Derby Braves Captain Taylor Brown: “It’s our first game and we’re ready to go”
Derby Braves finally kick off their BUCS Premier North season at home this Sunday against current champions, the University of Stirling.
Team Derby’s Braves have been training intensely in pre-season and captain, Taylor Brown, believes his side are ready.
He said: “We’ve been competing against each other for six or seven weeks, it‘s time to get some new opponents and really get the season going.“
Brown is eager to begin his final Braves campaign but praises the benefits of the delayed start, saying.
“I think it is good, we got a lot more time to meet the rookies and do one on one sessions and break down the sport to them. There’s a lot of stress for the guys learning the system of the new defence this year.”
Brown certainly wouldn’t have chosen to face the defending champions in the opening fixture but knows that if he is to reach his goal of winning the National Championship, then the Braves will need to get a result.
“We struggled with them the last couple of years. A lot of Stirling‘s players have a lot of experience and have a lot of national players; it‘s kind of like David and Goliath.“
The American Football scholar hopes Stirling’s ten–hour, 600-mile round trip, will put them at a disadvantage when they arrive at Kedleston Road.
“Last time they came out here, we beat them, it was a really close game and I think travel always plays a role – ten hours is a really long time. They are defending national champions but they’re men just like us so we’ve got to want to win more than they do and that‘s kind of what it comes down to.“
The skipper will hope his team, enriched with new blood, can live up to the side’s name and stay grounded for this hugely important opener.
“They’ve really hyped it up so it creates more pressure on the players and I’ve noticed it. I’ve played in big games so I kind of know how to handle it so I’m trying to teach these guys. You have to come out like it‘s just another day. You’ve been prepping for this game so come out and stick to the task, that‘s my advice for them.“
The Braves’ preparation has been meticulous. Hours of video research as well as practicing detailed plays in training mean that Brown expects a tight opening showdown.
He said: “Everyone must believe in themselves and be ready to go.“
BY LOUIS MITCHELL (@MitchellinMan98)
