Former soccer player emerges as strong kicker
By Brent Yarina
Assistant Sports Editor

In their efforts to find a new placekicker following the 2000 season, TCU coaches didn’t follow the traditional route of recruiting a possible replacement. Instead, they struck gold with a short walk over to the university’s soccer fields.

There, the football coaches found the team’s new kicker in the powerful left foot of midfielder senior Nick Browne.

Browne, who played both soccer and football in high school, said he was always interested in the opportunity to kick for the football team and that it wasn’t until the spring of 2000 that he decided to try out for the team.

“I have always loved football,” Browne said. “I wanted a chance to kick here and I’m happy it all worked out.”

Special teams coach Dan Sharp said he wasn’t too high on the idea of converting a soccer player into the team’s primary place kicker, but Browne’s attitude and foot quickly changed his opinion.

“The first day I saw him kick I noticed he had a live leg,” Sharp said. “He had all the talent to be a great kicker. Timing was the only thing he needed.”

Two seasons later, Browne is now recognized as one of the nation’s elite kickers. This season, he is the preseason favorite for Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year, as well as a top candidate to win the Lou Groza award, which is awarded annually to the nation’s best kicker.

“The Lou Groza is the best thing a kicker can get,” he said. “It feels great to be considered for an honor like it.”

In the award’s brief 11-year history, there have been only 10 winners, including former TCU kicker Michael Reeder in 1995. If Browne can join the prestigious fraternity this season, TCU would become the first university to have two different kickers win the award.

Browne’s accolades, however, don’t stop on the playing field. He is the first TCU player since 1980 to earn first-team Verizon Academic all-American honors and was also selected as Playboy Magazine’s Scholar/Athlete of the Year.

Browne said he considers the academic awards he has received to be just as important as the athletic ones because it proves he has managed his time and represented the university.

“I just want to show class and respect to TCU, and these honors are good for our school,” he said.

Browne, who has connected on 37 of 50 career field goal attempts, said he expects to have a big year, now that his soccer career is over.

“It was tough playing both sports,” Browne said. “I had to manage my time wisely and couldn’t be thinking about the other sport. Now it’s easier without soccer to concentrate on kicking.”

Sharp said Browne should live up to the expectations football fans have set for him this season because, without soccer, his kicker was able to focus in the weight room this off season.

“Nick’s leg is a lot stronger this year, and he hasn’t lost any flexibility,” he said. “The added strength will keep him strong for the entire season.”

Sharp said Browne will also improve upon his career 74 percent field goal accuracy this season because he plans to provide his kicker with more favorable attempts.