Hard to Please Brown Pleasing 'Birds
By: Kurt Pegler - WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: September 21, 2010
WMBD/WYZZ-TV - NORMAL, Ill. -- To say that Matt Brown is a perfectionist would be an understatement.
The Redbird quarterback engineered one of ISU's biggest road victories in years last Saturday. But he doesn't talk much about his big plays.
He's haunted by ways he feels he's let his team down.
"I need to play better all around," Brown said. I turned the ball over a lot early (this season). I just feel like I'm not that kinda player."
He's thrown for 608 yards in the first three games of the season for ISU (2-1), which hosts Missouri State Saturday at 6 p.m.
Pressed into action last year due to an injury to then-starter Drew Kiel, Brown set Illinois State freshman records for completions, attempts and yards as a quarterback.
But he says his second year could be even better.
"There's always room to improve. I'm not going to say I don't need to improve because I definitely missed some throws last year that I could've made," said Brown. "I made bad throws, bad decisions."
Most of Brown's decisions this fall are getting praise from the coaching staff. Brown is 56 of 81 with five touchdowns and only two interceptions this season.
"Matt is a perfectionist. There's a lot he cam improve on, which is exciting," said head coach Brock Spack. "He's a very humble kid. He's doing a great job."
What can Brown do for ISU? Help win games.
What can ISU do for Brown? Maybe get him to smile while he's out there running the Redbird offense.
"The hardest part is having fun with it instead of thinking of all the little things," said Brown.
A win in the conference home opener might finally make Brown crack a smile.
