By SHANNON CAULFIELD
The Marlton Sun
A banner hangs between the columns of the Evesham Township Municipal Building congratulating mayor and kicking coach of the AFC champion Baltimore Ravens, Randy Brown.
The longtime coach will be traveling to New Orleans this weekend to coach in his first-ever Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, as they take on the San Francisco 49ers.
Brown has 21 years of NFL experience under his belt. He had previously attended a Super Bowl against the New England Patriots as a consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2004 season. The Ravens beat the Patriots on Jan. 20 to move on to the Super Bowl.
Last year, Brown left the Ravens after the season concluded after his one-year contract expired.
In June, Brown was working with the San Francisco 49ers during mini-camp with head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The Ravens later rehired Brown full-time this season, and he is working closely with head coach John Harbaugh.
Despite employment with both teams, Brown will only receive a championship ring if the Ravens come out on top.
This Super Bowl is the first of its kind, with brothers on opposite ends of the field vying for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Multiple sports media outlets are using social media platforms to encourage fans to come up with a catchy name for the unique matchup like the “HarBowl,” the “Supbro Bowl” and the “Superbaugh.”
“They’re so much alike in their tenacity, the way they coach and their aggressiveness,” said Brown, noting the biggest difference between the two coaches is that Jim played in the NFL and John did not. “They’re both so great to coach for and work for. They’re both successful at what they do, that it’s hard for me to point out the biggest difference. They’re both great.”
Brown plans to treat the Super Bowl like any other game. To him, this is just another week, another away game.
His plan is to continue his away pre-game regimen of a three and a half mile run, stretching, breakfast, and an hour nap before traveling to the stadium three hours prior to kickoff.
Once at the stadium, Brown walks the field to take notes.
“I’m approaching it like an everyday NFL game because I have to,” he said. “You want to prepare for the game the same way you prepare for any other game. I believe by preparing for it the same, the players won’t see any change in you. They’re the ones that matter most.”
The Super Bowl stage is gargantuan. Last year, the game drew approximately 111.3 million viewers, according to the Nielsen Co.
The numbers and television statistics don’t have an adverse effect on the coach with a serious game on the line.
“You’re still on a 100-yard field. The players are still kicking a field goal between 18-feet six inches,” said Brown. “When you’re in the stadium and you’re on the field, the magnitude of the game is different. You’re still only playing in front of 70,000 people, the number of people watching it on TV doesn’t factor in.”
The sibling rivalry of this year’s game has made Brown want a similar experience. Brown would like to coach against his brother, former National Championship coach at the University of Delaware and current coach at Eastern High School, Rick Brown.
According to Brown, his brother is not currently looking for an NFL job, especially because, “he really likes what he is doing.”
“He coaches Joe Flacco’s brother, Tommy Flacco, at Eastern High School, and me and Joe are with the Ravens,” said Brown. “Small world.”
Brown will take to the field with the Ravens on Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. on CBS against the 49ers.
“After the way it ended last year, to have it this year… It’s just awesome,” Brown said.
