Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics
Defensive Coordinator Bryan Brown Proud of His Players for Taking a Stand
June 08, 2020 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -Â University of Louisville defensive coordinator Bryan Brown hadn't seen his players since early March after the team departed for spring break.
Now, after three months, Brown is getting closer to being re-united to his team again.
Approximately 30 players began voluntary workouts on Monday, and the football staff is nearing a return to campus possibly as early as next week.
"We went through a good bit of our starters and figured out who we needed to bring in the most important as far as their bodies and mentally and things of that nature," defensive coordinator Bryan Brown said. "We focused on our first and second groups and ranked those guys from there and wanted to make sure we got some of the defensive line and some of the guys who were hurt that we needed to get in here so they can get treatment as well."Â
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Head coach Scott Satterfield broke things down evenly, in terms of which players would earn the first opportunity to begin workouts.  According to Brown, there were about three or four defensive linemen working out, along with four corners and three safeties. Â
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"It's a mix and match of a lot of guys," he said. "Didn't want to be eight defensive lineman vs. what we have. We wanted to spread it out even so we can make sure the next group is spread out as well." Â
Campus and the world is a much different place than when the team left for good after seven spring practices. A world pandemic and nationwide protests have changed the country over the last couple of months, and those issues have been addressed head-on with the players by the coaching staff.
"We've had multiple conversations (on social issues)," Brown said. "We expressed our concerns and thoughts as well as let those guys know we are here from them. We've listened to our players. We want to listen to those players instead of giving a lot of our opinions. We want to hear from them and how they feel, and what's their stance. We are here to support them in any way."
The city of Louisville has been one of the areas most affected by the issues of race and inequality, which has divided the country over the last two weeks. Brown said Satterfield isn't just providing lip service to his team and staff, he wants to continue the fight for the cause until there is change.
"That's one thing coach Satterfield said, we need to make sure we don't let this thing die, you know about racial diversity, racial tension and police brutality against people of color, we don't need to let it die down," Bryan Brown said. "We will continue this all summer and not just let it be a two-week thing." Â
Brown, a young African-American coach who grew up in Mississippi, has been affected by inequality and race throughout his life, so he understands it well and can relate to his team that is comprised of young African-American men. He wants to use his influence to help his young men to became leaders for the next generation.
"Being an African-American, things I've seen over my lifetime, growing up in Corinth, Mississippi, you see some things, hear some things," Brown shared. "When you're playing sports, being called negative words and things of that nature. It's tough to go through things like that and sometimes we don't get the opportunities some people deserve just because of the color of our skin. Â "And I think our guys understand it, they believe it, and I know our coaches understand and believe it as well and that's why we're out for change and change is happening. It's been long overdue and we're excited about the things going on as far as the peaceful protests and just hope we'll have some action and I think we're headed in the right direction."
While most coaches try to stymie their players' voice, Brown says the players have the freedom to express themselves and use their platform to demand change -- and he's proud of them for speaking their minds.
"They have a platform to voice their opinion. I think their opinion matters, it does. It matters a lot. I think being an athlete in general, they have a voice," Brown said. "We told them to use the platform you have, use it. Use it to the best of your ability because you have a lot of followers and people looking up to you back home or wherever it may be. You may be able to reach that one person or two people that can change their view on African Americans as well as just minorities in general. Use your platform to the best of your ability and let god do the rest." Â
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Now, after three months, Brown is getting closer to being re-united to his team again.
Approximately 30 players began voluntary workouts on Monday, and the football staff is nearing a return to campus possibly as early as next week.
"We went through a good bit of our starters and figured out who we needed to bring in the most important as far as their bodies and mentally and things of that nature," defensive coordinator Bryan Brown said. "We focused on our first and second groups and ranked those guys from there and wanted to make sure we got some of the defensive line and some of the guys who were hurt that we needed to get in here so they can get treatment as well."Â
Â
Head coach Scott Satterfield broke things down evenly, in terms of which players would earn the first opportunity to begin workouts.  According to Brown, there were about three or four defensive linemen working out, along with four corners and three safeties. Â
Â
"It's a mix and match of a lot of guys," he said. "Didn't want to be eight defensive lineman vs. what we have. We wanted to spread it out even so we can make sure the next group is spread out as well." Â
Campus and the world is a much different place than when the team left for good after seven spring practices. A world pandemic and nationwide protests have changed the country over the last couple of months, and those issues have been addressed head-on with the players by the coaching staff.
"We've had multiple conversations (on social issues)," Brown said. "We expressed our concerns and thoughts as well as let those guys know we are here from them. We've listened to our players. We want to listen to those players instead of giving a lot of our opinions. We want to hear from them and how they feel, and what's their stance. We are here to support them in any way."
The city of Louisville has been one of the areas most affected by the issues of race and inequality, which has divided the country over the last two weeks. Brown said Satterfield isn't just providing lip service to his team and staff, he wants to continue the fight for the cause until there is change.
"That's one thing coach Satterfield said, we need to make sure we don't let this thing die, you know about racial diversity, racial tension and police brutality against people of color, we don't need to let it die down," Bryan Brown said. "We will continue this all summer and not just let it be a two-week thing." Â
Brown, a young African-American coach who grew up in Mississippi, has been affected by inequality and race throughout his life, so he understands it well and can relate to his team that is comprised of young African-American men. He wants to use his influence to help his young men to became leaders for the next generation.
"Being an African-American, things I've seen over my lifetime, growing up in Corinth, Mississippi, you see some things, hear some things," Brown shared. "When you're playing sports, being called negative words and things of that nature. It's tough to go through things like that and sometimes we don't get the opportunities some people deserve just because of the color of our skin. Â "And I think our guys understand it, they believe it, and I know our coaches understand and believe it as well and that's why we're out for change and change is happening. It's been long overdue and we're excited about the things going on as far as the peaceful protests and just hope we'll have some action and I think we're headed in the right direction."
While most coaches try to stymie their players' voice, Brown says the players have the freedom to express themselves and use their platform to demand change -- and he's proud of them for speaking their minds.
"They have a platform to voice their opinion. I think their opinion matters, it does. It matters a lot. I think being an athlete in general, they have a voice," Brown said. "We told them to use the platform you have, use it. Use it to the best of your ability because you have a lot of followers and people looking up to you back home or wherever it may be. You may be able to reach that one person or two people that can change their view on African Americans as well as just minorities in general. Use your platform to the best of your ability and let god do the rest." Â
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