Jimmie Browner Jr.

Joe Novak didn’t need to see Jimmie Browner Jr. perform on the football field to know that Browner was destined to become a great player at the high school level and beyond.

“Anyone who saw Jimmie walk into a room was like, ‘Wow, there’s an athlete, there’s someone built for football,'” Novak said. “You could just sense from his presence and his mannerisms that he was going to be something special.”

Novak coached at Warren Western Reserve during Browner’s sophomore and junior seasons in 1972 and 1973. The Raiders won a state title in ’72 and were state runners-up in ’73.

On March 6, Browner – a 1975 WWR graduate – passed away at his home just outside of Atlanta, Ga. He was 68.

Following a stellar high school career which earned him All-American status, Browner would follow his older brother Ross to Notre Dame. In 1979, Jimmie was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was again reunited with his older brother.

Ross and Jimmie were the two oldest of six Browner brothers who all played Division I football. Four of the brothers played in the NFL.

Those who played with, or coached JImmie remember him as a great talent with tremendous work ethic both on and off the playing field.

“Jimmie was unique in that he was big, strong and fast,” Novak said. “He loved to play football, and he loved to work at getting better. He was totally dedicated to the game.”

Novak pointed out that in the 1970’s, it was quite rare for sophomores to play considerable minutes at the largest high schools in Ohio. Jimmie played on both sides of the ball — as a fullback and linebacker — during his sophomore season.

“He was that good, and you knew that he was just going to keep getting better,” Novak said. “And he came from a blue-collar, disciplined family. You just knew you weren’t going to have any type of issues with Jimmie or any of the brothers.

“It could have been tough on Jimmie because he was a bit overshadowed by what Ross did (at WWR) and was doing at Notre Dame. But he was never overwhelmed. He was strong-willed and determined.”

Jimmie was also mature — both physically and mentally — beyond his years, according to former Warren City Schools administrator Pat Guliano.

During Jimmie’s high school days, Guliano served as a junior varsity coach and scout for the Raiders.

“Jimmie earned the nickname “Wolf” because he had a beard in the ninth grade,” Guliano said. “I remember (former WWR basketball coach) Bob LaRicca suggesting that we check his birth certificate, we didn’t want to get in trouble for using an ineligible player.

“Jimmie was one of those kids who you knew was going to excel even when he was a freshman. He had all the tools, and he was focused.”

Guliano said that Jimmie’s determination also extended into the classroom.

“Jimmie was a good student,” Guliano said. “He knew that going to a place like Notre Dame was a real possibility, and he knew what it took academically to make it a reality. He took all the advanced classes and he readied himself for life beyond high school. He was just an all-around good kid.”

Greg Patterson, who was one class ahead of Jimmie, says he is literally living proof of Jimmie’s strength.

At a practice session during Patterson’s sophomore year, he was running plays as a halfback while a then-freshman Browner was lined up as a linebacker.

“I took a handoff, we met head-on and the next thing I know I’m in the hospital with a separated shoulder,” Patterson said. “To this day I still have a scar to remind me of that hit.”

Patterson was quick to point out that Jimmie was among the first to visit him in the hospital.

“Jimmie and his mom came up to see me, and Jimmie brought me up a necklace, you could tell that he felt horrible about what happened,” Patterson said. “The thing about Jimmie, he was one heck of an athlete, he was a beast on the field. But he was an even better person.

“The entire Browner family were all great people and dear friends.”

Aaron Brown (Class of ’74) echoed the comments made by Patterson, saying that on the football field Jimmie possessed “a mean disposition.” Off the field, Brown says that Jimmie “was the nicest man I’ve ever met.”

“Jimmie was hard-nosed, he epitomized our Blood Defense, which was known throughout the state,” Brown said. “Off the field, he was a lot of fun to be around. Anyone who knew him admired him and respected him both as an athlete and a person.”

Dr. Calvin Washington (Class of ’73) says he remembers Jimmie “for his big laugh” and his no-nonsense approach on the playing field.

“Jimmie was an excellent teammate, everyone knew he was going places but he wasn’t a prima donna,” Washington said. “In fact, he was just the opposite. Very low-keyed, he worked extremely hard in the weight room and on the practice field. Here was one of our best athletes working as hard as anyone out there. You’d see that and want to push yourself a bit more.

“Jimmie was two classes behind me, and in high school that sometimes seems like a big gap. But to me, I already knew he was a special kid who was going to go places.”

As a freshman at Notre Dame, Jimmie played running back and rushed for 394 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was moved to defense at the start of his sophomore year and started in all 33 games in his final three years with the Irish.

Jimmie played in 18 games during his two seasons with the Bengals, including six as a starter.

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