The View From Here BELIEFS IT OR NOT Brown says he didn’t get Stanford job because of his Christian beliefs. By Jim D. Berryman Nebraska assistant football coach Ron Brown is alleging that he did not get a recent head coaching position at Stanford because of his moral and religious beliefs. Brown is a receivers coach at the University of Nebraska. Brown, who has interviewed for other coaching positions including the Kansas City Chiefs in 2001, has never made secret his own religious beliefs. And, even though Brown’s wife is a Stanford alum, he was still turned down for the job. Brown alleges it was his religion that caused him to not get the head coaching job. Brown is quoted in a Daily Nebraskan story saying that he comes with his religion on his shoulder. That’s part of any coaching deal. You have to give the guy credit for standing up for what he believes in. At the same time, I’m not sure I want Ron Brown as my spiritual advisor. I’m not quite sure how vocal he is about religion, but I think the last thing you would want as a college athletic director is something to take attention away from the team. Some of his religious views have nothing to do with football. If he was a minister, we would be more willing to listen. As a major college football coach, we want to know about the team, not his personal religious views. I’m sure Stanford was impressed with Brown. Sure, Stanford is located in a very liberal city, and that could have been part or most of the reason why he wasn’t offered the position. The job went to Buddy Teevens, an assistant football coach under Steve Spurrier at Florida for the past 3 seasons. I’m sure Stanford would agree that if Ron Brown wanted to pray with his team, pray away! If he said “God Bless You” to a reporter, more power to him. But that’s where it should stop. This is college football, not a Sunday pulpit. Over Brown’s career at Nebraska, I’m sure there have been a few players he coached who happened to be of a different religious background…even gay. The last thing you want to do as a coach is let down a team member that is looking for your guidance. On a personal note, I have come in contact with Ron Brown many times in the mid and late 80s. He was a regular customer at the Stuart Theater in Lincoln. He wasn’t there to see a movie, although he did come in on Friday nights before Husker games with the team now and then. No, he was there to buy popcorn. Yes, Ron Brown loves movie theater popcorn. You know, the mouth-watering, salted, buttered popcorn popped in canola oil. Mmmm. So good. Brown would come in as we were closing the concession stand at the Stuart, often a few nights a week. He was on his way home from Husker football practice. He was always very friendly, very neatly dressed and somewhat serious. He looked like he had a lot on his mind. We were impressed with him. I remember many of the concession girls fighting over who got to wait on him. Glad he’s still a Husker. Full Story from Grand Island Independent Husker Game Watch Locations Nationwide Post Feedback