There are alot of quality skill-position players on this years Youngstown State University Football Team.  The Senior who gets overlooked too many times is Dana Brown.  Brown is a fundamentally solid running back who contributes in every way possible to help the Penguins win games.  Brown is a quiet and reserved individual but is loud and explosive on the field of play.  I got to catch up with Dana and here are the highlights of that interview:

Paneech:  Walk me through a typical day during football season.

Brown: Get up, we have breakfast check ten minutes before your first class, go to my classes, try to get lunch in between classes and having to get to practice at 2:10 for special teams meeting.  Then we do team meeting and then position meetings before we hit the field.

Paneech:  How hard was it to resist going to smaller schools where you went to high school closer to Clairton, PA? 

Brown:  I wanted to get away from home, well, not too far.  I ended up going real far when I went to Iowa, but I wanted to be away so there was no temptation to go home and get into trouble.  It was good to transfer to Youngstown State because I am alot closer to home.

Paneech:  Talk about the days at Iowa.  They are winning, undefeated, this season.  Due you root for the Hawkeyes, or are there hard feelings?

Brown:  I know alot of those guys, I still talk to some of them and consider them good friends.  I wish them the best and there are no hard feelings.  I like it here [Youngstown] because it is alot closer than Iowa was to the lifestyle that Pittsburgh has.  I like this team, the environment, and the family-type atmosphere that we have here.

Paneech:  This week you guys play South Dakota State.  Tell me what it would mean to pull off the upset.

Brown:  As you know, in the Missouri Valley Conference every game is tough.  Every conference game you play can go either way, you can win or lose.  We are going into this game wanting to execute and win the turnover margin.  We are coming into every game with a chip on our shoulders.  Obviously, we are doing better than we did last year but we want to keep the ball rolling.

Paneech:  With the tandem of running backs YSU is using (last week 4 RB’s got action), how are the carries split up and is there animosity between the group about who should get the bulk?

Brown:  We all expect to get our number called.  There is no selfishness, but we have to be ready when our number is called.  When we get on a roll and get the rhythm going with a back, coach will stick with the rhythm and use what is working best.

Paneech:  Have you decided on a major yet?

Brown:  I picked multi-media, technology, and web-based management.  Our world is slowly evolving into an age where technology takes over.  With that major, I have alot of different options I can go into. 

Paneech:  Tell me something about Dana Brown that I can’t read anywhere else.

Brown:  I’m a Christian, and I recently gave my life to the Lord.  I live the right way and I try to encourage my friends to live right also.  As a Senior, I have to be a good role model for the younger guys. 

Paneech:  What did you do on the bye weekend?

Brown:  That weekend was more of a rest period than anything else.  That doesn’t mean kicking back and not doing anything at all, it was an easier week.  At practice, we worked on the mental more than anything and we didn’t want to bang each other up too much.  At the same time, we wanted to get some work in.  We watched Ohio State play on Saturday.  Alot of teams that lost games that weekend also lost the turnover margin, so that is our goal.

One Word Answers

Favorite Cereal:  Frosted Flakes.

Best Running Back In The NFL:  Adrian Peterson.

Best Show On TV:  The Game on TNT.

Favorite Holiday:  Thanksgiving.

Best Movie Ever Made:  Pursuit of Happiness.

2009 Super Bowl Champs:  (laughs)  Pittsburgh Steelers, of course.

Kobe or LeBron:  Kobe.

Favorite Flavor of Handel’s Ice Cream:  Cookies and Cream. 

Best Cartoon Character:  Sponge Bob.

Besides Lettuce, What Goes In The Salad:  Croutons, cheese, and Ranch dressing.

Nicest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done For You:  I’m still waiting on it (laughs).