AUBURN, Ala. – Call it an unofficial visit.
As a newborn in 2002, Sammie Brown accompanied his mother, West Virginia football coach Nikki-Izzo-Brown, to Auburn when the Tigers hosted the Mountaineers.
“The first time I was on a college campus other than WVU was Auburn,” Sammie said.
Call it foreshadowing.
Eighteen years later, Brown left Morgantown, West Virginia, and headed south more than 700 miles to the Plains to study biomedical sciences at Auburn University and play football for the Tigers.
“I wanted a change. That was the main reason,” Brown said. “My mom knew Auburn was a really good program. She told me to contact them. They watched one of my games and that’s how it happened.”
Daughter and mother will meet again Thursday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+ in West Virginia, where Izzo-Brown is the only coach in program history.
“It will definitely be a surreal moment to step onto that pitch,” Sammie Brown said. “I can’t even count the number of games I’ve seen played on this field. Playing on this field will be surreal. I’m excited to play in front of my mom and I can’t wait for her to watch.
“It’s definitely a bit weird and it’s going to turn out to be a great match for both of us. Whichever way it goes, it’s going to be a great result. In that sense, I have to put aside the fact that This is my mom’s team and act like they’re a whole, separate team and they’re going out there to get the win.”
An annual member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Brown earned a starting midfield job as a senior after breaking into the rotation as a junior in 2022.
“I wouldn’t say it’s been easy, but it’s helped me grow as a person,” Brown said of his quest to earn playing time on teams often made up of more experienced players. “It’s been a challenge, but I’ve always kept in mind: keep working and it will pay off. It’s been special at the start of the season to see that hard work paying off and helping my team to succeed.”
Brown helped lead his team to Auburn’s 3–2 victory over Army on August 27, scoring his first collegiate goal.
“Really exciting,” Brown said. “I made a run into the box, Maquena (O’Callaghan) found my feet and I was able to beat him through the defender and sneak it into the corner.”
Undefeated outside of the Plains with wins at Syracuse and Army, Auburn takes a 4-1-1 record to West Virginia in the Tigers’ penultimate non-conference game before opening play against the SEC on September 15 at Mississippi State.
“We are ready to attack this year with full confidence that we can do what we want,” Brown said.
Who said you can’t go home? Not Sammie Brownwhose Auburn family meets its Morgantown family Thursday night, a rematch of last season’s 0-0 tie against Plains.
“We both agree to leave it on the ground,” she said. “There will be no hard feelings after the match.”
Jeff Shearer is a senior writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
