Bobby and Kim Brown may be Troy University alumni and fans, but when the Trojans take on the University of Southern Mississippi in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl tonight the Browns will bleed black and gold.

The reason for the swap from Cardinal and White to colors of the Golden Eagles is simple. Micah Brown, their son, is the junior starting left guard for the Golden Eagles.

“We are looking forward to the game,” Bobby Brown said. “It will be a little different, but I know Micah is looking forward to playing the local team.”

Bobby Brown said it would be quite an interesting feeling rooting against his alma mater.

“It will be a unique experience to go to New Orleans and pull against Troy,” he said. “Because this is such a good move for Troy and I am so glad they got back to the bowl. But I just hope they can delay a win for one more year.”

Micah Brown said the game itself has no significance, but he is excited to play in front of some of his family and friends from back home.

“This is just like any other game, but a lot of people back home don’t get a chance to see me play, so that makes it a special game,” he said. “I know some of the people I graduated (from CHHS) with went to Troy so I might see them up here, but you never know.”

Micah Brown graduated from Charles Henderson High School in 2005 and his college career has been marked by four surgeries, but he finally got his chance to shine in the 2008 season.

After starting the Papajohns.com Bowl last year he had to have surgery that kept him out of the first four games of the season this year, but he started the previous eight games for Southern Miss and will open the bowl game at left guard.

“To finally get a chance to start and play a lot was great,” Brown said. “It took a while to get to this point because of the four surgeries. I am just happy to be out there playing.”

Kim Brown, who was a majorette for the Sound of the South during her time at Troy, could not be happier for her son.

“We are just so proud of him,” she said. “He has done a great job and we are thrilled at what he has done so far. Everyone at the school has been wonderful to us and every time we go up there they are friendly and so pleasant and that is all a mother could ask for.”

And of course, like her husband, Kim Brown is torn between her alma mater and her son. But as with most any other family, the family connection comes first.

“It is kind of a win-win situation because I love Troy, but he is my baby,” Kim Brown said. “I will be broken hearted in both cases. But of course we are pulling for Southern Miss.”

So for the young man raised in Troy who grew up rooting for Alabama on Iron Bowl weekend it all came down to Southern Miss on signing day. And Brown said he does not regret one day of it.

“My time here has been great and now I just hope we can go out and get a win in the bowl game,” he said.