Frank Brown (1966) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Frank Brown

Induction:
1966

   Frank Brown was one of the outstanding running backs that Southern Miss had in the years just after World War II. After being shutdown because of the war, Brown was one of the players that help to resurrect the school football program and eject it with excitement to allow it to evolve into the outstanding program it is today.
   Brown who was known as a solid runner who made very few mistakes and one that was willing to lower his head to get the team the extra yards that it needed in clutch situations.
   Playing for the Golden Eagles from 1946 to 1948, the team posted a 21-9 record, which included some of the school’s biggest wins to that time.
   In 1946 Brown saw limited action on Coach Reed Green’s team that posted a 7-3 record and defeated the University of Havana (Cuba) in the Cigar Bowl.
With Brown seeing action at halfback both offensively and defensively and playing on the special teams, the Golden Eagles scored over 50 points on three occasions, while on defense had six shutouts. That team lost two games by a single point, 13-12 against Auburn and 7-6 against Northwestern Louisiana.
   In 1947 Brown began to see more playing time as the team again would finish with a 7-3 record. Brown carried the ball 19 times that year for 30 yards, caught a pass for 16 yards and a touchdown and had an interception. That ’47 team knocked off Auburn 19-13 in Montgomery, Alabama for one of the biggest wins to that time in Southern Miss history. It was another outstanding defensive team that recorded shutouts in three of its last four games that year.
   The 1948 team posted a third straight 7-3 record as Brown was the third leading rusher on the team with 80 carries for 224 yards and one touchdown. Only one other player carried the ball more that year. With Brown carrying the ball the Southern Miss offense was explosive that year scoring 38 or more points four times, while on defense they recorded two shutouts.
   It would be wrong to judge Brown solely on his statistics during his career at Southern Miss because his biggest contributions to the school and to the program were in ways that can’t be measured by statistics. After World War II the school was in need of players who could give the program a solid base and establish the foundation that the future could be built on. Brown through his solid dedication and loyalty to the program was one of those key players.
   In a school that has produced many outstanding running backs and defensive backs Frank Brown can most assuredly take his place alongside them. A dedicated and proud player who will always be remembered for his contributions to Southern Miss football.