NFL star Antonio Brown makes return to CMU for Spring Game
From Antonio Brown’s freshman to junior year of college, he was in Mount Pleasant at Central Michigan University.
Brown made his return to the small town that developed him into a National Football League superstar on April 21 for CMU’s Spring Game.
“It’s always an honor to come back where things started to see the environment,” Brown said. “It’s still a championship culture and there’s a lot of love and support out here.
“We are trying to bring the MAC championship here.”
The 5-foot-10, 181-pound nine-year NFL player has been back to CMU three or four times since his departure after the 2009 season. Brown has a close relationship with Michael Alford, the athletic director of the Chippewas.
“Michael (Alford) means everything,” Brown said. “He’s been doing it for a long time and has built great relationships. He knows what it means to step the facilities and program up. He’s excited about doing it and we are looking forward to seeing the changes around here.”
In his three-year career in the Maroon and Gold, Brown caught 305 passes for 3,199 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also made 72 carries for 531 yards and four scores. On kickoffs and punt returns, Brown logged five touchdowns.
Brown went from Miami Norland High School to CMU, a mid-major program, and became a sixth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He said anyone can make it, even someone from a Mid-American Conference school.
“(The NFL) scouts every school,” Brown said. “It doesn’t matter where you are at. If you’re doing the right things, they will find you. Central Michigan is a great program to come out of. It’s just important to stay hungry and motivated.”
To Brown, one of the greatest things about Mount Pleasant is the rural feel. He spent long nights at Kelly/Shorts Stadium throughout his career with CMU to make it as a star in the NFL.
“The comradery and bonds built here (were amazing),” Brown said. “(I enjoyed) being zoned out from everything with my teammates. I remember us being here so much in the summertime grinding when nobody was around.
“There's a lot of work that went into this stadium. A lot of summers and long nights, so this is what it’s all about.”
When he was an 18-year-old kid, Brown was growing and maturing while at CMU. He said nobody believed in him back then, but that was really just motivation.
“This is where it all began,” Brown said. “Nobody believed when I was here, and nobody thought I’d be where I’m at. It’s all about doing things people wouldn’t expect you to do while coming from a place they wouldn’t expect you to come from.
“No matter who you are or how tall you are, you write your own story,” Brown said. “Anyone can make it.”
Former CMU quarterback Shane Morris finished his time as a Chippewa after the 2017 season. In the winter, he trained in Miami, Florida at Bommarito Performance Systems and was introduced to Brown.
Morris is throwing with Brown on Sunday morning to learn from his knowledge of the NFL.
“I met him down in Miami when I was training because he also trains at the same place as me,” Morris said. “It’ll be good to throw with him.”
Throughout his NFL career, Brown has caught 733 passes for 9,910 yards and 59 touchdowns.
The love throughout the community is what continues to bring Brown back to Mount Pleasant.
“There’s a lot of love from the kids, community and students,” Brown said. “It’s an honor to be here.”
As a star in the NFL, one thing remains consistent – Brown is a Chippewa for life.
