The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Former Longhorns quarterback shining in NFL Europe
05.15.2003 | Football
James Brown has always dreamed of playing quarterback in the NFL. As a youngster dominating schoolyard football and basketball games, he was ever the field general. He took those exploits to a dominant high school football and basketball career and eventually on to become one of the finest quarterbacks in Longhorns football history.
As The University of Texas' starting quarterback from 1994-97, Brown made a name for himself as an exciting, big-play performer. He was a fiery, tenacious and determined competitor with a never-give-up will.
There are a number of victories among Brown's 25 career wins as a starter at UT that Longhorns fans will talk about for years, but the one that got his legendary career off to a sensational start is among the most memorable. As a redshirt freshman in 1994 with little game experience and having never thrown a collegiate pass, Brown was thrust into the starting role against Oklahoma when Shea Morenz went down with a knee injury.
Never batting an eye, the former Beaumont West Brook star completed 17-of-22 passes for 148 yards, rushed for 51 yards and accounted for both touchdowns (one pass/one rush) in No. 15 Texas' 17-10 victory against the No. 16 Sooners.
From there his legend developed. Mind-boggling and reality defying highlights followed, including several in seasons that saw Brown lead Texas to the final Southwest Conference title (1995) and the first-ever Big 12 Championship (1996). There were victories over highly-ranked foes like Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Nebraska. He was the 1995 SWC Offensive Player of the Year and became the Longhorns first all-conference (first-team) quarterback in 20 years (previous: Marty Akins in 1975).
Despite his Longhorn heroics, however, Brown was forced to reach deep into his spirit and determination in chasing his dream of professional football.
He was a quarterback who led his college team to back-to-back Alliance Bowls (now the Bowl Championship Series) in 1995 (Sugar) and '96 (Fiesta) and finished a spectacular career with 30 school records. Brown threw for a UT-best 7,638 yards and 53 TDs while gaining 8,049 total yards and scoring 58 TDs. But at six feet tall the NFL wasn't quite ready to give a smaller quarterback a chance in 1998.
After not fielding any calls from the NFL, Brown patiently paid his dues toiling through a tryout in the Canadian Football League and four seasons at various levels in the Arena League.
In spring 1998, Brown signed with the CFL's British Columbia Lions and was given little opportunity to compete. Discouraged yet determined, he wound up playing at the lowest level of arena football in Austin that year. His spectacular performance in one season earned him a spot with the Nashville Kats at the highest level of indoor football with the NFL-sponsored Arena Football League.
In two seasons in Nashville, playing both defensive back and quarterback as well as serving as the team's holder, Brown had few chances to show his skills as a signal caller. Backing up one of the all-time best quarterbacks in AFL history in Andy Kelly, Brown completed just 28-of-51 passes for 304 yards and seven TDs (one interception) for the Kats. As a spark of the bench, he helped Nashville advance to the Arena Bowl in both of his seasons.
"I always prepared like I would be the starter," Brown would say. "That's what kept me motivated and ready to go. When I had my chance, I took advantage of it, but it was a tough time playing behind somebody who had been around the league so long. I knew all I needed was a chance."
After his second AFL season, Brown returned for his final semester at UT and to complete his coursework in sport management. He received his degree in December 2001.
"School was as big a goal for me as professional football," Brown said that year. "I stayed after my schoolwork. Earning my degree was really important to me and my family. That's the main reason you go to college. It was tough balancing everything at times, but I always had a goal of finishing.
"After my college career was over, I stuck with it by taking as many classes as I could while I was involved in pursuing my pro football career. Coach Brown and his staff have been great about reaching out to the former players and encouraging and helping us to come back and finish our degrees."
With his one goal, a UT diploma, fulfilled he was still seeking his moment to shine again on the football field. Brown took another step forward when as a free agent in a league full of stars sponsored by NFL teams he impressed enough coaches to earn a shot in NFL Europe in 2002. After a tryout with other free agent hopefuls in Tampa, he signed with the Scottish Claymores in spring 2002.
Playing for his former offensive coordinator at Texas, Gene Dahlquist, Brown served as the Claymore's backup. He completed 29-of-53 passes for 364 yards and a score on the season, and in his only opportunity as a starter, led the Claymores to its first-ever victory over the F.C. Barcelona Dragons.
Despite the success in his one opportunity to shine again as a starter, Brown was back in Austin last fall with his football future up in the air. He continued to work on a number of his entrepreneurial businesses that he had been dabbling in, was a fan at every Longhorns football game as well as a number of other sporting events and got married to Delores Rice, a UT engineering school graduate, in December.
With all he had going on, he still had a passion to prove something to himself, if not the NFL. He got up early and worked late as he lifted, ran and sweated at the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletics Complex all with one goal in mind. Brown desperately wanted that chance to show the world that his college production could be replicated at the professional level.
"I just kept working hard every day and was always ready for that chance," Brown said. "You never know when it will come, but you better seize the moment when it does. Time goes by fast, so I didn't take any days or opportunities for granted."
Brown signed with the San Jose SaberCats late in the AFL season and was on the roster for only the final few games. In the midst of that season, his big break came when he signed as a free agent with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe. He seized the moment, earning the clubs starting job immediately and while shaking off of the rust in the early part of the season leading the team to victories. With the sharpness back and the trademark quick and elusive style that Longhorn fans will remember fondly on display, he is getting better each and every week.
In week five of the season two weeks ago, Brown was at his old Texas best. Dodging, rolling out and finding receivers all over the field, Brown baffled the potent Rhein Fire defense by completing 24-of-42 passes for 290 yards. Some costly turnovers resulted in a 14-7 loss, but the Texas-Ex was back to his old tricks. His effort prompted the FOX Sports Net crew broadcasting the game to say, "I can't believe this kid has never been in an NFL camp."
Neither can he.
In passing for 290 yards, Brown, who ranks second on UT's all-time list with seven career 300-yard passing games, came within 10 yards of joining a rare group of 300-yard passers in NFL Europe history. Due to the emergence of strong running games and tough defenses, there has been just one 300-yard passer in each of the past two European seasons.
Brown and his Frankfurt Galaxy teammates bounced back from the defeat, overcoming a 21-6 halftime deficit to defeat his old team the Scottish Claymores 33-37 in overtime last week. It won't surprise anyone that a scrambling Brown dodged four defenders and found Marc Lester in the corner of the end zone from six yards out to knot that game at 21-all. He completed 18-of-29 passes for 190 yards and two TDs in leading the Galaxy to victory.
On the year, Brown has completed 84-of-145 passes for 1,122 yards (third in the league) and four TDs. He has led the Galaxy to a three-way tie for the league lead with a 4-2 record. Two games remain in the NFL Europe regular season and Frankfurt is still in the midst of the battle to be one of the top two teams that meet in the World Bowl at Hampden Park in Glasgow on June 14.
Two, and possibly three, more games to continue to show even more to the world. Regardless of the results and whether or not Brown has the opportunity to continue his quest of playing in the NFL, this spring has proven a lot.
Brown's patient and persistence has paid off. He was finally given his chance to compete as a starting quarterback at the professional level, and just like the freshman whose legend began with a confident trot onto the Cotton Bowl turf in October 1994, he has been dazzling and successful.
From Beaumont schoolyard to West Brook High School to Longhorns star with UT diploma in hand, James Brown has stayed the course and never given up. His football legend continues and we are hopeful it still has a bright future. Regardless of the end result, the fire, tenacity and determination that led to the now Frankfurt Galaxy star quarterback to greatness, will carry him to success in whatever leys ahead.
