brown had a successful career at duke university. in his november 4, 1989, starting debut he threw for 444 yards against wake forest university, including a 97-yard touchdown to wide receiver clarkston hines to establish duke's longest play from scrimmage. later that month, brown set a school single-game record with 479 passing yards against the university of north carolina at chapel hill, upending duke's rival, 41-0, to finish the year with seven straight wins and a share of the atlantic coast conference championship. the blue devils subsequently received a bid to play in the all-american bowl, duke's first bowl game in almost 30 years. in 1991, brown was chosen as the recipient of duke's carmen falcone team mvp award.