In these parts, Larry Browns have given us a three-star cluster of achievement.
The exploits of basketball’s Larry Brown are legendary with Kansas fans and players. To others he’s known as a talented job-jumping coach who might not last more than this season with the struggling Charlotte Bobcats. He’s been hedging of late.
Kansas State boasts a lesser-known Larry Brown. He played halfback for Vince Gibson, was an eighth-round, 191st draft choice for the Washington Redskins in 1969, then led the NFC in rushing and was named NFL player of the year in 1972. Despite a serious hearing handicap, he starred for the Redskin team that fell 14-7 to unbeaten Miami (17-0) in the ’73 Super Bowl and again topped conference rushers for the ’73 season. Then dropped out of sight.
But far too often overlooked is the Larry Brown who never even made all-league as a versatile football end and tackle at KU — but who wears four Super Bowl title rings after his great career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This Larry Brown came here in 1967 from Starke, Fla., a 6-4, 205-pound member of coach Pepper Rodgers’ first KU freshman class. Never was a showoff, but Rodgers has called the two-way tackle and end one of the most versatile and dependable players he ever coached.
Larry was TOO consistent in his 1968-70 tenure. He was a sophomore in that 1969 Orange Bowl talent bin with the likes of John Riggins, Bobby Douglass, John Mosier, Vernon Vanoy, Ken Wertzberger, Karl Salb, John Zook, Mickey Doyle, Rick Abernethy, Emery Hicks, Keith Christensen, Tommy Ball, Bill Hunt, Mike Reeves, Bill Bell . . . lots of glitter. KU floundered at 1-9 in 1969, went 5-6 in ’70. Brown was chosen for a ’70 co-captaincy along with Steve Carmichael.
Larry didn’t play high school football until his senior year and had to transfer from a tiny school to a bigger one to do that. He also excelled in basketball, baseball and track. The NFL Steelers sensed he had something to offer and during 1971-84 his speed, blocking ability and timely pass-catching made him a mainstay. He was a tight end from 1971-76 and an offensive tackle in the 1977-84 span. Pittsburgh didn’t throw to Larry much during the regular season but he often became a receiving machine at playoff time. One catch sealed a Super Bowl IX victory.
Again, quiet Larry was overshadowed by teammates like Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, the Steel Curtain defense, Lynn Swann, Jack Ham and a gang that snatched Super Bowl titles in 1975-76-79-80.
So here’s another standout who never even made all-conference as a Jayhawk. There are so many others like that. Except unheralded Larry Brown can take great satisfaction from those four Super Bowl rings.
l Death recently claimed Claude Houchin, one of the most dedicated Jayhawk basketball players and alumni ever, and another underrated star (1947-50 period). A Turner kid, he was an Army Air Corps navigator before coming to KU. At 6-5 he was one of the first “big guards” in college ball, and a damned good one. He and wife Ann had a great family and were tireless in their efforts on KU’s behalf. Houch was 83.
Claude made a few all-league teams but deserved better. Yet his friends and admirers knew his merits and we’re all far richer for that.
