"Mama knows best."
Cavalier offensive lineman Elton Brown heeded this lesson at a young age, and he and the Virginia football team are reaping the benefits of his obedience.
Upon quitting the football team in the ninth grade, Elton went home to his mother, probably hoping for sympathy. But he didn't quite get the reaction he was looking for.
"My mom asked me, 'Why did you quit, son?" Brown said. "I told her they were hitting too hard. She told me, 'You hit them harder or I'm going to hit you.' And I walked right back to the practice field."
Judging from his performance against Clemson, it's clear his mother's advice has paid off. He had a monstrous game against an over-sized Tiger defensive line, helping Virginia's running game to its best outing since the season opener.
"Boy, he played well," Virginia coach Al Groh said with a smile. "They had two big tackles, and it got pretty dicey in there."
Brown has been playing football for a number of years now. He started in eighth grade when his cousin, now a Virginia basketball player also by the name of Elton Brown, called and told him that his high school junior varsity team still needed players. Other than his momentary lapse during freshman year, his love for the game has consistently increased.
"We had a new coach in 10th grade," he said. "He really taught me some new things. I started loving the game and getting really excited."
His first year at Virginia looked to be headed toward mediocrity last season until Groh injected him into the starting line-up against Wake Forest. He remembers that game as his favorite football moment to date.
"I was really nervous," he said. "I was messing up in warm-ups, but [offensive line] coach [Ron] Prince told me to relax. I did well."
Brown's play has steadily improved this season and has been crucial to the development of Virginia's offensive line. In a season during which two starting linemen have gone down to injury, he has been a rock, holding together a unit constantly needing to adjust to personnel changes.
"People were worried about the injuries," lineman Brian Barthelmes said. "But guys have stepped up. Zac [Yarborough] has stepped up and 'Big E' has stepped up."
While Brown's play, "Big-E" as they call him, has inspired the team on the field, his expressive personality has established himself as a leader in the locker room.
"I was scared of him," offensive line coach Prince said. "If things go wrong, he's going to cuss. But we've also had those meetings that are two hours long. He keeps it funny and keeps us interested."
Though Brown might still have to answer to his mom about the cussing, it's easy to see why someone might cower in his presence. At 6-foot-4, the sophomore from Hampton weighs in at a trim 322 pounds. Standing next to him in the locker room is a humbling experience, to say the least.
One of Clemson's cornerbacks got the opportunity to see Brown quite closely. On Billy McMullen's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, Brown took the lead block, flattening the hapless defender and clearing McMullen's path. Although the player could not be identified, there's a good chance his number is imprinted onto David A. Harrison III field.
"I just threw my whole body at him," Brown said. "When you've got a 320 on a 190, gravity's going to win."
Sometimes, mothers really do give the best advice.
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