Michigan Athletics Announces Brown Family Endowment for Football Team Captains
11/25/2020 12:00:00 PM | Football
The University of Michigan Athletic Department announced today (Wednesday, Nov. 25) the establishment of the Robert M. Brown, and Susan C. Brown Family Football Scholarship Fund which is committed to support student-athletes who are named captains of the team. The transformative gift was made possible by the Robert Brown family in conjunction with the Monroe-Brown Foundation.
Being elected captain is annually regarded as the greatest honor that a football player can receive at Michigan, mainly because it is an honor bestowed to a player by his teammates. Captaincy obtained by player vote is a distinct recognition.
"During their time at the University of Michigan, the Brown family created a lasting legacy of leadership on and off the football field," said Jim Harbaugh, the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach. "Now, they continue to embody that same spirit as donors giving back to the program, creating a scholarship that will aid and empower other men, like the Browns, for generations to come."
"My father and I truly loved the University of Michigan," said Robert M. Brown. "We both obtained an excellent education and were very active in collegiate athletics. My dad was a regent and I continue to be involved with the school over and above athletics. We are very honored and proud to have been captains of our respective teams."
The Browns, Robert and Robert, were the first father-son duo to be named captains of the Michigan Football Team in the 141-year history of the program. This season, Aidan Hutchinson was selected one of the team's captains, joining his father Chris, who was selected captain in 1992, and linking the Brown and Hutchinson families with a unique accomplishment. The Brown and Hutchinson families are the only father-son duos to be selected captains in school history.
Robert J. Brown (Bentley Historical Library)
Robert J. Brown was a guard for the Wolverines (1923-25) and captained the 1925 team that posted a 7-1 record and outscored the opposition by a remarkable 227-3 margin. The only setback came in a 3-2 loss to Northwestern on a rainy day at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Wolverines shut out their other seven opponents that season, earning Brown and four other teammates' All-American honors. Michigan head coach Fielding Yost called Brown "one of the greatest inspirational leaders that I have seen." A businessman in Kalamazoo, Mich., Brown ran for regent and served in that capacity from 1967 to 1974.
The son, Robert M. Brown, played end for Michigan during the 1959-62 seasons and was selected captain of the 1962 squad. He hauled in 11 receptions for 201 yards and scored three touchdowns during his career. Brown earned his bachelor of sciences degree in engineering from Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.
The Browns shared honor of captaincy at Michigan as a common ground for them, and brought the younger Robert and his father even closer together. Both men spoke of the bonding they experienced as Wolverines to each other and teammates with whom they made long-lasting friendships. And, the Michigan tradition did not stop there for the Browns.
"My entire family is 'True Blue,' added Robert M. Brown. "Two of my four children graduated from the University of Michigan. Currently, the four oldest of my grandchildren are attending the university, and there is a good possibility of more from that generation applying in the future."
The Browns wanted to create a lasting legacy to support the football program for generations to come, and the captain piece was particularly meaningful given his family's history with the program.
