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Brown Turns In Best Performance Of His Career

Nov. 15, 1999

PITTSBURGH – Coming into this season, senior Bobby Brown wanted nothing more than to aid his team to a successful season.

Brown remained relatively quiet through this season. In fact, the wide receiver really has not made much noise since the ’97 season in which he led Notre Dame in receptions. That season he had 45 catches and teamed up with former Irish player Malcolm Johnson to become the first set of receivers to have 40 receptions in the same season.

This season has been a struggle for Brown to overcome the publicity surrounding his excessive celebration penalty against Michigan. In the game against the Volunteers, the receiver did not even get a ball.

“I come from a type of family that when you are stuck in a corner, you come out swinging,” Brown said. “I felt like I had to have a big game in order for us to win. I just didn’t have a big enough day.”

This past weekend, he came out swinging. As a matter of fact, Brown appeared to be quarterback Jarious Jackson’s favored target in the Pitt game.

He had 12 catches for 208 yards against the Panthers and thus earned Hero of the Week Honors.

“I think Bobby was definitely one of the receivers that came out to play today,” Jackson said after Saturday’s game. “I put the ball out there for him and when he was there he made plays. He did exactly what he suppose to do.”

A dismal loss took away all of the senior’s glory. He could not relish the fact that he turned in the best game of his Notre Dame career.

“They gave us some opportunities to make some plays but obviously I did not make enough,” Brown said.

Brown also scored a touchdown on a 21-yard pass from tailback David Givens in the third quarter. Each catch that the receiver made was more athletic than the first. He even snagged a 37-yard pass from Jackson to give the Irish a first down in a critical drive late in the third quarter.

Rather than focus on his big game, the senior was focused on the state of the team. He felt that it is now time for the seniors to take the reins of this team and drive them to a solid finish.

“Everybody always talks about how we have managed to come back but I will be honest right now, it is going to be hard,” Brown said. “It is just hard. The seniors just have to keep reinforcing that we can’t go out like this.”

Notre Dame must secure wins in its two final games of the season to ensure that it receives a bowl invitation.