The talk all offseason was about the change in culture Mack Brown brought to the UNC football program. Fans were buying tickets, students were showing support and players had a little more swag. But all that would mean nothing if the team didn’t win on game day.
Saturday, against South Carolina, the Tar Heels had an opportunity to make people take notice, to change the narrative and to let people know the team that used to lay down in the 4th quarter is no longer around.
Game Notes:
- UNC beat South Carolina for the first time in four meetings since 1991.
- Mack Brown is 25-6 all-time in season openers, including 9-2 as UNC’s head coach.
- UNC is 1-0 to start a season for the first time since beating Liberty, 56-29, on Aug. 30, 2014.
- This was UNC’s first victory over a Power 5 opponent to open the season since 1997 when head coach Mack Brown led the Tar Heels past Indiana in Chapel Hill. UNC lost its next 11 season openers against Power 5 opponents until today’s win over the Gamecocks.
- The Tar Heels trailed by 11 points (20-9) heading into the fourth quarter, but out-scored the Gamecocks, 15-0 in the final period. This was the first time UNC won when trailing after three quarters since a Sept. 24, 2016, home win over Pittsburgh.
- UNC trailed by double digits twice today, trailing 13-3 in the second quarter and 20-9 heading into the fourth. UNC took its first lead of the season at 24-20 with 8:26 to play in the fourth quarter.
- The Tar Heels out-gained the Gamecocks, 483-270. That included a 285-101 edge in total yards in the second half. UNC allowed just 4.4 yards per play for the game (7.1 in the first quarter and 3.3 over the next three quarters).
- South Carolina gained 133 of its 270 yards on its first two series (58 and 75), but the Tar Heels allowed only 137 yards over the next 11 series.