Robert J. Brown
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Brown was an American football
center
and university regent. He played college football
for the University of Michigan
from 1923 to 1925. He later served as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
from 1967 to 1974. As a senior, he was the captain of the 1925 Michigan Wolverines football team
that head coach Fielding H. Yost called the greatest team he ever coached. The 1925 Wolverines team had a record five All-Americans (Bennie Oosterbaan
, Benny Friedman
, Thomas Edwards, Harry Hawkins and Brown) and outscored their opponents 227-3. Remarkably, despite giving up only three points in eight games, the three points were enough to give Northwestern a 3-2 victory on November 7, 1925, on a wet and muddy Soldier Field
in Chicago. Other than the loss to Northwestern
, the 1925 had seven shutouts, beating Michigan State
(39-0), Indiana
(63-0), Wisconsin
(21-0), Illinois
(3-0), Navy
(54-0), Ohio State
(10-0), and Minnesota
(35-0). Yost called Brown, "One of the greatest inspirational leaders I have seen." After leaving Michigan, Brown was a businessman in Kalamazoo, Michigan
. He ran for the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
in 1966 as a Republican and served as a Regent from 1967 to 1974. His son, Robert M. Brown was captain of the 1962 Wolverines team, giving them the distinction of being the only father and son football players for the University of Michigan who also served as team captains. Brown died in 1985.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
and university regent. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1923 to 1925. He later served as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan is the legal corporation that controls the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses at Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The Board of Regents was created by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837 that established the modern University of Michigan...
from 1967 to 1974. As a senior, he was the captain of the 1925 Michigan Wolverines football team
1925 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1925 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the college football season of 1925. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost. The 1925 team compiled a record of 7–1 and outscored opponents by a combined score of 227 to 3...
that head coach Fielding H. Yost called the greatest team he ever coached. The 1925 Wolverines team had a record five All-Americans (Bennie Oosterbaan
Bennie Oosterbaan
Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
, Benny Friedman
Benny Friedman
Benjamin "Benny" Friedman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan , Cleveland Bulldogs , Detroit Wolverines , New York Giants , and Brooklyn Dodgers .He is generally considered the first great passer in professional football...
, Thomas Edwards, Harry Hawkins and Brown) and outscored their opponents 227-3. Remarkably, despite giving up only three points in eight games, the three points were enough to give Northwestern a 3-2 victory on November 7, 1925, on a wet and muddy Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
in Chicago. Other than the loss to Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats football
The Northwestern Wildcats football team, representing Northwestern University, is a NCAA Division I team and member of the Big Ten Conference, with evidence of organization in 1876...
, the 1925 had seven shutouts, beating Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
(39-0), Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
(63-0), Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
(21-0), Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
(3-0), Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
(54-0), Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
(10-0), and Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
(35-0). Yost called Brown, "One of the greatest inspirational leaders I have seen." After leaving Michigan, Brown was a businessman in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. He ran for the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
Board of Regents of the University of Michigan
The Board of Regents of the University of Michigan is the legal corporation that controls the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses at Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The Board of Regents was created by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837 that established the modern University of Michigan...
in 1966 as a Republican and served as a Regent from 1967 to 1974. His son, Robert M. Brown was captain of the 1962 Wolverines team, giving them the distinction of being the only father and son football players for the University of Michigan who also served as team captains. Brown died in 1985.
See also
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorUniversity of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorThe University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
- Michigan Wolverines Football All-AmericansMichigan Wolverines Football All-AmericansMichigan Wolverines football All-Americans are American football players who have been named as All-Americans while playing for the University of Michigan football team.-Overview:...
- Board of Regents of the University of MichiganBoard of Regents of the University of MichiganThe Board of Regents of the University of Michigan is the legal corporation that controls the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses at Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn. The Board of Regents was created by the Organic Act of March 18, 1837 that established the modern University of Michigan...
- 1925 College Football All-America Team1925 College Football All-America TeamThe 1925 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1925...