The last time Freddie Brown III was on the field at South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium, he was lining up as a wide receiver for the Gamecocks.
Facts
SATURDAY
Wofford (8-2) at USC (8-2)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium
TV: Pay-per-view
Radio: Wofford (105.7 FM, 910 AM), USC (97.1 FM, 104.3 FM, 1400 AM)
Rankings: Wofford No. 9 in FCS, USC No. 12 in FBS
He returns Saturday for a 1 p.m. game, but this time as the wide receivers coach for Wofford.
“Nobody thinks about coaching when they are playing. All they’re focused on is playing,” Brown said. “But it was something I did have in the back of my mind because of my father. I thought it was something I might find my way into.”
Brown, a former Byrnes High School standout in his second season on the Wofford staff, played three seasons at South Carolina, where he started eight games and made 38 catches for 408 yards. After his playing days (2006-08), he joined the Spartanburg High School coaching staff under his father, Freddie Brown, a former Wofford running back and longtime assistant coach for the Terriers.
“That was good for me,” Brown III said. “He never pushed me toward it, but watching him made me feel like I could have some success, too, in the coaching business. Most people don’t see the time and effort put into it, recruiting and things like that. But I got to see it all. That didn’t keep me away. I kind of liked the challenge. It’s something that keeps the competitive fire going.”
Another of the coaching influences on Brown, who graduated from South Carolina in 2009, was the Gamecocks’ legendary head coach Steve Spurrier.
“What makes him a great coach is that he is honest,” Brown said. “Sometimes it comes out in different ways. But you never question the message. It’s always truthful. He’s a fair coach and is only going to ask you to do what you are supposed to do. The only time you ever have any trouble with Coach Spurrier is when you don’t do what he asks you to do. I know I tried to avoid being in his doghouse. It’s not a fun place to be.”
Brown caught 68 passes for 978 yards and 14 touchdowns during his senior season at Byrnes. He had three TD catches in a state semifinals game.
At Wofford, which uses the run-based triple option, wide receivers have a bigger responsibility to block on the edges.
“I think they’re all good at it,” Brown said. “You have to work every snap. They don’t have the limelight or glory, but what they do is a major part of our success. Guys have to be mature and handle the fact that the ball is not going to come to them a ton. But when we need them to make plays and catch the ball, they’ve done a great job of that, too.”
Brown played with some of the best wide receivers in South Carolina history. Kenny McKinley graduated as the all-time leader in yards (2,781) and Sidney Rice from Gaffney High School was fourth (2,233 yards). McKinley was eclipsed by Alshon Jeffery (3,042) last season. Rice is tied with Jeffery for most career touchdowns with 23.
McKinley died last year from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Colorado.
“That was hard. I try not to think about it too much,” Brown said. “Kenny was there in the last game I ever played there. He was on the field with me every time I was on it. I don’t know Williams-Brice without him.”
link: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20121115/ARTICLES/121119779&tc=email_newsletter?p=2&tc=pg
Facts
SATURDAY
Wofford (8-2) at USC (8-2)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium
TV: Pay-per-view
Radio: Wofford (105.7 FM, 910 AM), USC (97.1 FM, 104.3 FM, 1400 AM)
Rankings: Wofford No. 9 in FCS, USC No. 12 in FBS
He returns Saturday for a 1 p.m. game, but this time as the wide receivers coach for Wofford.
“Nobody thinks about coaching when they are playing. All they’re focused on is playing,” Brown said. “But it was something I did have in the back of my mind because of my father. I thought it was something I might find my way into.”
Brown, a former Byrnes High School standout in his second season on the Wofford staff, played three seasons at South Carolina, where he started eight games and made 38 catches for 408 yards. After his playing days (2006-08), he joined the Spartanburg High School coaching staff under his father, Freddie Brown, a former Wofford running back and longtime assistant coach for the Terriers.
“That was good for me,” Brown III said. “He never pushed me toward it, but watching him made me feel like I could have some success, too, in the coaching business. Most people don’t see the time and effort put into it, recruiting and things like that. But I got to see it all. That didn’t keep me away. I kind of liked the challenge. It’s something that keeps the competitive fire going.”
Another of the coaching influences on Brown, who graduated from South Carolina in 2009, was the Gamecocks’ legendary head coach Steve Spurrier.
“What makes him a great coach is that he is honest,” Brown said. “Sometimes it comes out in different ways. But you never question the message. It’s always truthful. He’s a fair coach and is only going to ask you to do what you are supposed to do. The only time you ever have any trouble with Coach Spurrier is when you don’t do what he asks you to do. I know I tried to avoid being in his doghouse. It’s not a fun place to be.”
Brown caught 68 passes for 978 yards and 14 touchdowns during his senior season at Byrnes. He had three TD catches in a state semifinals game.
At Wofford, which uses the run-based triple option, wide receivers have a bigger responsibility to block on the edges.
“I think they’re all good at it,” Brown said. “You have to work every snap. They don’t have the limelight or glory, but what they do is a major part of our success. Guys have to be mature and handle the fact that the ball is not going to come to them a ton. But when we need them to make plays and catch the ball, they’ve done a great job of that, too.”
Brown played with some of the best wide receivers in South Carolina history. Kenny McKinley graduated as the all-time leader in yards (2,781) and Sidney Rice from Gaffney High School was fourth (2,233 yards). McKinley was eclipsed by Alshon Jeffery (3,042) last season. Rice is tied with Jeffery for most career touchdowns with 23.
McKinley died last year from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Colorado.
“That was hard. I try not to think about it too much,” Brown said. “Kenny was there in the last game I ever played there. He was on the field with me every time I was on it. I don’t know Williams-Brice without him.”
link: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20121115/ARTICLES/121119779&tc=email_newsletter?p=2&tc=pg