QB Brown has no predictions for Fiesta

By CHIP BROWN / Associated Press

TEMPE, Ariz. - Texas quarterback James Brown was being interviewed the other day when linebacker Tyson King walked by and said, "How many points will we need to beat Penn State, judge?"

Brown responded, "I'm not saying anything."

The junior from Beaumont had no idea what a stir he would cause when he responded to a question about being a 20-point underdog against Nebraska in the Big 12 title game by saying, "I don't know. I think we're going to win by three touchdowns."

He was so uncomfortable with the attention after the comment that he downplayed it, even after backing up his words by playing brilliantly in a 37-27 upset of the two-time defending national champions.

"I said it, and everyone made a big deal out of it and it started getting to me for a little while, but I just prayed and asked God that my statement wouldn't come back to haunt me in any way," Brown said.

The comment was out of character for Brown, who is normally so soft-spoken you have to lean forward to hear him.

Texas coaches didn't believe Brown said it until they learned that the statement had been recorded during an interview.

"Coach Mackovic came to me and asked me about the comment and told me I couldn't talk to the media any more that week," Brown said. "I just said, 'I guess we have to back it up, coach,' and he said, 'I hope you're ready.' He's the only one who said anything. All my teammates were behind me because everyone believed it."

Still, Brown says he won't be making any predictions before Wednesday's Fiesta Bowl matchup between No. 20 Texas (8-4) and No. 7 Penn State (10-2).

"I realize it was a thin line," Brown said. "If we would have lost the game, no one would talk to me and people would say, 'You don't make predictions like that.' So I can't really get overexcited about what happened."

Even without making bold forecasts, Brown exudes confidence. He ignored people who told him not to go to Texas because the school had a history of not playing black quarterbacks &emdash; before him, the schools had two, Donovan Forbes (1989) and Donnie Little (1978-81).

Brown said he picked Texas over Syracuse and Oklahoma because he wanted to play in Mackovic's pro-style offense instead of an option attack.

"I think of myself as a passing quarterback who can run," Brown said, adding that former Alabama coach Gene Stallings recruited him as a receiver.

On being a black quarterback at Texas, Brown said, "It never crosses my mind. If I'm a role model for kids, that's great. Kids need role models, especially black kids."

Brown said he blames himself for much of the team's 3-4 start this season. Costly interceptions against Notre Dame and Virginia were key factors in those losses, he said.

After being benched in the Virginia game, Brown battled back, working harder in practice and scrambling more to keep defenses off balance.

"I tried to work so hard that no one would have a reason to take me off the field," said Brown, who has thrown for 2,468 yards with 17 TDs and 12 interceptions this season.

Before every game, he and Texas cornerback Bryant Westbrook, one of the team's top trash talkers, run to the opposing team's tunnel and watch the players come onto the field.

"I look into their eyes and see what they're all about," Brown said. "I did that in the Nebraska game and they didn't look ready to play. I went back to the team after watching them come out of the tunnel and said, 'There's something wrong with them.' "

A lot of what was wrong with the Huskers against Texas was Brown, who completed 19 of 28 passes for 353 yards, including a fourth-and-inches rollout pass to Derek Lewis from the Texas 28 late in the game that helped seal the victory.

After the game, his teammates told him to gloat about his prediction to the media and say things like, "I told you so."

He didn't.

"What I said before the game probably changes the way people look at me," Brown said. "It probably got us a few more fans, but it doesn't change my life. I'm still the same."