ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 29, 1995 TAG: 9512290059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
THE LONGHORNS have been climbing the charts since James Brown took over at quarterback.
Forget that dude called the soul man. The hottest James Brown on the charts these days plays football, not Soul Train.
Don't believe it, just check the issue of this week's TV Guide being sold here. On the cover is James Brown, starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, not James Brown the singer.
``I guess that makes me a cool cat, too,'' the Texas sophomore said Thursday, laughing.
``I didn't know I was on [the TV Guide cover]. Guess I'd better go out and buy me one. That's amazing, really.''
Well, it's no more amazing than the sweet music Brown has orchestrated for Texas. Since becoming the Longhorns' starting quarterback midway through the 1994 season, the redshirt sophomore has led the team to a 13-1-1 record.
Despite the fact he's played the equivalent of only 11/2 seasons - 15 career starts parlayed with some early-season backup duty in '94 - Brown already ranks second on Texas career passing charts in touchdown passes (31) and fourth in passing yards (3,494).
This season, despite being hampered by nagging injuries much of the time, Brown set Texas records for touchdown passes thrown (19) and passing yardage (2,447).
No longer do Texas fans wonder if their football team can win with a black quarterback. Brown is only the third black to play the position for the Longhorns, and he's the first to succeed.
Brown, who admits to receiving some racist mail in his first year at Texas, silenced his detractors when he finally got his chance to play.
``I haven't had any of that kind of [racist] reaction since I've been playing,'' he said. ``I guess everyone loves a winner. We've been winning, so it hasn't been a problem. If we start losing, I don't know. We'll see.''
Texas coach John Mackovic has seen enough to know he got a special package when the Longhorns beat out Syracuse in the recruiting battle for Brown. The Beaumont native was considered the No.1 quarterback in Texas coming out of West Brook High in 1993.
``James can do it all,'' said Mackovic, whose ninth-ranked Longhorns (10-1-1) face No.13 Virginia Tech (9-2) in Sunday's 62nd Sugar Bowl.
``He can run. He can throw. And he makes good decisions. I can't think of one thing that James Brown doesn't do well.''
Brown said Texas' pro-style offense, instituted when Mackovic came on board in 1992, was the deciding factor in his decision to become a Longhorn.
``I wanted to go somewhere where I could throw the ball,'' he said. ``Some schools had recruited me as an option quarterback. But I didn't really want to run the option. I wanted to be a pro-style offense quarterback.''
Brown's Texas numbers have been pro ... as in prolific. After supplanting Shea Morenz as Texas' starter last year, Brown completed 57 of 74 passes for 767 yards and 10 touchdowns in the Longhorns' final three games. His passing efficiency rating of 177.0 was best in the nation.
This season, Brown hasn't let up, posting passing numbers that used to be foreign to Texas, where for years, teams ran, ran and then ran some more.
The shifty 6-foot, 186-pound Brown is confident he can play even better. Talk about bad news for future Texas opponents.
``Due to all the injuries, I haven't been able to do everything I wanted to do this season,'' Brown said. ``I haven't been able to practice half the time. That hurts your play. I've tried to compensate by doing as much as I can mentally and I've just prayed and hoped I could play well enough each Saturday.''
Brown, at half-throttle, was enough for Texas most Saturdays. He got Texas into the Sugar Bowl by beating rival Texas A&M in a game that determined the Southwest Conference champion.
``I'm about 90 percent recovered from the sprained ankle that hampered me in the A&M game,'' Brown said. ``I should be ready for Virginia Tech. If I can't run, I'll just have to throw the ball well.''
Brown doesn't scramble when asked if he is surprised at his success at Texas.
``I've never been much of a loser,'' said Brown, a unanimous choice for Southwest Conference player of the year.
``I haven't lost much since I've been playing sports, so it's not a surprise to me. ... When I came here I expected to start early, I expected to play well, and I expected to play in major bowl games and get television exposure.''
The eyes of Texas love what they see.
``James has been absolutely incredible for us,'' said Gene Dahlquist, offensive coordinator for the Longhorns. ``He's been better than we ever could have expected.''
Talk about a smash hit. No wonder Longhorn backers are now singing ``I Feel Good.''
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. James Brown has led Texas to aby CNB10-1-1 record and a berth in the Sugar Bowl as the starting
quarterback for the Longhorns. color.