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Mr. Ceandris "C.C." Brown

Home:
416 Sonnier Rd. Apt. 210
Carencro, La 70520

Work:

Home Phone: 337-501-2769
Work Phone: --
Fax: --
Email: rastaboycc@hotmail.com

My name is C.C. Brown. I started my football career at Greenwood High School, Greenwood, MS. I made the all-district team and all-commonwealth team. Later, I played at MDCC were I made the all-state team in juco. I also was selected to play in the juco all-star game. My parents are Ethel and Freddie Pernell.

– – – – – – – – – – – – –

Brown completes NFL aspirations

HOUSTON (AP) – Former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns star C.C. Brown wasn’t asked to the NFL combine, and in high school he had given up on football and enlisted in the Army by the time he was offered a junior college scholarship.

The Texans gambled that the Mississippi National Guardsman and strong safety wouldn’t be called to active duty by picking him in the sixth round.

Less than five months later, Brown enters Houston’s season opener at Buffalo as a starter.

He’ll be the only rookie starting for Houston, a turn of events that has shocked the humble and quiet player.

“I probably won’t believe it until Sunday at game time,” he said.

The Texans are high on the hard hitter and even harder worker.

“He’s a bright guy,” coach Dom Capers said. “He’s on top of his assignments, and we look forward to seeing him play every week to see how much progress he’s made.”

Brown saw plenty of action in the preseason and led the team with 20 solo tackles.

In his first game, he had seven tackles and nearly intercepted a pass in the end zone against Denver.

Brown took advantage of the oft-injured Glenn Earl’s separated shoulder to snag the spot.

When the Houston defense lines up today, the UL product’s stomach will undoubtedly be churning.

“I’m nervous because it’s going to be my first NFL game, but I’m going to be all right after the first snap,” Brown said. “I feel that I’m ready. I mean, you’re going to make mistakes whether you’re a rookie or a 10th-year player. The thing is to try not to make too many.”

Free safety Marcus Coleman, a 10-year NFL veteran and the unofficial leader of the secondary, agreed and said he’ll be there to help Brown.

“He’s going to make some mistakes,” Coleman said. “I mean he’s young. It kind of comes with the territory. If he does make a mistake, I’m just going to pat him on the back and say, ‘Hey you’ve got to forget about it and let’s go onto the next play.”‘

Originally published September 11, 2005

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Brown Pulls Double Duty

HOUSTON (NYT) – For C.C. Brown, there was never an alternative. At least not one he considered.

There were no thoughts of earning a scholarship to play college football. No NFL dreams. Football was just a pastime to Brown when he turned 18.

“I was raised under my grandmother,” Brown said. “She was the only person around. I didn’t have no mother, no father, nothing. And it was either enlist in the Army or go in the street and sell drugs. I didn’t want to go down that route.”

The path Brown took has steered him to where his imagination rarely wandered. Four years after enlisting, Brown is still a civilian soldier with obligations to the Mississippi National Guard, but he is also a rookie strong safety who is quickly climbing the Texans’ depth chart.

He has done just fine at both. After two seasons at junior college and then two years at the University of Louisiana, Brown was on NFL scouts’ radar last spring. He was a hard-hitting safety with good instincts and a strong 6-0, 204-pound frame.

Draft day nerves
But on draft day, he was passed over. More than one team was concerned Brown would be mobilized for duty in Afghanistan as soon as he was drafted.

“They were kind of terrified that the moment they draft me I would get shipped overseas,” said Brown, 22, who was drafted by the Texans in the sixth round. “It kind of hurt me a lot that they would think that.”

There was reason for concern. Two batteries of the 114th Field Artillery Regiment from Mississippi already had left for duty in Afghanistan in February. Spc. 4 Brown was part of that unit but was not one of the 300 deployed. So far, only those who volunteered for duty have been mobilized.

One of those who shipped out was Brown’s best friend, Darrell Sproles, whose daughter is Brown’s godchild. It was Sproles’ idea for the friends to enlist on career day as high school seniors in Greenwood, Miss.

“He came up to me and said, ‘I know where we can make easy money,’ ” Brown said. ” ‘We just go there, do the drills, and pick up a check.’ I didn’t know if I’d get accepted into any college at that time. And so I said, ‘Man, I’m cool with it.’ Both of us didn’t want to go to the streets. So we enlisted.”

Their plan didn’t work out as anticipated, and now Brown struggles to deal with Sproles’ absence. They talk every other day.

“It’s hard,” Brown said. “The only thing that I hope is that the guys overseas right now I hope they’re looking at this in a positive way. Because when they come back, I want them all to come watch me play.”

Texans wanted Brown
The Texans wanted Brown ever since they worked him out before the draft. Brown only tried out for a handful of teams and was not invited to the NFL scouting combine, so the Texans took their chances by waiting to call his name.

On the second day of the draft, the Texans’ top targets were receiver Jerome Mathis and Brown.

“We gambled,” Texans general manager Charley Casserly said. “Well really, I gambled. I think the scouts wanted to take him in the fourth round, but I said, no, we’re going to take Mathis. We just had to gamble that because he didn’t have a lot of visits, he would slip.”

Brown has caught the attention of the coaches with his skills and his willingness to learn. He memorized the duties at free safety as well as strong safety. When starting strong safety Glenn Earl was injured last week, Brown filled in.

“I hear (compliments) every blue moon, but when they do tell me that, I pay it no mind,” Brown said. “I always feel that I’m doing wrong, and I want to try to do right to impress the coaches.”

Brown impresses coaches
Brown, whose full name is Ceandris Nehemiah, has impressed the coaches on the field and off. Soon after the draft, the Texans spoke with Maj. Gen. Harold Cross, the commander of the Mississippi National Guard.

They each wanted to make the balance between the military and football easy for Brown.

The National Guard makes exceptions for some civilian soldiers. Brown is still supposed to attend monthly drills in Mississippi. His schedule has been tweaked, much like it is for people who work on oil rigs or in the airline industry.

When the season ends, Brown will return to Mississippi and focus on National Guard obligations. Until then, he can concentrate on football.

“He took an oath and he understands that commitment,” Cross said. “On the other hand, he wants to have the possibility of an NFL career.

“It’s tough. You have to make a special commitment to do it. But we both have. Ceandris is one of those young men, who can do both. He has the ability to be a pro football player. And we don’t want to do anything to mitigate that.”

Mind on Afghanistan
There is a chance that Brown will be sent to Afghanistan. His unit is supposed to return in February, but if the government needs reinforcements and there are no more volunteers, Brown could be called.

The National Guard is required by law to give members 30 days’ notice.

Brown’s commitment to the National Guard continues through November 2007, but he is trying to focus on football.

When Brown reflects on the past few months, he struggles to grasp all that has transpired. The day he was drafted in the NFL is still a blur.

“Never in a million years did I imagine this,” said Brown, who watched the NFL draft in his Louisiana apartment. “I was biting my nails. I was sweating. I couldn’t sit still.

“And then when they finally called me, it was like it released a bunch of pressure off my chest.”

More stress will be relieved the day Brown reunites with Sproles and their the rest of his unit.

“I wish they could be home sooner, because I’d like them all to come back and watch me play,” he said. “But as soon as they get back, they should know they have tickets for a game waiting for them.”

Originally published August 13, 2005

Football: Cajuns’ Brown goes in sixth round to Texans

April 25, 2005 –
Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

When C.C. Brown wasn’t invited to the NFL combine earlier this spring, he could have sulked his way out of football.

Instead, he stepped up his already-high work ethic a few more notches, and all the work paid off Sunday when the Houston Texans came calling.

The Texans made the University of Louisiana safety their sixth-round draft choice and the 188th player overall selected in the NFL draft that ended Sunday.

“Since he didn’t go to the combine he didn’t have much exposure,” said Texans general manager Charley Casserly. “But just last week our scouts went to Lafayette and worked him out, and after working him out and watching film we all liked him. He’s aggressive and physical and he was very productive against the run.”

Brown became the fourth Ragin’ Cajun defensive back to be tabbed in the draft in the last four years. Brad Franklin was picked by Carolina in the seventh round in 2002 and Charles Tillman (second round, Chicago Bears) and Ivan Taylor (fourth round, Pittsburgh Steelers) were both picked in 2003.

“That’s a big honor to be with those guys,” Brown said Sunday. “Ike (Taylor) and Peanut (Tillman) are both doing well in the league, and I hope I can continue that tradition.”

Brown was worried less about that tradition and more about getting a chance earlier this year when he was bypassed in combine selections. But after individual workouts for several teams – Green Bay, Cincinnati and Dallas in particular, on trips to their camps – his stock started rising.

“The Giants were the first team to come in, and I was kind of shocked,” Brown said. “I didn’t think I had the season I really wanted to have. But from the time the season ended, I worked hard on stuff I knew I had to work on … my hips, my speed, technique.

“Normally most guys take a break after the season, but I couldn’t do that.”

“He worked his tail off from November to now,” said Cajun defensive coordinator Brent Pry Sunday. “He fine-tuned his skills and got himself in terrific shape, and made the most of his opportunity. Now he’s got to put his nose to the grindstone again and make the club.”

The last 10 UL players to be drafted have all played in the league as part of 13 selections since 1989. Houston coach Dom Capers indicated Sunday that Brown will get a solid shot at making it 11 in a row.

“Each selection we made has a chance to make the football team, including the players we took on the second day,” Capers said. “When you get to this point in the draft, you’re looking for guys with good height, weight and speed that can also contribute on special teams while they’re learning the system. We feel Ceandris has those capabilities.”

It was the use of his real first name on an early-afternoon cell phone call that tipped Brown off that something was happening.

“Washington was on the board, and I got a call asking for Ceandris,” Brown said. “Nobody calls me that. But he said he was from the Texans and they were going to draft me with their next pick. I thought someone was playing a prank.”

Four picks after that Washington selection, the Texans took the 6-0 1/2, 210-pound Brown as their 14th pick in the sixth round.

“It’s nice to have him close,” Cajun head coach Rickey Bustle said of Brown’s selection by the nearby Texans. “We’re very proud of what he’s done. He’s worked hard and he’s very deserving.”

The Greenwood, Miss., native had 101 tackles in an All-Sun Belt Conference season in 2004 after getting 67 tackles and eight stops for losses as a junior in 2003. That followed a solid career at Mississippi Delta Community College, and came before his Hula Bowl experience in January where he first began catching scouts’ eyes.

“I was in the office Saturday and the Philadelphia secondary coach called,” Pry said. “He was all fired up about him. The Giants called back after that, so we were watching pretty close.”

So was Brown.

“I pretty much watched the draft from the second pick Saturday all the way down to my pick,” he said. “I had a lot of time on my hands the last two days.”

He won’t have much time over the next couple of weeks, since he’s headed to Houston Thursday for meetings. Bright and early Friday morning, he’ll be on the field to participate in rookie mini-camp. But the first thing he had to do was a Sunday afternoon errand.

“I gotta go to the store and buy a bunch of Texans hats and T-shirts,” he said.

Originally published April 25, 2005

Football Banquet: Babb, Brown top honorees

January 23, 2005 –

Jerry Babb, C. C. Brown and Jerrell Carter would do well to follow the leads of the men that presented them with their awards Saturday at the University of Louisiana’s football banquet.

Babb was named the Ragin’ Cajuns’ Offensive Most Valuable Player, Brown the Defensive MVP and Carter the Special Forces Award for special teams at the banquet held at the Cajundome Convention Center.

Babb’s award was presented by former Cajun and current Carolina Panther quarterback Jake Delhomme. Carter won the award named after ex-Cajun standout Brian Mitchell and presented by the NFL’s all-time career leader in kick return yardage.

Brown, who was participating in Saturday’s Hula Bowl in Honolulu and was unable to attend the banquet, accepted his award on video from Chicago Bears defensive back Charles Tillman, himself a two-time winner of the Cajuns’ defensive MVP award.

The top awards were voted upon by members of the UL squad, which finished 4-7 during the 2004 season. The team also voted on the Captain’s Awards, which were presented to running back Dwight Lindon and center Ronnie Harvey on offense, Brown and linebacker Stanley Smith on defense and Carter on special teams.

The Cajun players also voted awards for the biggest hits of the season, with Lindon winning the “Thumper” award on offense for a block against Arkansas State, Smith and Rodney Hardaway sharing the “Hammer” award on defense for hits against Troy and North Texas respectively, and Carter winning the “Kahuna” award on special teams for a hit against UL Monroe.

UL Football award winners

Offensive MVP – QB Jerry Babb

Defensive MVP – SS C. C. Brown

Special Forces (special teams MVP) – CB Jerrell Carter

Captain’s Awards – RB Dwight Lindon, C Ronnie Harvey, LB Stanley Smith, SS C. C. Brown, KR Jerrell Carter

Big Hit Awards – “Thumper” (offense), RB Dwight Lindon; “Hammer” (defense), DE Ronnie Hardeway and LB Stanley Smith; “Kahuna” (special teams), KR Jerrell Carter

Coaches Awards – “Champion” (offensive newcomer), OL Justin Ernest; “Top Gun” (defensive newcomer) DE Ronnie Hardeway

Blue Collar Awards – DL Eugene Kwarteng, defense; OL Brandon Cox, offense

Top Point Awards – DL Tony Hills, CB Mike Adams, LB Stanley Smith, SS C. C. Brown

All-Conference Awards – SS C. C. Brown, first team; WR Bill Sampy, second team

Victory MVP’s – SS C. C. Brown vs. Northwestern State; DB Antwain Spann vs. Middle Tennessee; K Sean Comiskey vs. Florida International; WR Bill Sampy vs. Arkansas State

Originally published January 23, 2005
Brown earns All-Sun Belt

December 1, 2004

NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana safety C.C. Brown was a first-team defensive back on the All-Sun Belt football team released Tuesday.

The only other Cajun honored was reciver Bill Sampy on the second team.

North Texas running back Jamario Thomas has been named the 2004 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.

The freshman phenom from Longview, Texas, also picked up Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors to go along with his first team all-conference selection.

Thomas is the third North Texas student-athlete to earn Sun Belt Player of the Year recognition (Brandon Kennedy, 2002 and 2003), the second to earn Offensive Player of the Year (Patrick Cobbs, 2003) and Freshman of the Year (Ja’Mel Branch, 2001).

Thomas leads NCAA Division I-A in rushing with 189.9 yards per game, is third in all-purpose running with 191 ypg, and is fourth in scoring at 11.3 points per game. Thomas earned his first start of the season against Colorado on Sept. 18 after last year’s national rushing leader Patrick Cobbs was injured.

He proceeded to rush for 1,709 yards in nine games, including five consecutive games of 200 or more yards, tying the NCAA record held by Marcus Allen and Barry Sanders. Thomas was a four-time Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honoree in 2004.

It is also the fourth year in a row that the Mean Green have place a running back on the all-Sun Belt first team (Kevin Galbreath, 2001 and 2002; Patrick Cobbs, 2003).

Troy senior defensive end Demarcus Ware earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors, ending a three-year hold by North Texas on the honor. Ware is a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award for defensive end of the year.

The Auburn, Ala., native is sixth in the nation in sacks with 1.00 per game and tied for ninth in tackles for loss at 1.59 per game.

North Texas offensive lineman Dylan Lineberry became the second North Texas student-athlete to earn Newcomer of the Year honors (Kevin Galbreath, 2001).

Lineberry graded out as the Mean Green’s second-best overall offensive lineman. Along with his teammates, including first team All-Sun Belt offensive lineman Andy Brewster, the Houston, Texas, native led the Sun Belt in sacks allowed with a low of nine, just five in conference games.

North Texas coach Darrell Dickey was selected by his peers and a media panel for a fourth Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honor. Dickey led the Mean Green to its fourth consecutive Sun Belt Conference championship and Wyndham New Orleans Bowl appearance with a 7-0 conference record.

The Mean Green also extended its conference game winning streak to 25, the longest in the nation.

Other significant notes on the 2004 All-Sun Belt Conference Football Teams:

n North Texas defensive back Jonas Buckles becomes the Sun Belt’s first-ever four-time all-conference honoree. Buckles was a first team selection in 2001, 2003 and 2004. He earned second-team honors in 2002.

n North Texas defensive lineman Adrian Awasom and Louisiana-Monroe defensive back Chris Harris become the fifth and sixth three-time all-conference honorees. Harris is the first non-North Texas three-time all-Sun Belt selection. Previous three-time honorees (all from North Texas) — OL Nick Zuniga, DL Brandon Kennedy, LB Cody Spencer, and DB Craig Jones.

n For the third time in three seasons, New Mexico State has had a quarterback receive all-Sun Belt recognition — K.C. Enzminger (2001, second team); Paul Dombrowski (2002, second team; and Buck Pierce (2004, first team).

n For the fourth year in a row, Arkansas State has had an offensive lineman named to the first team all-Sun Belt — Garry Johnson (2001 and 2002), Kimani Jones (2003) and Steven Gibbs (2004).

n Seven student-athletes are receiving all-Sun Belt honors for the second time in their career — OL Andy Brewster, NT; OL Bruce Hampton, ULM; OL Steve Subia, NMSU; WR Kerry Wright, MT; DB C.C. Brown, ULL; P Joel Stelly, ULM; and QB Scott Hall, NT.

2004 Sun Belt Conference Football All-Conference Teams

First Team Offense

Offensive Line: *Andy Brewster, Sr., North Texas; Steven Gibbs, Sr., Arkansas State; *Bruce Hampton, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe; Junior Louissaint, Sr., Troy; *Steve Subia, Sr., New Mexico State.

Tight End: Andy Blount, Sr., North Texas.

Wide Receivers: Bobby Bernal-Wood, Sr., Idaho; *Kerry Wright, Sr., Middle Tennessee.

Quarterback: Buck Pierce, Sr., New Mexico State.

Running Backs: DeWhitt Betterson, Sr., Troy; Jamario Thomas, Fr., North Texas

First Team Defense

Defensive Line: **Adrian Awasom, Sr., North Texas; Aubrey Dorisme, Sr., New Mexico State; Brandon Guillory, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe; Demarcus Ware, Sr., Troy.

Linebackers: Jimmy Cottrell, Jr., New Mexico State; Cole Snyder, Jr., Idaho; Josh Williams, Fr., Arkansas State.

Defensive Backs: Derrick Ansley, Sr., Troy; *C.C. Brown, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette; ***Jonas Buckles, Sr., North Texas; **Chris Harris, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe

First Team Special Teams

Kicker: Nick Bazaldua, Jr., North Texas.

Punter: *Joel Stelly, Jr., Louisiana-Monroe.

Return Specialist: Kevin Robinson, Fr., Utah State

All-Purpose: Johnny Quinn, So., North Texas

Second Team Offense

Offensive Line: Lonnie Chambers, Sr., North Texas; Nick Cole, Jr., New Mexico State; Dylan Lineberry, So., North Texas; Quinton Staton, Jr., Middle Tennessee; Henry Tellis, Sr., Troy.

Tight End: Andrew Mooney, Fr., New Mexico State.

Wide Receivers: Johnny Quinn, So., North Texas; Bill Sampy, Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette.

Quarterback: *Scott Hall, Sr., North Texas.

Running Backs: Jayson Bird, Fr., Idaho; Antonio Warren, Sr., Arkansas State.

Second Team Defense

Defensive Line: Evan Cardwell, Sr., North Texas; Michael Pruitt, Sr., North Texas; Eric Thomas, Sr., Troy; Ronald Tupea, Sr., Utah State.

Linebackers: Bernard Davis, Jr., Troy; Robby Farmer, Sr., Troy; John Winchester, Sr., Louisiana-Monroe.

Defensive Backs: Johnny Faulk, Jr., Troy; Matt Griebel, Jr., New Mexico State; Tyrell Johnson, Fr., Arkansas State; Markeith Knowlton, Sr., North Texas

Second Team Special Teams

Kicker: Colby Smith, So., Middle Tennessee.

Punter: Thomas Olmsted, Jr., Troy.

Return Specialist: Leodis McKelvin, Fr., Troy.

All-Purpose: Kevin Robinson, Fr., Utah State.

———

Player of the Year: Jamario Thomas, RB, Fr., North Texas

Offensive Player of the Year: Jamario Thomas, RB, Fr., North Texas

Defensive Player of the Year: Demarcus Ware, DE, Sr., Troy

Newcomer of the Year: Dylan Lineberry, So., OG, North Texas

Freshman of the Year: Jamario Thomas, RB, Fr., North Texas

Coach of the Year: Darrell Dickey, North Texas (fourth consecutive year)

*** = four-time All-Sun Belt honoree

** = three-time All-Sun Belt honoree

* = two-time All-Sun Belt honoree

©The Lafayette Daily Advertiser
December 1, 2004

Brown Invited to Hula
Cajuns’ tackling leader still not happy with year.
Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

November 10, 2004

LAFAYETTE — Talk about sudden impact.

C.C. Brown joined the Louisiana football program last fall, settling in one game late while paperwork was getting cleared up on his transfer from Mississippi Community College.

Brown totalled 67 tackles in 2003, and this year the senior safety leads the team in tackles with 90 with two games remaining against Troy and at UL Monroe.

When the Ragin’ Cajuns finish the 2004 season, Brown is headed for postseason action in the Jan. 22 Hula Bowl.

UL’s Charles Tillman and Isaac Taylor played in that all-star game last year, and this time it’s Brown’s turn.

“It tells me that I came a long way in life,” Brown said after Tuesday’s practice. “UL has had a bunch of defensive backs drafted from here, and I guess they come here to find them.”

“C.C. comes to work every day,” assistant coach Tim Rebowe said. “Every day, you know what you’re going to get with him. Whether he’s hurt, banged up or bruised, he’ll be there.”

Despite the Hula Bowl honor, Brown is far from satisfied with his senior campaign.

“To be honest with you, I’m not really pleased with anything I’ve done this year,” Brown said. “I felt I should have done better, that there were more things I could have done to help the team win.”

Some of that disappointment stems from the Cajuns’ 4-5 record and last weekend’s 27-17 loss to North Texas, but some of it comes from Brown’s abnormally high standards.

“Like any competitor, he’s never satisfied,” Rebowe said. “As a coach, you really love that. He’s always going to work a little harder to be better.”

And while Brown is a consistent presence on the practice field, he has also shown to be a steady influence in games for fellow safety Antwain Spann and other Cajun defensive backs.

“You know at game time, he’s going to be good for a bunch of tackles, a bunch of big hits and for holding the secondary together,” Rebowe said.

His presence has been helpful to Spann, who moved from cornerback to safety in August and has been adjusting on the run.

“Antwain just came over during two-a-days,” Rebowe said. “I know they’re buddies. They hang out together. They communicate well. You can see that in the game on the field.”

The Hula Bowl invitation has prompted added focus for the final two games of Brown’s career.

“I’m going to play like I can’t play any more,” he said. “I’m playing like it’s my last game. They can expect a lot of attitude from me.”

©The Lafayette Daily Advertiser
November 10, 2004

Brown’s transformation lifts UL

August 15, 2004 –
Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

August 15, 2004
Brown is emerging as a vocal leader of the Cajuns’ defense so far this season.LAFAYETTE — If given an option, UL Lafayette safety C.C. Brown would be seen and rarely heard off the football field.

On the field is another matter entirely.

Either with pre-snap chatter or delivering a big hit from his safety position, Brown always makes his presence known.

“I’m speaking more now on the field,” Brown said. “Around here (seated inside the UL athletic complex) I’m quiet, back to my old self.”

Brown is careful to preserve his energy for the field, especially on game days on the road.

“When we get in and get something to eat, I’ll just watch TV to take my mind off the next day,” Brown said. “Then on game day, we’ll have breakfast and I’ll go back to the room and watch TV to take my focus off the game so I won’t be nervous.

“But when we get to the stadium, my personality totally changes. It’s more like an attack mode. I’m generally laid back, but once the game starts I transform into something else.”

That transformation paid handsomely in 2003 for the junior college transfer, who started 11 games after missing the season opener at South Carolina.

Brown finished with 67 tackles and a team-best 6.1 stops per game, notching five or more tackles in nine of his last 10 games.

He became the first Cajun to earn Defensive Player of the Week in the Sun Belt Conference with three tackles and a pair of interceptions against Idaho.

Also, the Greenwood, Miss. product had 11 tackles at Southern Miss, 10 each against Houston and UL Monroe and was third on the team with 7 1/2 tackles for losses.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder was a big reason the Cajuns won four of their last five games in 2003 as he became familiar with UL’s defensive scheme.

“After a couple of games, I got a feel for things,” Brown said. “Toward the end of the season I felt like I was in grad school. I knew the ropes.

“I’m still learning. Now I can take advantage of what I know.”

Brown was a second-team All-Sun Belt Conference performer last season and has been named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Team for 2004, but he remains unimpressed.

“That doesn’t describe how I play,” he said. “I’m hard on myself. That’s how I judge.”

Helping with that daily evaluation is safeties coach Tim Rebowe, the newest addition to the UL staff.

“He has shown me some of the little things I’m not doing,” Brown said. “We’re still trying to feel things out.”

A revised defensive scheme will take fewer chances than in 2003 in an attempt to get the most out of the talent on hand, and Brown’s role has been slightly altered.

“Last year, I was mostly (used) against the run,” he said. “This year it’s more balanced. I’m more of a hitter, but a pick (interception) is nice, too.

“I don’t care. Whatever it takes to get a win.”

“We’re going to be improved,” defensive coordinator Brent Pry said. “Even if we were running the same scheme, I think we’d have a chance to be better.

“We’re better on the back row (secondary) than we’ve been. We’re practicing and performing at a level we haven’t had here, other than (with current Chicago Bears star) Charles Tillman.”

Practicing and performing is what Brown is all about.

“I try to picture it as another game each practice,” Brown said. “Like we’re going against a different team, and I’m trying to get something accomplished.”

It’s a transformation that can only help the Cajuns.

©The Lafayette Daily Advertiser
August 15, 2004