University of Tennessee Athletics
Four Downs: Wes Brown
October 20, 2009 | Football
Oct. 20, 2009
BY JOSH PATE
UTSports.com
The calendar may show the fourth Saturday of the month, but for Wes Brown, this week's game against Alabama is the Third Saturday in October. Always has been. Always will be.
Brown grew up watching the storied rivalry between Tennessee and Alabama, one that he calls the best in college football. He is from Athens, Ala., but he's always been a fan of the Volunteers. That alone makes for a tough life in the crimson state, even if the town is located just a short drive from the border.
Amid all of his friends and all that Alabama success, Brown's allegiance never wavered? Nope. Well, not really.
First Down: An orange in the crimson ...
Brown did have a childhood hero. And that hero did wear crimson.
"I grew up a Tennessee fan, although there was a stretch when Jay Barker was the quarterback at Alabama. I loved Jay Barker," Brown admits.
Barker led Alabama to the 1992 national championship with a victory over Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Two years later, he capped his Crimson Tide career with a 35-2-1 record for the highest winning percentage (.934) of any QB in school history. So it's easy to see why Brown was swayed. That, and the fact that he was 6 years old at the time.
"But I grew up a Tennessee fan and grew up bleeding orange. So to be here is really a dream-come-true for me," Brown said. "This game means everything to me. They're all important because this is my senior year and I want to make the most of every opportunity. But this one just means a lot to me because of the rivalry and because I grew up watching it. This is the best rivalry in college football. I've lived it. I grew up in it. And to get to play in it is a blessing."
Second Down: Clogging the middle ...
Brown is halfway through his senior season with the Vols, and he has racked up seven tackles, one of which was a sack against Western Kentucky in the opener. The numbers aren't sky-high, but he has been an integral cog in Tennessee's interior defensive line.
He moved over from his end position to play tackle this year and give the Vols the best personnel in the trenches. It's all been part of the puzzle that has led Tennessee to boast the 13th-ranked defense in the nation (third in the SEC behind Alabama and Florida).
"We've got some tough guys," Brown said of his teammates. "When the going gets tough, you can look them in the eye and know that no matter what the score is or the situation, we're going to try to get a stop. We've got some guys with a never-give-up attitude. To play with guys like that, it rubs off on you."
But it hasn't been easy. Brown has battled nagging knee injuries but has played through the pain.
"The bye week was good, but coming back out here and practicing was tough," Brown said Monday following practice. "I'm going to have pain and throbbing and twitches, but I'm making the most out of it. I'm trying to be a leader in every way I can, whether it's pushing through pain or being vocal and showing the younger guys the way. I'm trying to take this as a positive, knowing that I can get through this and let other guys see me get through it so they can get through their things, too."
Third Down: Rush to the top ...
Tennessee is coming off its best performance of the season with a 45-19 victory against Georgia. And now it must face the nation's No. 1 team for the second time.
Florida was No. 1 when UT went to the Swamp, and now Alabama jumped to the top just before the Vols travel to Tuscaloosa. It will be the first time the Vols have played against two different top-ranked teams in the same season.
For Brown, there are no jitters.
"It's great. This is why you come to Tennessee," he said. "No offense against Western Kentucky and Ohio and teams like that because those games were a blessing to play in. but man, when you get to play the No. 1 team in the country and showcase what you've got and show where you're at as a team and as a program, it's a lot of fun."
It's just not going to be easy. In addition to its top-ranked defense, Alabama also has the 21st-ranked offense in the nation (fourth in the SEC). The Crimson Tide ground game is averaging 229 yards per game.
"They've been running the ball really well," Brown said. "Their running backs are some top-notch guys, so the first thing is we're going to have to get the run stopped. If we can be consistent in that, then we can get after the passer."
Fourth Down: Passes and Chases ...
Brown loves a good pass rush. His passion is on the football field, as proven by his love for the history of Saturday's rivalry. But he also loves Sundays, too - just not for the typical reason most football players cite.
"I really love NASCAR," Brown said. "Me and my buddies and my dad go to a lot of races. I really love racing and being outdoors."
Brown isn't the run-of-the-mill NASCAR fan who casually watches and keeps up with who wins. The Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan goes to races all the time, and a lot of them at that.
"This past year I probably went to seven races during the spring and summer. The year before that, I probably went to four or five," Brown said. "Any time I get a chance in the offseason, I try to get to one."
Talladega is his favorite track, of course. The 2.5-mile high-banked superspeedway in rural Alabama is a magnet for fans who love the drama. But he's been to others, too. It's just like Brown - when he does something, he goes all out.
"I've been to Darlington, Charlotte, Bristol, Atlanta," Brown said. "I plan on going to the Daytona 500 in February, so it will be a lot of fun."
