Athlete of the Week: Zach Brown

Football’s strong-legged kicker earns top conference honors twice this season.

Daily Vanguard: Why did you come to Portland State?
Zach Brown: I wanted to stay in Oregon. I didn’t want to be out of state, away from my family. I decided to come to Portland State because they offered me a full scholarship.

DV: What is your best moment on the field?
ZB: It was in England [playing soccer], and we were playing against the Chelsea Youth Team in the finals in one of the biggest tournaments in Europe, and I scored the first goal of the game.

DV: If you could change one of your sport’s rules, what would it be?
ZB: It would be being able to taunt and celebrate. Not really taunt, but to be able to show more emotion after a big play. I know a lot of people don’t try to make fun of or taunt the other team. They just get real excited and try to get their teammates excited.

DV: What is your greatest strength?
ZB: Personally? Not stressing.

DV: Which is your favorite place to eat around campus?
ZB: I don’t go out to eat. I cook dinner every night.

DV: What is the last thing you cooked?
ZB: Steak and shrimp. I like my steak rare, medium-rare.

DV: If you could have dinner with any three people—alive, dead or fictional—who would they be?
ZB: I’m not the kind of person to look up to a celebrity. I would want my mom, my grandma and grandpa, and…oh, that’s three right? [laughs]

DV: What is the first item you would buy if you won the lottery?
ZB: I would probably—no, definitely buy my mom a house away from all of her problems.

DV: If you could attend one sporting event anywhere, what would it be?
ZB: It would probably be the soccer World Cup. That would be the most exciting just because they’re so into the game.

DV: What has been your favorite class at Portland State?
ZB: Stress management [laughs]. It was very easy.

DV: What is on your iPod right now?
ZB: Country, rock, rap—I listen to everything. If it’s a sad day, I’ll probably listen to, maybe, George Strait. If it’s a good day, I’ll probably listen to [whips out his iPhone to look] Jack Johnson. Any song, doesn’t matter.