Dec. 11, 2007

by Louis Bonnette

Darrick Brown will be one of several student athletes picking up diplomas on Saturday during McNeese State's graduation ceremonies.

A native of Tangipahoa, Brown will receive a degree in general studies but will also continue with his studies and his athletic career in the spring semester.

The 6-4, 200 pounder who played as both a defensive back (his final two seasons) and as a wide receiver (his first two years) for the Cowboy football team has one semester of eligibility remaining in track and field and he plans to fulfill a commitment to that team.

Perhaps the top all around athlete at the university right now, Brown has been one of the track and field team's most decorated athletes during his career.

An injury curtailed his track and field participation last season but the year before he won the conference indoor title in the triple jump and scored a total of 39 points indoors and outdoors at conference. In 2005 he had 25 points at conference giving him a total of 64 points at conference meets.

He's also earned an all-American honor with a top 10 finish at the NCAA national meet.

Receiving his diploma means a lot to him.

"I'll be the first in my family to earn one," he said, adding that he will begin working towards a master degree in Exercise Science.

He's also got an eye on a couple of other options, both involving professional sports.

Professional football is a possibility. So is professional track.

"If he keeps training like he has," said McNeese strength coach Zeb Hawkins, "some football team is going to give him a chance as a free agent because he's going to test out very high."

Cowboy track and field coach Brendon Gilroy believes that Brown has a chance on the pro track circuit.

Gilroy coached current professional long jump standout Bryan Johnson at Iowa High and saw him go on to win the NCAA title while at Southern and in recent years make his mark on the professional circuit as a member of the Nike team.

"He's definitely got the ability," the McNeese coach said of Brown. "He's cut in the same mold as Bryan. Bryan is just a little taller."

In track and field, Brown's specialties are the long jump, triple jump and high jump.

This coming season - indoor and outdoor - he's looking for his first 26 foot long jump and a seven foot high jump.

"To make it as a pro in track and field," Gilroy said, "he's going to have to be consistent at 26 feet in the long jump."

Heading into the year, Brown has a best of 25 plus in the long jump both indoors and outdoors, 6-10 3/4 outdoors and 6-8 indoors in the high jump and 49-4 1/2 outdoors and 48-0 3/4 indoors in the triple jump.

One of the keys for Brown during his track career has been that a workout partner and competitor has been brother Marcus, who also played football four years for the Cowboys and has a season of track and field eligibility remaining.

Marcus will become the second Brown to graduate from McNeese when he receives his degree next summer.

He's been a conference medal performer in both the long jump and triple jump and like Darrick, is hoping for a chance to show what he has to some professional football team.

"Both have the speed (4.3+ clocking in the 40), strength (bench press 225 pounds 14 times in a row) and size (Darrick is 6-4, 200 pounds; Marcus 6-2, 200 pounds)," said Cowboy co-defensive coordinator Jason Rollins. "I would think that both will get a look."

Counting Darrick, a total of 16 McNeese athletes will receive their degrees from the university on Saturday. Some competed just recently, others in past years.

Besides Brown, other football players graduating are Jared Dolan (Marketing), James Jordan (Agriculture Science), Jonathan Walker (General Studies), Jordan Romero (H&HP Education), Chris Thomas (General Studies) and Ivan Stevenson (General Studies).

Kerry Gremillion played football and ran track for the Cowboys and he is graduating in General Studies while Jon Fagan was a Southland Conference champion in the heptathlon and he will receive a degree in H&HP Education and work on his master's as a graduate student coach in track and field.

Troy Aaron was a member of the Cowboy basketball team a year ago and will earn his degree in Business Management, Jeramie Broussard was a catcher for the Cowboy baseball team last year and is picking up a degree in H&HP Education, Michael Hannen competed in golf and is obtaining an Accounting degree, Shayla Cormier played softball and will graduate in Psychology, Urska Dobersek played tennis and will also graduate in Psychology, Trisha Seale was a member of the volleyball team and will graduate in Sociology and Hollie Renfro played on the Cowgirl golf team and will graduate in Early Childhood Education.

Also, Travis Bolden, who has been a manager the last four seasons with the men's basketball team, will receive his degree in General Studies.