Nice feature story in the Minden (LA) Press-Herald on Brown.
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Former Minden High and current SMU linebacker Byron Brown has been back in Minden over the holiday break.
In between a couple of knee injuries, Brown played in five games this year as a freshman and was able to take a limited part in the Mustangs’ Hawaii Bowl win over Nevada, SMU’s first bowl game in 25 years.
“It was great,†Brown said of his first year of college ball. “I went into two-a-days hungry and ready to sperate myself from the pack, but I injured my knee on the second day. When I came back, I was a little behind everyone else. But I still got to play in five games before the knee stared swelling up again. I had a bone bruise also. I didn’t play again, until the bowl game.â€
Brown enjoyed his bowl week experience very much.
“Hawaii was great, “ Brown said. “It was beautiful. My room was right in front of the ocean and we had a great view. I walked out on the beach and thought, ‘Wow, I came from Minden and now I’m in Hawaii. This is crazy.’â€
The 45-10 win over Nevada was also well received.
“It was great,†Brown said. “Everyone at SMU is real excited. The fans were going crazy at the bowl game. some of them had tears in their eyes after the game because they hadn’t seen a bowl win in so long. The players were just loving it.â€
It’s an exciting time to be at SMU, as head coach June Jones has brought respectability back to the Mustang program.
“There’s excitement on the campus,†Brown said. “You can see it in the eyes of the players, the coaches and the fans. We players talk about it every day. Some of my freshman buddies and I hope that before we leave we want to be dominate, just beat everybody. That’s what we’re talking about and what we are working for.â€
Brown is looking forward to next year, as he thinks he’ll have an even better opportunity for playing time.
“I believe if I continue to do what I’m supposed to do with my work ethic and stay hungry, I really think I’ll have a great chance to be a part of everything next year,†he said. “I’m still trying to make a name for myself like I did at Minden. I believe the Lord opened the door for me and I think that if I do what I’m supposed to do, I’ll get a lot of playing time next year.â€
Brown wanted to let kids in Minden know that they have the same chance he had, they just have to make the most of it.
“I tell all the guys in Minden to just stay focused and be hungry,†he said. “You can’t take anything for granted.
Everybody has chance to make it. The good Lord gave me the opportunity to go somewhere, and I’m happy I was ready to take advantage of it. They just have to work hard, get their grades in order and stay hungry.â€
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