TULSA VS. TEMPLE
• When: 3 p.m. Saturday • Where: Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium, Tulsa • TV: ESPNews (Cox 254)
and senior. While he went primarily overlooked by most colleges because of his size, TU was able to pluck him from its backyard.
Asked how early he knew Brewer’s potential, linebacker Craig Suits said: “The second week of his first fall camp. I was like, ‘I cannot wait for the season to start so I don’t have to chase him down every day or try to chase him down.’ ”
Brewer recorded 794 all-purpose yards as a freshman, followed by a team-high 837 rushing yards while emerging as a sophomore in Montgomery’s first season in 2015.
After taking a beating from opposing defenses that year, Brewer packed on close to 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason and become significantly more durable. He relentlessly put in the work, and the result has been back-to-back 1,000yard seasons.
“It took a lot of negative things and positive things to build me into the man I am today,” Brewer said. “I know what it takes to be great and the little things that can affect you, also.”
One of 19 seniors who will be honored before Saturday’s game at H.A. Chapman Stadium, Brewer will have dozens of family members from Tulsa and Illinois in attendance for his college finale.
“I know the emotions will set in the closer it gets to game time, with my family coming in and seeing all their faces,” he said. “I know my mom will be very emotional. It will be an emotional game.”
Saturday is Senior Day at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer couldn’t wait, however, starting the countdown with his guys during a moment watching video last Sunday that was part sentimental and part motivational.
“I made them stand up,” said Spencer, “and I said, ‘Look around guys. This will be the last week here in this stadium you’ll be with these guys. You’ll always remember your last one. I did as a player, and that was decades ago.’
“I told them they owe it to the guy sitting next to them to prepare well and have an edge this week. It’s neat because I’ve been around for all of these guys, four or five years now. Anytime you come in and see a young man grow and adapt to our culture, to learn to not play selfishly and really care about each other, that’s always a tremendous thing to see.
“They’ve given a lot. They’ve sacrificed a lot. That’s the beauty of this game; the memories of brotherhood that make that. They’ve really sacrificed a ton, and I want to