Road reunion for C.R. Titans’ Brown

CEDAR RAPIDS – For Robert Brown, the teammate for life becomes the opponent for a day.

When the Cedar Rapids Titans play their first road game of the season Sunday at Billings, Mont., the face that awaits the second-year Titans kick returner/defensive back is not only familiar – it's the identical one of his twin brother, Rob.

This will be the first time the twins compete on opposing teams.

'It will be a very emotional game,” Robert said. 'You want to take care of him, but you want to win the game also. It will be fun, though.”

An older sister persuaded the twins' parents to name both boys 'Robert” after their father but with differing middle names. As the pair formed an effective offense/defense combination for both Atlantic High School (Port Orange, Fla.) and NAIA Union College in Barbourville, Ky., they were distinguished by the nicknames 'Bert” and 'Rob.” At 5-foot-10, defensive back Robert has a couple of inches on Rob, who lined up at running back. Both returned kicks.

'When I'm with him on the field, I'm like another person,” Robert said. 'He gives me an extra boost, I give him an extra boost. We feed off each other. That's basically how our career has always been.”

Robert has been a dynamic kick returner for Cedar Rapids (1-1) in his two seasons. He led the Indoor Football League with 777 return yards in 2013, and is on pace to more than double that mark this season with 249 yards and a touchdown in two games. While possessing slithery elusiveness within the smaller confines of the indoor field, his return skills received a boost with added patience on the advice of his brother.

'You want to slow down,” Robert said. 'Most people catch the ball and they full burst out with just speed. You want to catch it, you want to look, you want to examine the field. You want to take your time with it. I learned that from Rob.”

The brothers were reunited in February during Titans training camp, but given the glut of returning talent at receiver, Rob was released just before the exhibition game.

'When he was here, I was a whole other player,” Robert said. 'That is why you see so much excitement from me this year. I still play like he's here.”

Today's 4 p.m. encounter is the first home game for Billings (0-1) in its return to the Indoor Football League. After IFL championships in 2009 and 2010, the franchise folded when its arena was badly damaged by a tornado. The Wolves are led by first-year coach Chris Dixon, who won three IFL titles apiece as quarterback of Billings and Sioux Falls.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com