Published: June 17, 2009 08:23 pm      

Browning has McNeese State rodeo team rolling

When McNeese State coach Justin Browning gives his students pointers on busting a rodeo bronc, he knows whereof he speaks.

He’s also a prize-winning saddle bronc rider on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s regional circuits for weekend warriors.

“It helps to have been there and done it,” said Browning, whose team is competing in this week’s College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. “If they get thrown off or they ride well, I know where their mind is and how rodeo is such a mental game. I know what they’re thinking and how they’re feeling.”

By looking at the final regular-season standings, it’s apparent that Browning has the ear of his pupils. After competing in 10 rodeos in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southern Region, McNeese won the title over second-place finisher Wharton County Junior College by 2,795 points, 6,577-3,782.

The McNeese team won nine of the 10 regular-season rodeos this season during regional competition that features schools such as Hill College, Texas A&M, Sam Houston State and Trinity Valley Community College.

“They just stayed focused and they were motivated to win the region,” Browning said of his six-man team.

The top two teams in each region advanced to the 61st CNFR, which began Sunday and runs through Saturday night.

Browning, a second-year coach at McNeese, came up through the high school and college ranks. He’s a former North Texas High School Rodeo Association star who competed for Fort Worth-based Arlington Heights in the late 1990s. He also qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in 2000 and 2001 while at Tarleton State, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a masters in physical education.

As a coach, Browning draws on his education by putting members of his team through a physical fitness regimen.

“I treat rodeo like a sport and work on keeping everyone in shape,” Browning said. “I look at rodeo competitors as being professional athletes, and I tell my kids that they always need to step it up. And fortunately, I have kids who are hard workers, who practice hard.”



Stephens roping tough — Courtney Stephens of Sam Houston State tied for fourth in the first round of break-away roping at the College National Finals after turning in a time of 3.0 seconds. Stephens qualified for the CNFR after winning the NIRA Southern Region 2008-09 break-away roping title race.



Brazile hits Canada — Defending world all-around champion Trevor Brazile of Decatur is on an extended swing though Canada.

He made his first appearance last weekend at the Daines Ranch Rodeo in Innisfail, Alberta, where he and Patrick Smith of Midland won the team roping and collected $2,324 each. Brazile also tied for eighth place in the tie-down roping ($546), according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Brazile also is entering three Canadian rodeos this weekend at Wainwright, Sundrie and High River, and then Airdrie, Williams Lake and Ponoka after that.

It is the most appearances he’s made in one trip to Canada, and he’s hoping that he’ll gain the type of mental momentum that will help him win his first Calgary Stampede tie-down roping title next month.

While at the Innisfail rodeo, Brazile and Smith signed a hat for the Wrangler’s Tough Enough To Wear Pink program, which raises funds for cancer research, according to Calgary Herald veteran rodeo columnist Dwayne Erickson, who closely monitors rodeos in Canada. The hat was auctioned, then sold, and then sold again to raise a total of $6,250 for cancer research.



High school finals — Many East Texas competitors are in Abilene this week to compete in the Texas High School Rodeo Association Finals. The state finals began Sunday and run through Saturday at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.