Brown had praise for his defense's effort both in containing Harris and in holding Duke to 17 points overall while forcing three turnovers.
On the flip side, Carolina quarterback Sam Howell had his problems throwing the ball against the Blue Devils. And yet, even though he was running for his life most of the day and completed only 10 passes, the star freshman still managed to amass 227 yards and touchdowns in a winning effort ...
Having coached 10 seasons at Carolina in his previous tenure, Brown knows exactly what beating Duke and winning the Victory Bell means. He's also well aware of how much more significant Saturday's win was, with the Blue Devils having won the last three renewals of the rivalry ...
Brown addressed the subject of becoming the winningest coach in school history and as
could be expected, he gave all the credit to his players and assistants ...
Finally, Brown was asked if he danced in the locker room. He did, but danced around the subject on what it might have looked like ...
