University of Richmond Athletics
Captains Choice: Brown Leads By Example
05/10/2016 | Football
At the Spiders' annual Spring Game on April 16, Head Coach Danny Rocco announced the selection of Richmond's six captains for the upcoming 2016 season. Offensively, Thomas Evans, Kyle Lauletta and Brian Brown will lead the Spiders, while defensively, David Jones, Winston Craig and Omar Howard will lead the way.
Over the next three weeks, RichmondSpiders.com will profile each captain and give a glimpse of them outside of their on the field accomplishments.
There are hundreds of YouTube videos of motivational speeches made by Hall of Famers like Ray Lewis and Brian Dawkins that have millions and millions of views.
Brian Brown will never be mistaken for Lewis and Dawkins and that's ok for the Spiders' All-American wide receiver.
“I'm never going to be a ra-ra type of guy by yelling and screaming,” Brown said. “I want to lead by example, and when I see guys need a pick up or something needs to be addressed, I'll step up and say something. I'm just never going to be screaming and jumping up and down on the sidelines. I enjoy the challenge of leading. I'm just going to do my best to set the tone by leading by example.”
Brown was recently described by a local media member as a “silent assassin”, a description that made Brown himself laugh.
“I wouldn't say that I'm silent, I just like to go about my business and would rather lead by example. That's just more my style. If you're doing the right things to help the team win, that's the best leadership that you can provide,” Brown said.
Passing the Torch
When asked about Brown's role as a captain, his first instinct was to talk about the guys that came him and helped him along the way like Ben Edwards, Stephen Barnette, Reggie Barnette and others.
Now, it's Brown's turn with a slew of young receivers.
“I'm excited and humbled by the opportunity to be a captain. It means a lot to have my teammates and coaches put me in a position where I can serve as a leader and help this team reach all the goals we have set for the fall,” Brown said.
Brown doesn't just see an opportunity to lead on the football field.
A sociology major, Brown has his eyes set on helping today's youth through the rigors of college recruiting. In a society ruled by instant gratification, social media views and how many likes an Instagram post gets, Brown knows it's important for recruits to understand the process in its entirety.
“The recruiting process is exciting, but it also can be complicated. Schools can say one thing, but things can change in an instant if other recruits go to different places or if injuries happen. Even a social media post can change things,” Brown said.
While his NFL aspirations are at the forefront of his goals, Brown is focused on finding a way to help kids succeed, especially in his hometown of Richmond, which has been a hotbed for football talent, including Brown and fellow captain Omar Howard.
“It's important for the kids to understand what coaches are looking for and what the kids need to ask and look for when they go through the process. I knew about the University of Richmond obviously, but I didn't know everything that went into this program until I got on campus and went through the recruiting process,” Brown added.
Home Grown
Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard work, which is the price all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”
Brown may be the perfect example of that quote.
A Richmond native who grew up less than 15 minutes from campus, he was a coveted prospect who starred on both sides of the ball at nearby Hermitage High School.
“It's funny because although I'm only 15 minutes from home, I really feel like I'm in my own world when I'm on campus, I really just focus on what I need to do both in the classroom and on the field.”
Brown was recruited by several schools as a defensive back, but he preferred the wide receiver spot. It's worked out well for both the Spiders and Brown.
“My parents, my coaches and teammates have really pushed me to work hard and that's really led to my success. That's the example I want to set as a captain,” he said.
Brown may not have any motivational speeches on YouTube, but that won't matter to him as long as he and his teammates are fitting themselves for rings again this fall.
“The success of the team is the easiest way to see the success of a leader. We have a lot of goals as a team and I want to do whatever it takes to help this team reach those goals,” Brown said.
