By Tyler Waldrep
Homewood alum Brian Browning confronts a familiar sight. He stands atop the mound in the annual SEC baseball tournament. In the stands his family is cheering for him.
There might not be many places where Browning spends more time in his mind, but everyone has to wake up to reality eventually.
“I wanted to be in the SEC as a freshman,” Browning said. “I think about it all the time.”
When he graduated, Browning instead found himself committed to play junior college ball at Northwest Florida State College. His dream had to be put on hold, but he didn’t have to give it up.
Two years have passed and Browning still hasn’t found himself on the right side of the dugout at the SEC baseball tournament, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t accomplished anything. Earlier this summer he helped his team win the Junior College World Series.
Despite his success, Browning said playing junior college ball wasn’t easy. He said a lot of guys spend only one year with the school. He said having a group of guys who would buy in was important.
“It’s a grind because sometimes you get more fans at high school games,” Browning said. “You’ve got to create your own energy.”
That grind ended up paying off. The next time Browning walks out to pitch a game, he will be doing so as an Ole Miss Rebel.
“I’ve worked really hard to get where I’m at,” he said. “I just can’t wait to get going.”
Browning took the scenic route to get to the SEC, but he said he thinks the experiences he’s had the past two years have been good for him. He said he has grown up a lot.
“Nobody dreams to play in junior college,” Browning said. “I’ve thrown 60-plus innings two years in a row. So, like I said, I’ve got the experience and I know I’m ready for the next level.”
He said he ultimately would like to play professional ball after college. In the meantime, Browning seems more than content to spend the next year or two in Oxford, Mississippi.
“I know how it is in juco,” Browning said. “Division I, and especially in the SEC, I’m not taking anything for granted.”
