Blast from the Past: Andiel Brown Singing the Gospel
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Determined. Competitive. Unwavering.
On the football field, Andiel Brown played like he had something to prove.
"To be a walk-on, to be a successful walk-on, you have to have that drive," says Brown.
As a senior in 2007, Brown played in 11-games and returned 17-punts for 177-yards.
"I do miss being able to look across the field at somebody and say, 'Hey, I'm better than you. You can't stop me no matter what you do. You are going to run down, I'm going to catch this punt and you're not going to tackle me.' I miss that a little bit," says Brown.
Now Brown gets his rush on a different stage, a performance stage.
"You get up on stage and the adrenalin is pumping and everyone is watching. We're trying to put our best foot forward. It's just kind of a cut loose feeling. You just get to free yourself. I love it."
Since 2008, Brown has been the director of the University of Oregon's Gospel Choir.
His mission statement is to have the program be recognized as a national powerhouse.
When he took over 3-years ago, there were roughly 12 students in each choir. Now there are over 60.
Last September the University of Oregon won its first national gospel competition, the Disney Gospel Choir Fest in Orlando.
"I went in there fully expecting to win. We're going to surprise people. We're going to shock everybody. We're going to prove to the world that we are a quality program. And when it was said, I was like, 'Did we just do this?'"
The choir is now fund raising to defend its title.
Brown is on his way to proving the ney-sayers wrong. Once again.
