Where this Buffalo roams

Colorado tailback Chris Brown talks about leading the herd

Chris Brown's collegiate career began at Northwestern, detoured to Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, and figures to culminate triumphantly in Boulder, Colo. Forced to outshine teammates and potential stars Marcus Houston, Cortlen Johnson and Bobby Purify in order to regain his 2001 role as Colorado's featured tailback, Brown has emerged has the nation's leading rusher, with 1,616 yards on 251 carries for an NCAA-best 161.6 yards per game. Against Iowa State this Saturday, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior from Naperville, Ill., hopes to extend his streak of 100-yard games to eight.

Kelley King: After playing behind Damien Anderson at Northwestern and then alongside three other tailbacks at Colorado, is it a relief to be getting the lion's share of the carries?

Chris Brown: Not really, not around here, because there's a group of great tailbacks I'm going up against every day. With that kind of competition, you've gotta be at the top of your game at all times.

King: You ended up transferring from Northwestern because coaches there made what now seems like an absurd attempt to make you a wide receiver. What was so wrong with the receiver position?

Brown: That was just not a place for me. As a receiver, it feels like you're alone on an island all game long; there are a lot of plays you aren't even involved in. When you're in the backfield you're in the mix all the time. You can take the ball, throw blocks, deliver more blows. I like that -- the delivering blows part.

King: With your size, you're almost obliged to like it.

Brown: Yeah, I guess I'm bigger than some of the tailbacks out there. It definitely gives me an advantage. Right when I get the snap I can take a look over a lot of the linemen's heads and see what's happening downfield.

King: What's life like at a junior college pitstop?

Brown: There's camaraderie because everyone's thinking the same thing: Man, let's get through this and get to the next level. I made a lot of good friends at Fort Scott. I was there at the same time as [Alabama tight end] Donald Clark and [Ohio State wide receiver] Chris Vance.

King: Do juco friends keep in touch like old war buddies?

Brown: I talk to Vance on the phone from time to time. Last time I spoke with him was before Ohio State played Northwestern. And, no, I didn't give him any scouting tips.

King: Speaking of reaching out to touch someone ... Have you or any of your teammates had a chance to talk with Craig Ochs [Colorado's former starting quarterback who transferred to Montana]?

Brown: Nah, I haven't talked to him since he made the decision to leave. I have no idea what he's up to.

King: Having your starting quarterback up and transfer in the middle of a season must have been quite a blow.

Brown: It was really, really shocking at first. But then [backup] Robert Hodge came in and got down to business ... it was like we'd never missed a beat. He's definitely been the most surprising, inspiring player for us this year.

King: Chris, are those sniffles I hear?

Brown: I have a little bit of a cold, but I'm fighting it. At this point in the season you have to really be good about taking care of your body in general. I go for all of the treatments in the training room, and try to sit in an ice bath after every practice.

King: How do you wind down after a game?

Brown: Bobby Purify -- he's my roommate -- and I will go home, kick back in front of the TV and try to catch replays of all of the other games that day. That's our entertainment.

King: What has been the most exciting college football game you've had a chance to watch this year?

Brown: It would have to be LSU-Kentucky, when LSU pulled it out with that end-zone catch in the last second. That was awesome, just unbelievable.

King: You're the top dog right now of a stellar class of tailbacks. Of all of the college running backs you've seen on the field or on SportsCenter this year, who has impressed you the most?

Brown: There are a lot of good ones. But honestly? The ones who amaze me the most are the ones I practice with every day.

Sports Illustrated writer-reporter Kelley King covers college football for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. She will chat with a different player each Tuesday during the season.

 

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