That famous Mark Twain line, the one about reports of his death being greatly exaggerated, was itself an exaggeration. Twain never actually put it like that, not exactly. It was, in fact, a little more understated and direct: “The report of my death was an exaggeration.
” For long stretches Saturday — for most of UNC’s rivalry game against Duke, in fact — it looked like Mack Brown might be able to use that line himself. After a week in which he took a beating from North Carolina fans and critics alike, a week in which he toiled in the aftermath of one of the worst defeats of his career, it looked like Brown might have the last laugh. At least for a little while, anyway.
It looked like he might be able to say — to quote another notable American wordsmith — “Not so fast, my friend.” For 2 1/2 quarters at Wallace Wade Stadium, it looked like he might be able to revel in the high of another victory against the Blue Devils; like he might even be able to gloat a little, after leading the Tar Heels out of the depths and then out of Durham, victorious. , Brown could have said, even if it strained believability.
And then came the final 20 minutes of the game game at Wallace Wade, and a series of events that only added to UNC’s misery. A dreadful meltdown and squandering of a three-touchdown lead, and a dreadful 21-20 finish that will undoubtedly amplify the chorus of discontent that suddenly surrounds Brown, the oldest major-college head coach in the country. Last w.