The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

September 4, 2009

Flames’ Brown a triple threat

By Dave Morrison

Liberty’s Mike Brown certainly is drawing a a lot of interest at the Milan Puskar Center these days.

Not bad for a guy who is the Flames’ quarterback-of-the-future but will play receiver Saturday when Liberty opens at WVU Saturday at noon (WOAY TV 4 in Oak Hill/Beckley).

He certainly has drawn West Virginia coach Bill Stewart’s attention, even though South Carolina transfer Tommy Beecher will start at quarterback.

“I see Tommy Beecher. He started at South Carolina and he’s a big guy,” Stewart said. “Then I see Mike Brown. I don’t know what they would do. Would you go with Beecher if he has a hot hand and stay with him, or would you pull him out and put that athlete Mike Brown in? Both have a lot that they bring to the table.”

Brown alone is a one-man wrecking crew. He caught 19 passes for 331 yards, rushed for 142 and two touchdowns and also threw for 25. A triple-threat. Still, Liberty coach Danny Rocco wants to be patient, and not just because it is a virtue.

“I do think for the 2009 season we wanted more reassurance for the quarterback position,” Rocco said. “I know Mike Brown is our quarterback of the future and Mike Brown could have been the quarterback here in 2009, but I thought a one-year buffer would be a good thing for him and that’s something Tommy brings to us.”

Rocco indicated Brown could line up at wide receiver, running back or quarterback against the Mountaineers.

And that has Stewart and his defensive coaches concerned.

“Brown is really a talented athlete and good football player,” Stewart said. “We will find out where No. 10 is and try to do the best we can.”

Despite going to Beecher, at least early, Rocco still has plans for Brown.

“We just felt, as we got deeper and deeper into camp, that the best way for us to function and to be efficient on offense was obviously to have our 11 best players out there,” Rocco said. “Tommy Beecher was certainly one of the 11 best players and so was Michael Brown. So it was a pretty clear-cut decision for us in order to get as many weapons on the field as we can.”

Brown took the word that he will be starting a receiver, rather than quarterback, in stride.

“It was a good, healthy competition that brought out the best in us,” Brown said. “I wanted to do what was best for the team. The switching wasn’t too bad. I played a few games at receiver last year.”

Better believe Stewart is well aware of that.

— E-mail: demorrison@

register-herald.com

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