The name on the jersey spells SWEET BOY; the number’s always the perfect 7.

And there’s no more decorated player in the OYM Football League than one Karl Brown, captain and quarterback for perennial champions Mount Olive Triumph.

They say he can’t throw, that he is a running back masquerading as a QB. He ignores the noise and just nickel and dime teams to death.

They say that at 40 he is not as fast as he once was. Then he goes out and destroys rushers, runs at will, and leaves the defence in tatters.

They say his team’s offence is Mickey Mouse. “Just keep the game simple,” his pastor whispered in his ear all 2018 season. “Find what they give you and take it.”

It’s not like Karl Brown needed any reminder. That’s what he does and it has led to a string of successes for the Mount Olive Triumph.

Since OYM Football took over the church league in 2015, Brown has led the Triumph to the championship game every year – winning the title three times (beating Agape, Apple Creek and Toronto West) and losing once to Toronto West. Each victory earned him the MVP trophy.

In the old DFL, Brown led Olive to one title and joined Toronto West in two title games, winning one and losing the other. In all, Brown has been to the finals seven times, including six straight years. He’s won five of the seven, including three of the last four.

Formula for success?

Preparation, he says. And you need the right personnel.

“The main thing is having everyone on the same page. Understand their role and don’t go outside the role. There’s always someone who knows better, but when you are a winning organization you do what you do and ignore the noise.”

Finally.

“Got to have talent, put in the schematics, the right type of people to push you and help.”And you’ll make a champion.