Brown's tenure was also known for the rise in popularity in the Tar Heel football program that, while respectable in its own right, was overshadowed by the Tar Heel's national powerhouse men's basketball program. Games at Kenan Memorial Stadium were almost always sold out, highlighted by the 62,000 that showed to watch the Tar Heels' game against Florida State in 1997, the largest crowd at a regular season college football game in the history of the state of North Carolina. Brown also led an effort that resulted in upgrading UNC's football facilities and the expansion of Kenan Memorial Stadium. Notable players who played for Brown at North Carolina include Jeff Saturday, Greg Ellis and Dré Bly.