University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels on the Death of Lunsford Brown
September 23, 2003 | Football
Sept. 23, 2003
CHAPEL HILL -- Lunsford Brown, the brother of junior center Jason Brown, a soldier serving in Iraq, was killed near Baghdad last weekend. Below are the comments of head coach John Bunting and Jason Brown on this tragic loss:
John Bunting, North Carolina head football coach:
"On Sunday morning, I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jason
rown's brother, Lunsford Brown. Lunsford was an intelligence officer
working outside a prison complex near Baghdad when he was fatally wounded
while serving our country. I drove Jason home to Henderson (N.C.) on
Sunday, where Corey Holliday and I visited with the family. The entire
football program extends our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to Jason and his
family."
Jason Brown, junior center:
"My family is dealing with a tremendous and tragic loss. My heart is still
with them in Henderson, but I chose to come back today because the football
team is my second family. It means a lot to have so many people here in
Chapel Hill who care for me and know what our family is going through."
Clay Roberson, senior linebacker Clay Roberson:
"We found out the day after it happened and it really hit us hard as a team. We got a card and everyone signed it. Coach Bunting went to visit him to make sure everything was all right. We'll be glad to see him back and we plan on giving him a lot of love. I've never lost a brother but I know it must be tough so we are going to give him all the support we can."
Jacque Lewis, junior tailback
"I haven't talked with [Jason] because his cell phone has been down, but when he gets back he and I will sit down and have a talk because I know it's kind of hard to go into a week with a big game after you have lost a family member. I know how it feels. When something like this happens it makes us closer. Everyone comes to the person grieving and talks with them. Again, basically it brings the whole team closer together.
Q: Clay Roberson was saying that Jason Brown would come back and play even harder and he said that you did the same thing last week after the death of your grandfather. Were you playing harder last week?
"Oh yes. On top of that, while we were playing Wisconsin, they were burying my grandfather and that gave me more motivation to play harder. I was not only playing for my team but I was playing for my grandfather. They is no doubt in my mind that Jason will come out this weekend and try to hurt somebody because that's his mentality."
Darian Durant, junior quarterback:
"It's a real for him and our football program. Coach Bunting reminds us that there is so much more out there than just football, and Jason's situation is a perfect example of that. A lot of guys take family situations for granted, especially when everything is fine, but it takes a tragedy to make them realize that there is so much more out there. I want to try and keep Jason be strong and let him spend as much time as he can at home with his family, which is real valuable right now. We need him but we are not going to rush him.
"They do a great job around here. They send cards and flowers they make sure your family is okay. The main thing they do is to try and keep your mind off of it. As long as you have guys around here joking and trying to keep your mind off things it becomes really hard to think about what is really going on. When you are at home alone you have no other choice but to think about the pain but whenever Jason and Jacque are around we will try to keep their spirits up."
