A look back at the five biggest games in Mack Brown's first stint with UNC football
Head coach Mack Brown speaks to his North Carolina football team in 1989, ahead of his second year with the program. Brown went a combined 2-20 in his first two seasons with UNC. DTH File Photo.
Tuesday, North Carolina officially announced Mack Brown as the next head coach of the UNC football team. In 10 seasons, Brown compiled a 69-46-1 record and brought UNC two consecutive finishes in the Associated Press Top 10 rankings in 1996 and 1997. Here are the five biggest moments from Brown’s first stint as the Tar Heel head coach.
In 1992, North Carolina announced itself to the football world. The Tar Heels didn’t exactly set the country on fire in Brown’s first four years (they compiled a 15-28-1 record during that time). But in 1992, UNC finished with a 9-3 record, including wins over ranked opponents in Virginia and Georgia Tech.
It had been six years since North Carolina had been to a bowl game, but the 1992 Peach Bowl set off a string of seven consecutive bowl trips for UNC. The season culminated with Brown's first signature win, a 21-17 Peach Bowl victory over No. 24 Mississippi State in Atlanta, Ga.
The Tar Heels pulled off a comeback in that game after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter. UNC's defense led the way, thanks to two defensive scores in the second half, including a 44-yard interception from Cliff Baskerville.
1993: No. 20 UNC 31, No. 18 Southern California 9
Brown and the Tar Heels carried the momentum over from the Peach Bowl victory into 1993. UNC began the season with a dominating road win against No. 18 Southern California, 31-9.
The win over USC propelled UNC to a 10-3 season, and the Tar Heels were ranked in the top 25 all season. North Carolina also defeated rival N.C. State in Raleigh when the Wolfpack were ranked No. 19. UNC entered a Gator Bowl matchup with Alabama ranked No. 12, but ultimately lost to the No. 18 Crimson Tide.
1996: No. 24 UNC 27, No. 9 Syracuse 10
Fresh off a 45-0 win against Clemson to open the 1996 season, UNC traveled to Syracuse, N.Y., to take on the Orange, ranked No. 9 in the nation. The Tar Heels took a 17-0 first half lead over Syracuse, which was led by quarterback Donovan McNabb.
The UNC defense limited McNabb and the Orange passing game, holding him without a completion until late in the second quarter and to 125 passing yards on the game.
After a relatively disappointing 7-5 campaign in 1995, Brown's success at North Carolina in the next two years launched him into the national spotlight in college football. The win over Syracuse sent UNC into a dominant 1996 season. It entered the year unranked, but reached as high as No. 6 in the country and finished ranked No. 10.
1997 Gator Bowl: No. 12 UNC 20, No. 25 West Virginia 13 (1996 season)
North Carolina capped off the 1996 season with a Gator Bowl win over No. 25 West Virginia. UNC entered the game with a 9-2 record, ranked No. 12 in the country.
The regular season set the stage for a return to victory in a major bowl. West Virginia entered ranked No. 25. The UNC defense, which forced four turnovers, was led by consensus first-team All-American Dre' Bly, who had two interceptions.
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In Brown's last season at North Carolina, the team came the closest it ever has to a national championship. UNC entered the season ranked No. 7 in the country, and never exited the top 10 all year.
The No. 3 Seminoles came to Chapel Hill to play UNC, ranked No. 5 in the country. ESPN's College GameDay was in town for perhaps the biggest game in Kenan Memorial Stadium history. The media dubbed it "Judgment Day."
The Tar Heels were ultimately stifled by Florida State in a defensive battle. UNC didn't reach 50 yards of offense in the first half, and could only muster a field goal all game.
After the loss, UNC won every game the rest of the season. Had North Carolina beat Florida State that day in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels may very well have played for the National Championship. Instead, UNC went back to the Gator Bowl, and Brown left the program before the game to go to Texas.
