More on Justin Brown, Anthony Fera and Penn State’s ties to the Red River Rivalry
Here’s some extra content on Brown, a senior Oklahoma receiver, and Fera, who is Texas’ junior kicker.
BROWN BACK IN THE COTTON BOWL
As a first-year Sooner, senior receiver Justin Brown hasn’t ever played in the Red River Rivalry. But he has played inside Dallas’ Cotton Bowl stadium.
This year, in fact.
Brown’s last game with Penn State was a 30-14 loss to Houston in the TicketCity Bowl, which was played in the same stadium where he’ll face Texas on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Brown’s only catch of the game was a slick 69-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter.
“There wasn’t that many people there when we played,” Brown said Tuesday after practice, saying he expects there to be more fans in the crowd for his first and only OU-Texas game.
Brown, from Wilmington, Del., said he’s only seen one OU-Texas game on television before.
“I watched the one last year because we had a late game; I only saw that one,” he said.
Brown has started all four games of the 2012 season since transferring to OU just before fall camp began. He’s hauled in 15 catches for 154 yards, and caught his first touchdown pass as a Sooner last week at Texas Tech.
He could’ve had another score — and many people think he should’ve been awarded one — in the second quarter, when he dove into the endzone and caught what would have been a 38-yard touchdown, but he didn’t maintain control of the ball though the play’s entirety.
Despite many fans believing the play should’ve been reviewed and possibly overturned, Brown and coach Bob Stoops have each said they don’t have a problem with the call.
“I should’ve maintained control all the way through,” Brown said. “At the end of the day it was on me. I have to maintain control.”
FERA TRANSFERRED FOR HIS MOM
Anthony Fera said Tuesday that he transferred from Penn State to Texas because his mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but that she’s doing better now.
Fera, who redshirted a season, is a junior for football purposes but a senior academically. The Houston native has said he plans to transfer his credits back to Penn State and graduate there.
“She’s alright,” Fera said of his mother Tuesday, the first time the kicker has been made available for interviews.
“She actually just had surgery last week. Part of her back, or her spine moved or something. She’s doing a lot better now, though.”
Fera missed Texas’ first four games with a groin injury, but returned for last week’s home loss to West Virginia.
He missed a 41-yard field goal attempt with five minutes left that would’ve tied the game.
“I just missed it,” Fera said. “We hurried it up a little bit. And I just hit it right a little bit.”
MORE FROM FERA’S POST-PRACTICE MEDIA SESSION
Here are some other excerpts of Fera’s session with reporters Tuesday, courtesy of the Texas athletic department:
On transferring to The University of Texas: When I first got here, you know it was kind of tough at first, getting injured. But I’ve adapted to it all. I’m excited that I’m playing again. So I’m really excited about that.
On the decision to transfer from Penn State University: It was really hard. I was there for three-and-a-half years. I really loved it there. But I had to make a family decision.
On the reaction of Penn State fans to his decision to transfer: I mean a lot of people were understanding. Family comes first in my opinion. I just made a family decision.
On being injured and having to sit out for the first four games of this season: It was tough. I was actually a little injured before I got here. And then I just made it a little worse when I got here. It was the second practice. It was tough. But I’m back out there now, so I’m excited.
On staying in touch with PSU sophomore PK Sam Ficken: Yes. I definitely called him. I called him last week, too. And I talked to him the other day. I am just trying to give him all the advice I can. Keep him calm and motivated.
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