North Carolina’s quarterback carousel has spun all year. Even with injuries to redshirt sophomore Chazz Surratt and true first-years Cade Fortin and Jace Ruder, it didn’t stop on Saturday.
When the Tar Heels found themselves lined up at the Catamounts’ 38-yard line with just seconds left until halftime, head coach Larry Fedora chose to give Manny Miles a chance to sling the ball as far as he could.
“(We) just felt like we knew Manny could get it there for sure, and we were going to have an opportunity,” Fedora said after the game.
Manny Miles has spent more time holding the football for field goals and extra points than he has behind center in his four years in Chapel Hill. But no matter what position he played, his mother, Kathy Miles, always preached the importance of preparation.
Kathy Miles watched Saturday’s game with Les Miles and their two daughters from Cunningham’s suite.
“Sometimes, you feel like a broken record,” Kathy Miles said. “Always saying, ‘Stay ready. Stay ready.’ He wants to be out there throwing the ball. And then, he finally got a chance. It was great to see it happen.”
Before his touchdown pass against Western Carolina, Manny Miles’ career highlights both happened in 2017: a 2-point conversion run against Old Dominion and a completed pass on a fake field goal versus Miami.
Fedora praised Manny Miles for his willingness to take on any role assigned throughout his time as a Tar Heel.
“There’s not a thing in the world that Manny can’t do,” Fedora said. “He’ll tell you that. It doesn't matter what it is. If I told him I needed him to return a kickoff, he would (say), ‘Oh yeah. No problem.’”
Sports Illustrated reported on Friday that Les Miles was finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at Kansas. With his son’s first collegiate passing touchdown coming the next day, Les Miles admitted it had been a “nice weekend” for the Miles family.
Les Miles, who says he tries to make it to UNC football games anytime he has free time, has attended six or seven games during Manny Miles’ career. Les Miles expressed how upset he would’ve been if he missed his son’s big moment.
“I’d have been miserable,” Les Miles said. “I would’ve seen the play, but I would not have seen the teammate reaction to it. I thought that was just as sincere and as wonderful as that could be.”
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During postgame player interviews on Saturday, Manny Miles stumbled on words and laughed as he talked to the media after a game for the first time in his career at North Carolina.
When one of his sisters jokingly asked where he thought his performance lined up with other Miles family performances, he reminded everyone that his father never scored a touchdown as an offensive linemen at Michigan in the 1970s.
His brother, Ben Miles, also has yet to score a collegiate touchdown in his first year as a fullback at Texas A&M.
“I think I’m the first one in the family to do it,” Manny Miles said with a smile.
But Manny Miles isn’t satisfied yet. After all, he does have one game left in his Tar Heel career.
“I’d love to get the chance to do it again,” he said.
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