Gesture Unites Bedlam Fans, Honors Memory Of Rogers State Pitcher

A University of Oklahoma player is uniting Sooner and Cowboy fans.

A few weeks ago, 20-year-old Tyler Brown died in a car accident. Brown was a diehard OU fan, and all his friends go to OSU.

11/12/2011 Related Story: Rogers State Baseball Player Killed In Single-Car Wreck

With the help of OU wide receiver Kenny Stills, they found a way to bridge the gap and honor Brown's memory.

Brown was a standout baseball player for Berryhill High School and then Rogers State University.

"He was going to go somewhere. I really believe he was going to make it the MLB and do great things," said Shea Holt, Brown's friend.

Brown was funny, outgoing - always positive - someone who knew not to take things too seriously.

"It was devastating that we lost him. When we first found out, it was horrible," said one of Brown's friends Jacob Henderson.

Brown's friends wanted to do something big to honor his death.

"His favorite college player was Kenny Stills. We followed him on Twitter for awhile," Holt said.

On a whim, the guys tweeted Stills with Brown's story. They were floored when Stills wrote back, "Sorry to hear about that. Anything I can do I will." 

Turns out, Stills can relate. He lost his teammate and friend Austin Box earlier this year. So when OU played Baylor, Stills tweeted:

"I got the opportunity to honor Tyler Brown tomorrow down in Waco. Fallen athlete here in Oklahoma. I hope I make you and ur fam proud."

Stills wrote "RIP Brown" on his wrist tape. A small gesture that meant the world to Brown's family and friends.

Of course, OU lost that game to Baylor in an upset, and Stills made sure fans remembered what really matters.

"The next day he wrote, blessed to have another day. There's more to life than just football," said Holden Fuson, Brown's friend.

A few days ago, Stills invited Brown's friends to his apartment in Norman where the group exchanged wristbands.

The Sooner and the Cowboys will be wearing them during Bedlam - united in honoring a true Oklahoma sports fan.

Brown's friends say they're torn about who to root for Saturday. They want OSU to win, but they also want Kenny Stills to have a good game.

But they know what their friend Tyler Brown would say: it's going to be a great game no matter who wins, so just "chill."