By Lee Ann Herring Olvedo

About a year and a half ago I reached a life changing fork in the road and decided to put law school on the back burner to continue my passion for football as a SEC freelance sportswriter. I think it was evident in my mind that sometimes in life these opportunities to pursue your dreams are few far and in between. It is no secret that my passion and knowledge of football stems from my Texas roots where in fact football is a way of life early on.

Though my passion lies in writing when it comes to life I have found my true calling really has come to lie in between the lines of the gridiron that is scouting in football. For me the game of football is much more than stats it’s about prediction and see what is to come next , looking at a player and know what their tendencies are and how that will change the game of the outcome.

In the same year I switched my philosophy of law book for my Bear Bryant bible and  I was fortunate to cross paths with Boeing Brown. There was just something about this kid that reminded me to the root of were football stems from and that is the love and passion for the game. It is one thing to be confident as a player but not to be over zealous in your abilities and Boeing is just this. He reminded me of those players that you see in those one stop sign one crossing light east and west Texas towns that play for the purity of the game and motivate themselves not for others but for themselves. This attribute whether we choose to believe or not can truly affect the mental and physical force of how a player will evolved and we need more players like this not just in Kentucky but in football in general.

Bear Bryant used to say, “I’m just a simple plow hand from Arkansas, but I have learned over the years how to hold a team together . How to lift some men up, how to calm others down, until finally they’ve got one heartbeat, together, a team.”  I have always said the best teams in any conference are the players who are great but play as a team and lead a team onward. Though he may be young in age Boeings’ ability on and off the fields are way beyond his years.

The first place you think of going to recruit a quarterback would be my home state of Texas but as they say you can find the diamonds in the rough in the rarest places. I did not have to travel to far from my college home in Providence, R.I. to Brookfield, Conn. When I first thought about coming on board on the Brookfield Bomber Campaign for the SEC I wasn’t quite sure how receptive schools would be of a so called “Yankee QB” and what be the best approach to market him in the Southeast without assumptions from this unknown talent, but just after a few short weeks of film analysis and chatting with Boeing I knew his heart and his abilities were made to be in the SEC.

Towering at 6’4” and 218 lbs, Boeing is a traditional Pro-Style QB but don’t put up the red flags just yet. He’s not afraid to afraid to run or help to extend the play for the conversion and do what has to be done to make the plays on the gridiron. Every QB has their comfort zone and for Boeing that is found under center or in the shotgun and that not a bad mix for an SEC offense especially one for the Cats that is need of a cohesive identity in the next year.

Brown has already made a slew of accolades being named an All-American Quarterback by Offense-Defense in his junior year and a two-year varsity starter as a sophomore and junior. Brown has passed for a combined 2,850 yards and30 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, and had a 117 QB rating. He was named All-Conference SWC two years in a row. He reports a 3.57 GPA. In addition, during his junior year Brown racked up 200 yards rushing with two score. He also punted 26 times for 976 yards, with a long of 60 yds (four inside 20). Brown also had six tackles while playing defense, along with three interceptions.

Now enough with the stats let’s get a behind the scenes look at Boeing Brown and his affection for Bluegrass!

Question: It is no secret that you are being sought out by many top programs included many powerhouses in the SEC but what attracted you to be a UK Wildcat prospect?
Brown: “I have a lot of respect for the SEC among all NCAA football conferences, the SEC has so many great teams and such great football as well as amazing basketball.  I watched several University of Kentucky games and what I liked best is they run the same offense with a Pro-Style Quarterback that I have been playing in most of my life especially in High School.  Seeing the great, competitive facilities, knowing the team has the ability to compete and with an opportunity for an excellent education, I really have grown to respect the University of Kentucky.  I have reached out to the coaching staff for about two years now and they have sent me materials and more recently responded with their interest in me as well.  I think the campus, the education program, specifically in History and liberal arts is very good there.  I also feel I could come to UK and be an impact player from the start, helping first work to learn the offense and work with scout team and then compete to earn time on the field.  UK plays tough competition and has the opportunity to really become strong in the SEC.”

Question: What dynamic and unique things do you bring as a quarterback that could improve the existing playbook offensively?
Brown: “I have a very strong Christian faith, I believe in God, Football, School, Family and Friends as how to live my life.  I work daily to get better, God granted me the gift of size at 6’4″ and through hard work, lifting daily, I am growing to be stronger and heavier at 215 pounds and getting better as a player overall.  I study the game regularly, I really enjoy breaking down game film and opponents film to prepare, with a positive work ethic, I believe we can never give up…fight for every inch, make the best of every down and work to win as a team!  I am flexible to go either under center pro-style or in pistol/shotgun and will look to pass first, but will use my legs to create something more and find a way to extend the play when needed.  I have a very strong arm, have perfected my footwork, mechanics and fakes, and have proven to be very accurate downfield in my passing.”

Question: With the South being filled with many talented quarterbacks, how do you make  yourself standout so that SEC and Southern schools and are you willing to move into unfamiliar territory in what some would consider a “Yankee QB?”
Brown: “We are all American’s, part of the USA and God’s children so geography is geography, I have trained, competed, and even done combines in the South and held my own or even surpassed the competition at times as a Quarterback, so I think players can play where given the opportunity. I prefer to say I am a Southerner raised in Yankee-land (so close to NYC), being I was born in Daytona Beach, Florida and really love the Southern-Midwestern hospitality and roots of my family from Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Texas and Illinois and raised always with God and a friendliness to give to others, work hard and help thy neighbor. I have a strong family ancestry being a Mayflower child, Son of the American Revolution and Both sides of the Civil War.  So for me, I love our country, and see opportunities all over the USA. Growing up now in Connecticut and hitting the national recruiting trails there seems to be a sense of bigotry/bias for recruiters and evaluators against football players from New England.  We play hard hitting, tough football and where the players in the South play in some extreme heat; we have to deal with all weather.  From extreme 90-100+ degree days in August-September, to glorious fall days through October and eventually extreme cold, ice, sleet, snow from November-December. Yes there may be a more dedicated, year-round attitude for football in the South, but I assure you we all play good football. I have learned to make passes in perfect day and night times or in high-wind and rain games or even ice and snow with success.  I have the love of the game, the “Boys of Fall” plays loud and proud here too and where there is a full heart, strong desire, respect for the competition and pride in working hard, I know I am ready and have a strong desire to compete in the SEC and to compete perhaps for UK.  I have the full support of my family to look at, consider, commit and play at any school I feel is best for me, so I know I have their backing and they will help me succeed at whichever school I choose, be it UK or another.”

Question: Any closing things you would like to share with the Big Blue Nation on Boeing Brown?
Brown: “I have a lot of respect for the University of Kentucky, for the amazing atmosphere, growing support for football given so many dominate years in basketball, for the academic programs and educators, the great facilities, coaches and team history and of course the amazing Wildcat fans.  The love and support of the students, fans and alumni of UK is impressive and I would be honored to be a part of that pride and history, to give my very all and best effort to help to win, to be successful and honorable.  I live and breathe football, and with God’s support and faith in him, I believe anything is possible.  I look forward to making a visit soon, to getting to see more of the campus and programs and perhaps do a camp to show the coaches my abilities as a Quarterback. I am excited and honored to be interviewed by a Miss Kentucky as well, I have a lot of respect for you Lee Ann and appreciate your great level of knowledge for NCAA football and sports, I wish you well in your endeavors as well. God bless the University of Kentucky and thank you for considering me, I am honored and excited!  Hard work pays off!  I believe.”

I am glad the Cats have finally taken notice on Boeing and I am honored to have the opportunity to bring the Brookfield Bomber to the Bluegrass.  One thing Cats should know if that haven’t already that we are going to be in  a battle with the “ole ball coach”  in Steve Spurrier at South Carolina. The Gamecocks have been making  a campaign for Boeing  as well.  Kentucky may have a hard fight on its hands but as Boeing says, “I want to go from being a Brookfield Bobcat to a Kentucky Wildcat come 2013.”

Let’s not be dormant Big Blue Nation on this prospect and make the Cats 2013 season something to remember.