Kris Brown Season 1997

Honors & Awards

• Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers (1999 - 7th Round, Pick #228)
• University of Nebraska Graduate (May, 1999)
• Member of Two Nebraska National Championship Teams (1995, 1997)
• NationsBank Community Champion (1998)
• Two-Time First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (1997, 1998)
• Brook Berringer Citizenship team (1997, 1998)
• Two-Time GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American Nominee (1997, 1998)
• Lou Groza Award Semifinalist (1997)
• Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches, 1997)
• Two-Time Second-Team All-Big 12 (Coaches, 1996, 1998)
• Second-Team All-Big 12 (AP, 1996)

Career

A four-year letter-winner and a major contributor to two national championship teams in 1995 and 1997, Brown set the school record for kickers by pumping in 116 points in 12 games during Nebraska's undefeated national title campaign as a junior, but has since been surpassed by Brett Maher who finished his career, in 2012, with 119 points. Brown connected on all 62 of his PATs and hit 18-of-21 field goals. His huge junior season helped Brown finish his career ranked among the top scorers in NCAA history, ranking No. 7 with a Big Eight Conference-record 388 points at the conclusion of his career. He added school records in field goals made and attempted (57-of-77) and career PATs made and attempted (217-222). His PATs made and attempted also ranked as an NCAA record at the conclusion of his career, but those marks have also since been surpassed. Brown set the school mark by connecting on 125 consecutive PATs from Nov. 16, 1996 to Nov. 14, 1998, along with setting the Nebraska record by hitting 17 straight field goals from Sept. 20, 1997 to Sept. 12, 1998.

Brown was chosen in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He starred for the Steelers from 1999 to 2001 before joining, the expansion-team, the Houston Texans from 2002 to 2009. He wrapped up his NFL career by splitting time, in 2010, with the San Diego Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys. In his 12 year NFL career, Brown established himself as one of the best place-kickers in the league. He scored 1,123 career points by connecting on 256-of-331 field goals and 355-of-362 PATs. Brown owns a career-long 57-yard field goal as a Texan in 2007.

1998 (Senior)

Brown put the finishing touches on one of the most accomplished kicking careers in Nebraska history in 1998. As a senior, he connected on 14-of-21 field goals and 47-of-48 PATs to finish with 89 points on the year. He added a pair of field goals and two extra points in Nebraska's 1998 Holiday Bowl game against Arizona. Brown was a second-team All-Big 12 selection by the Big 12 coaches in 1998. A standout in the classroom and the community, Brown was named a 1998 NationsBank Community Champion and earned his second straight academic All-Big 12 award. He was also a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee.

1997 (Junior)

Brown helped the Huskers to their second national championship in his first three years at Nebraska by scoring a then-school place-kicker record 116 points. (Brett Maher surpassed Brown's record in 2012 when he scored 119 points.) Brown set then-NU records by connecting on 18-of-21 field goals (surpassed by Alex Henery in 2010 when he went 18-of-19), while setting the school record by going a perfect 62-of-62 on PATs. In the national championship game victory over Tennessee in the 1998 Orange Bowl, Brown was a perfect 6-for-6 on PATs to help the Huskers roll to victory over Peyton Manning and the Volunteers in Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne's final game of his Hall of Fame career. Brown was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award and earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors from the league coaches. He was also a first-team academic All-Big 12 selection.

1996 (Sophomore)

Brown produced a solid second season as Nebraska's starting place-kicker by earning second-team All-Big 12 honors from the league coaches and the Associated Press. He connected on 12-of-19 field goals including a career-long 51-yarder and was a perfect 2-for-2 from 50 or beyond while connecting on 50-of-51 PATs to finish with 86 points in 12 games. In Nebraska's 1996 Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech, Brown was a perfect 2-for-2 on his field goal attempts and 5-for-5 on his PATs to help the Huskers roll to a win over the Hokies.

1995 (Freshman)

Brown replaced Major League Baseball's No. 1 pick and 1994 NU starting place-kicker Darin Erstad in the NU starting lineup. Brown was a major player in Nebraska's run to a second straight national title in 1995. As a freshman place-kicker on one of the most dominant teams in college football history, Brown connected on 13-of-16 field goals, including a season-best 47-yarder at Michigan State, and went 58-of-61 on PATs to finish his rookie season with a freshman school record of 97 points, just one point ahead of fellow true freshman Ahman Green. Brown missed the first PAT attempt of his career, but would go on to knock the next 31 through. He hit a season-high three field goals against Oklahoma. Brown also completed one pass for a two-point conversion against Washington State. In Nebraska's record rout of Florida in the national championship game in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, Brown hit both of his field goal attempts and went 5-of-6 on PATs (one was blocked) in the Huskers' victory over the Gators.

Before Nebraska (Carroll High School)

Recruited to Nebraska as a kicker, Brown also played quarterback his junior and season seasons. He helped Carroll High School to Class 3-A state titles in 1992 and 1993, defeating Husker teammate Clint Finley's Cuero team in 1993. Brown connected on 16-of-18 field goal attempts in 1994. He earned first-team all-district, All-Northeast Tarrant Country honors and all-area honors as a kicker his senior year playing for Coach Bob Ledbetter. He also earned honorable-mention all-state honors from both the AP and the Texas Sportswriters Association. Brown was named an All-America kicker by Bluechip Illustrated and an All-Midlands region choice by SuperPrep in 1994. He kicked four field goals, including a long of 50 yards, in the first 4-A playoff game in 1994, as Carroll defeated No. 2 Waxahachie, 23-20. Carroll High School went 32-0 in his sophomore and junior years and 6-5 his senior year.

Personal

The son of Hobert Brown and Shari Chaney, Kris' step-mother, Terri, hails from Kimball, Neb. Kris was born on Dec. 23, 1976. Kris majored in education and earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in May of 1999. He was one of Nebraska's most active players in the community, earning a spot on the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team in both 1997 and 1998. He volunteered with the Ventures in Partnership program, the "School is Cool" jam, the "Dedicated to Excellence" tours and American Education Week. He was also a Nebraska Athletic Department ambassador, volunteered at the People's City Mission and in the Omaha Public Schools. He was also the coordinator of the Pacific Pals Youth Camp. A regular visitor to area hospitals, Brown also assisted with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Brown continued his commitment to community endeavors as a professional athlete. Among his many projects, he started Kris Brown's kick club, which raised nearly $500,000 by 2007 for Texas Children's Hospital.

Brown's Career Statistics

Scoring						Field Goal Range
Year	Games	PAT	FG	TP	PPG	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	Lg
1995	11	58-61	13-16	97	8.8	0-0	6-7	6-7	1-2	0-0	47
1996	12	50-51	12-19	86	7.2	0-0	6-6	3-7	1-4	2-2	51
1997	12	62-62	18-21	116	9.7	0-0	6-7	7-8	5-6	0-0	46
1998	12	47-48	14-21	89	7.4	1-1	5-6	4-8	4-6	0-0	48
Totals	47	217-222	57-77	388	8.3	1-1	23-26	20-30	11-18	2-2	51

Brown's School Records

• Career PATs Made/Attempted - 217 of 222 attempts
• Season PATs/Consecutive PATs Made/Attempted - 62 of 62 in 1997
• Perfect PAT Season - 1997 (62 of 62, ties record with 12 others)
• Most Points Scored by a Freshman in a Season - 97 in 1995
• Consecutive Extra Points Made - 125 (Nov. 16, 1996 - Nov. 14, 1998)

Brown's NCAA Records

• Most PAT Attempts - 222, by Derek Mahoney, Fresno State, 1990-93 (216 made) and Kris Brown, 1995-98 (217 made)
• Most PATs Made - 217, Kris Brown, 1995-98 (222 attempts)