'Pig' Brown moves from strong safety to MU's biggest fan
by Kathleen Sprouse, posted Nov. 9, 2007
He’s giving advice to his teammates; he’s cracking jokes in the locker room; and he’s shattering records and making plays. He’s MU’s senior safety, Pig Brown.
Brown shined against the top-rated Texas Tech offense, making a career-best 14 tackles, 4.5 for a loss, adding an interception. That following Monday, Brown was named Big 12 defensive player of the week for the second time this season. He also won this award after the Illinois victory, making him one of only two MU players to ever receive it twice in a season. Brown is the emotional leader of an improving defense as he pumps up the team in the locker room and keeps the team’s intensity level high on the field.
“He brings everyone up,” said William Moore, MU’s strong safety. “He always has a joke for you, even on the field. We’re always laughing.”
Fans are oinking at the games for Brown in the Tigers Lair as they wear pig snouts, oversized glasses, black T-shirts with “Pig for President” written in gold writing and dreadlock wigs. Brown’s intensity, enthusiasm and outstanding plays not only motivate the team but keep the fans excited throughout the games.
But it was the final minutes of the Iowa State game when the excitement about the score, 42-28, grew solemn. Brown was down. His teammates knew he was really hurt and it wasn’t good. Justin Garrett, Brown’s replacement, remembers running off the field with Brown.
“It hurt my heart,” Garrett said. “I went and hugged him, and he was just squeezing me tight and all he was saying was ‘the season, the season,’ and he was just crying. It made me feel so low.”
Garrett, who rooms with Brown on the road, was devastated. The Tigers’ leader was lost for the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon; Garrett looked up to Brown and relied on him for advice. But the roles reversed, and now Brown needed him. Garrett said it is crucial in Brown’s rehabilitation for him to stay positive. And Garrett was surprised at how quickly Brown began comforting the team after his injury.
“I just told him take it as God was giving him a break before the [NFL] draft because he overworks himself,” Garrett said. “He took it and smiled.”
The Tigers were winning and had a record of 7-1 after the Iowa State victory. But the team knew it lost a great player. Brown helped MU’s defense to be unbeatable this season. He is more to his team than a safety; he is a mentor and a motivator.
“It has helped us emotionally,” said Chase Daniel, MU’s quarterback. “He has given some good speeches to the team, some emotional speeches, and it has really helped us feel afire.”
Gary Pinkel, MU’s head coach, made an exception for Brown so he could travel with the team. Sean Weatherspoon, MU linebacker, was thankful and so were the other team members. Although Brown was cheering on the sideline at the Colorado game in Boulder, Colo., the team wished Brown was on the field with them. Weatherspoon, Garrett and Moore all miss looking back and seeing Brown. When Brown played, they knew they were safe and someone was watching their backs.
“But he’s on the sideline and he is still leading. He’s still telling us what to do; that’s Pig,” Weatherspoon said. “He was fanatical this weekend on the sideline, so it’s definitely a plus for him to be traveling with us and we miss him.”
Moore used to call Garrett, Brown and himself the “three-headed dragon” because they stuck together throughout the game, watching out for each other and making plays. Now, with Brown being injured, it’s like they lost a step, but Moore and Garrett are ready to pick up the slack, Garrett said. It is safe to say the slack has been picked up as the Tiger defense, despite being Pig-less, only gave up 10 points to Colorado this past weekend. They also held Colorado running back Hugh Charles to less than 100 yards rushing for only the second time this season.
After the victory over Colorado, MU was ranked sixth in the BCS standings with a record of 8-1. MU’s defense won’t be forgotten, and neither will Brown. The junior college transfer, who goes by ‘Pig,’ quickly became a prized player for the Tigers. His real name is Cornelius, but he was called ‘Pig’ as a child after his sloppy eating habits.
Sadly, the pig snouts and students oinking are fading. And now Brown’s position has changed from strong safety to the team’s biggest fan. Garrett is ready to play and is relying on Brown for advice in the upcoming games. Garrett knows he has big shoes to fill and wants the defense to finish strong this season, hitting hard for Brown.
“His personality, his brotherhood, he keeps the team together,” Garrett said. “His instincts, his athleticism and his instinct to get to the ball. He makes a lot of plays that nobody else on the team would make just by instinct alone.”
The crowd misses him on the field, and the players miss his intensity, instinct and strong plays. Brown will finish out the season on the sideline, cheering the Tigers through the rest of the season.
