UNC football’s Mack Brown didn’t like ‘classless’ comments from NC State’s Dave Doeren
As he discussed UNC football’s 2024 recruiting class on Wednesday, Tar Heels coach Mack Brown took a moment to address comments made by NC State coach Dave Doeren.
Following the Wolfpack’s 39-20 win against UNC on Nov. 25 at Carter-Finley Stadium, ACC Network cameras picked up Doeren’s remarks to the Wolfpack in the locker room.
“You know, it’s been 1,460 days since those pieces of (expletive) beat us,” Doeren said.
Brown addressed that comment on the opening day of the early signing period.
“In our last ball game with a rival school, after the game, the head coach of that school called our players a piece of (expletive),” Brown said to reporters at the Kenan Football Center.
“I apologize for that language, but I’ve never heard something like that before. I’m disappointed. I thought it was classless. Number one, we didn’t play well in the game. We didn’t coach well in the game. It’s been very well documented and I got that, but you don’t call kids a piece of (expletive). I’ve addressed it with our team. I apologized to them.
“. … They represent us. And from me speaking for them and their parents, they really didn’t appreciate being called a piece of (expletive). Never heard that before. Very, very disappointing. But, it is what it is.”
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UNC, which has lost three games in a row to NC State, closes its season at the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Dec. 27.
NC State football's Dave Doeren apologizes, says ACC Network didn't give heads up about camera
NC State held its signing day press conference shortly after UNC’s and Doeren addressed his comments about the Tar Heels. He apologized to Brown and said ACC Network didn't give "notice" about having a camera in the locker room after the game.
"First of all, when we go to these meetings, we’re supposed to get notice that there’s a camera in our locker room. That was not done. I have a lot of regret that that was on TV, because it shouldn’t have been. You go into the locker room with your team, that is a private conversation … unless they ask if they can be in there with a camera – and that was not asked," Doeren said.
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"That doesn’t give me an excuse to have that public, but that’s what happened. No one told me. Obviously, if I knew I was on camera, my language would not have been what it was. Does it make it any better? No. I did call Coach (Brown) and apologize, ‘cause I could’ve used a lot of different words. Obviously, caught me in a heat-of-the-moment situation in the locker room, celebrating a huge win. I was fired up about how we played. I have respect for Coach, so the last thing I wanted was for him to feel that.
"Again, it’s not an excuse, but it shouldn’t have been on TV. I think as 1,000 coaches out there will tell ya: If we had to apologize for everything we said in the locker room, we’d probably spend a lot of time doing that. It’s a place where a lot of emotion comes out. I could have said that in a much more professional way – I regret not doing that. What I don’t regret is having passion with my players and celebrating a big win. I’m gonna continue to do that. Hopefully, down the road, we’ll get the courtesy we deserve when we’re gonna be on TV in those moments.”
The Wolfpack has a chance to earn its 10th win of the season with a victory against Kansas State at the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC’s Mack Brown talks ‘classless’ comment from NC State’s Dave Doeren
