{"id":53629,"date":"2022-08-23T07:42:25","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T07:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/mack-brown-sets-new-tone-with-uncs-long-awaited-qb-decision\/"},"modified":"2022-08-23T07:42:25","modified_gmt":"2022-08-23T07:42:25","slug":"mack-brown-sets-new-tone-with-uncs-long-awaited-qb-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/mack-brown-sets-new-tone-with-uncs-long-awaited-qb-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Mack Brown Sets New Tone With UNC’s Long-Awaited QB Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CHAPEL HILL, NC \u2014 North Carolina coach Mack Brown<\/b> had addressed 21 other positions on his football team’s newly released depth chart and spoken for more than 11\u00bd minutes by the time he arrived at the most pressing and prominent spot related to Monday’s news conference:<\/p>\n
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The determination on the quarterback battle between Drake Maye<\/b> and Jacob Criswell<\/b>and who finally has gained the starting nod for the Tar Heels entering their season opener Saturday night against Florida A&M.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAt the quarterback position, Drake will walk out there first,\u201d Brown said, naming Maye the starter. \u201cWe feel like that competition has been outstanding. Both could play. Drake has earned the right. I’m not going to get into why and what, because it’s very close and we’re pleased with both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
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That first comment about Maye being the first choice at quarterback \u2014 this weekend will mark his first starting assignment as a college player \u2014 effectively provided the tone Brown struck again and again at Kenan Football Center, adamantly at times, while UNC turned the corner from preseason camp into game-week mode.<\/p>\n
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The redshirt freshman Maye will be the first up as North Carolina encounters its first game of the post-Sam Howell quarterbacking era. The third-year sophomore Criswell, after narrowly losing out on securing the starting job, per the accounts of Brown and offensive coordinator Phil Longo<\/b>will be waiting in the wings and ready to roll when called on.<\/p>\n
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Consider it a situation of riding the hot hand or, as Brown put it, even a football equivalent of make it, take it in basketball. Beyond that, the College Hall of Famer Brown, widely respected as a great communicator, didn’t want to delve into the details that produced the decision in favor of Maye.<\/p>\n
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Did chemistry with star receiver Josh Downs<\/b> and the Tar Heels’ other young wideouts become a factor?<\/p>\n
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\u201cI’m not getting into any quarterback competition,\u201d Brown said. \u201cWe just felt like Drake should walk out there first. Both of them did really well, and there’s just very little difference between the two. If one quarterback’s not moving the ball, we’ll put the other one in. We’ve done that in the past. We just don’t have a plan other than \u2026 if you’re moving it, you stay in. If you’re not, let the other guy have a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
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