Brown always liked orange

As a resident of Alabama, one is all but constitutionally required to choose sides: Alabama or Auburn?

Wes Brown was an exception. He had what he considered a valid out:

He was a Tennessee fan.

“I had Auburn friends and Alabama friends and they tried to get me to pick sides,” UT’s junior defensive end said. “I stayed neutral.”

His neutrality didn’t make him popular, though. Rooting for the Vols in Athens, Ala., Brown had to develop a thick skin long before he ran through the “T” for the first time in Neyland Stadium.

He was the kid wearing orange to school when everyone else wore crimson.

He was the kid talking smack while Tennessee was ripping off those seven consecutive victories over Alabama from 1995-2001.

“I grew up used to taking a lot of criticism,’’ Brown said.

Saturday night’s game (TV: ESPN, 7:45) at Neyland Stadium is a big deal to a lot of folks for a lot of reasons.

Second-ranked Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC) is trying to stay on track for both an SEC title and a berth in the BCS championship game.

Tennessee (3-4, 1-3) is desperately seeking a signature win in a troubled 2008 season.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer is fighting to extend his reign as dean of SEC coaches.

And for Brown, this is the rivalry he fell in love with.

As a 9-year-old he sat in the Legion Field stands the night Peyton Manning orchestrated a 1995 rout to turn Third Saturday in October momentum from Alabama to Tennessee.

“You don’t need any extra incentive to play this game,’’ Brown said. “This game speaks for itself.’’

It’s a border war, but one with regular defections. Even Fulmer, a Middle Tennessee native, was tempted by Bear Bryant’s recruiting pitch before signing with the Vols.

Brown is the only player from the state of Alabama who will play for UT on Saturday night. Even though he lived his entire life in North Alabama, his heart was always tugged across the state line. Brown’s parents are from Lawrence County, Tenn.

“They kind of rubbed off on me,’’ he said.

His recruiting tug-of-war involved Alabama, Auburn and UT. He liked then-Alabama coach Mike Shula, but there was only one offer he coveted.

“I knew from the get-go my heart was here in Tennessee,’’ he said.

Tennessee got a hard-working technician in Brown. He pushed his way into the rotation in 2007 as a sophomore and made his first start in the 2008 opener.

“He’s one of those guys that his pad leverage is always there,” said defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell. “His steps are always there. He does a great job with his movement.

“I guess it’s what does he not do really well? And really, not anything. When you grade out each week, Wes is going to grade out the highest of all of ’em because very seldom does he do anything wrong.’’

Maybe it was because Alabama was coming up on the calendar that Brown played his best career game last Saturday in a 34-3 win over Mississippi State.

“He was in the backfield all day long making plays,’’ Caldwell said.

Saturday night completes the home-state hat trick. Beating UAB avoided any taunting on trips home. Playing at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium was fun, even if the results weren’t.

But, in Brown’s mind, those two pale in comparison to doing battle with the Crimson Tide.

“This is my Super Bowl,” he said.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276