Irving Brown '25 Recruiting Profile

I was born an only child in a modest two parent household. My developmental years were nurturing and loving; however, being an only resulted in social challenges to the level of anxiety in certain social environments. Many "pundits" recommended therapy, counseling, and even medication to combat my apprehensive mannerisms. Both my parents were high school athletes and my dad played football at the collegiate level. Thankfully, they not only knew but experienced and believed in the impact of youth athletics and signed me up instead of "doping" me up. At age three, I was too young for baseball or flag football, but in lieu of my size no one questioned my age. In addition, the local recreation department told my dad we'd be a package deal which meant I could play if he agreed to coach. 

The friendly competition, teamwork and physical activities helped me establish a capacity to learn new things, build character, enhanced my faith in God, and develop the needed self-confidence I so desperately needed off the field. With my dad at the helm each season, he encouraged the overall development of my teammates and I before practice, during practice, and during the memorable life lessons he taught while transporting us all home. Heck, if he didn't have that old Yukon to transport everyone, we wouldn't have had a team. Youth athletics exposed me to a culture that transformed me from an introvert and helped to foster a love for others, team sports, and all the positive influences associated such as: teamwork, self-discipline, codependence,  the challenge of collaborative problem solving, and the countless coaches that have molded and motivated me through the years. No doubt in my mind that my beliefs, my circle, my motivation, and my propensity for positive gains would look different, if not nonexistent, if I wasn't a football player.