Brown in driver’s seat for playoffs

His goal of a championship has not been reached.

Neither has his team’s.

This year, the Liberty football team plans to turn those goals into reality. Whether those goals are achieved or not will ride on the success of senior quarterback Mike Brown. Brown has now been behind center for three years, and soon the curtain will close on his playing days at Liberty. If anyone is looking for the leader of this football team, offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter has no reservation tagging Brown with the title.

“There’s no doubt,” he said. “This is his third year in a row as team captain. He’s been a leader ever since he’s been here.”

One of the ways Brown shows his leadership is by leading on the field. His awards and honors list covers nearly every offensive category. He is the 2009 Big South offensive player of the year, and two-time Big-South first team honoree. Libertyflames.com reported that Brown finished 2010 season first in the nation with 3, 810 yards of total offense.

When did the future Liberty hall-of-famer begin playing the sport in which he now excels?
“Five,” he said. “Basketball, football and baseball.”

Brown’s journey to Liberty was not very complicated. Colleges such as William & Mary and Richmond were interested in Brown, but he did not feel at home there. Although Liberty is distinctive in its Christian worldview, it did not draw Brown into coming to the Hill City.

“It didn’t have anything to do with me coming to Liberty actually,” he said. “I really came here just to play football, but since I’ve been here, I’ve really seen a big change and I think it’s been the best thing for me.”

As much as Brown has seen changes in himself, Liberty football has seen big changes on the scoreboard. It takes a special type of athlete to put up the numbers Brown has posted through his first three years at Liberty. He says that setting personal goals keeps him focused.

“I’m a pretty self-motivated person,” Brown said. “I have goals, and I set small goals each week. Just chasing after those goals keeps my mind in the right place.”

Streeter works with Brown in their weekly quarterbacks meeting. Streeter can tell that teammates of Brown immediately respected him and looked up to him, despite being a freshman.

“People respect him, and it starts with hard work,” he said. “He has to prove to the guys that he’s going to work harder than them, and I think he did that when he first came in.”

Brown also has the personality that Streeter looks for in his quarterbacks. Both on and off the field, Brown represents Liberty well, and coach Streeter hopes that teammates catch on.

“Whatever he’s doing, he’s having fun,” he said. “He’s got a big-time drive to win, and that’s what’s one of his biggest attributes. He plays so hard and has that passion to win and that makes him special.”

The ultimate goal for Brown and the Flames is the playoffs. With the Big South Champion receiving an automatic berth into the field, the Flames need to claim their conference championship, which would be a fifth straight. The Flames know a share of the conference will not be good enough, as a three-way tie last year left the Flames on the outside looking in.

Brown and his senior teammates realize this is their last chance at a playoff run.

“We seniors haven’t been in the playoffs yet, so this is our last crack at it,” Brown said. For a lot of us, this is our last time playing football, ever. So it’s what kind of legacy do you want to leave? You want to put a stamp on it.”

Brown has put his personal stamp on the record books. His versatility of 25 rushing touchdowns has left him one touchdown shy of fifth all-time in rushing touchdowns at Liberty. Brown is also approaching the former Coastal Carolina quarterback Zach MacDowall’s 45 touchdown passes, which ranks fifth most all-time in the Big South. Currently Brown has 41, with at least three games remaining on the year. He has twice been named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List, going to the top player in FCS, but personal awards are not what Brown is after.

“It’s definitely an honor, but it’s something that I really don’t pay any attention to,” he said. “My focus is just coming out here to win each and every Saturday. All that kind of stuff takes care of itself.”

“Our goals from the beginning of the season, was just to win the conference championship.”

When the curtain does close on Brown’s days at Liberty, the football program will be in a better state than when he came. During Brown’s four years on the field, Liberty has won more games during this four-year period than any other in it’s history. Brown’s name will be etched in many Liberty and Big South records for his accomplishments as quarterback. When asked what he hopes people remember, Brown’s answer is not about records or personal hype, but about how his impact reached farther than football.

“Just remember me as a good person, more than anything else. A man of God, who used my talents as a platform to share his Kingdom.”