Todd Brown has covered a lot of ground since he played football for the Huskers back in the early '80s.

But he picked up much more than some playing time and a construction management degree at the University of Nebraska. He received a game plan for life from his head coach, Tom Osborne.

The Holdrege Duster turned Nebraska Husker now owns a very successful church building operation, and he gives much of the credit to Coach Osborne.

"It was my life-long dream to play for the Huskers," said #29 Todd Brown in October of 1981.

That dream came true for Brown. From 1979 to 1982 he played for a Husker coaching legend.

"I think that's what was so intriguing for me, that I admired the coach so much. Coach Osborne is such an awesome guy, and he was so steady and he is what you see day in and day out -- in the heat of the moment. He's a great guy," Brown said.

The former walk-on learned a great deal from Coach Osborne.

"It just taught me a lot about life, and I was watching him and how he ran his organization. I believe that was very valuable to me when I'm runnin' my business," said Brown, CEO for Brown Church Development Group.

Those lessons continue to pay dividends. Brown's construction group has built more than 100 churches int he past 20 years.

"My job, I feel so fulfilled in what I do. It's just really rewarding to see the impact we're making across our county. It's awesome," he said.

Brown's dad started the business in Holdrege in 1962. They now have the corporate headquarters in Kearney and an office near Chicago. Throughout the Midwest, Brown Church Development Group helps congregations grow.

"The system of getting a facility is very hostile. I mean, a lot of churches fail at this, a lot of churches split," Brown said.

It's Brown's group that tries to put the calm into the storm.

"I've assembled a team of people that understand ministry, and we extract what the church wants to accomplish in ministry and try to get them the best facility that they possibly can," he said.

For Brown, church construction is much more than just a mortar and bricks.

"Ultimately, if all we get out of our process is a building then we feel we've failed because that isn't the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal for us is to impact ministry to help the church transform lives with the power of the gospel," he said.

It's the power of Brown's Cornhusker football experience continues to influence his business.

"Nebraska football is a huge in the development of who I am as a person and understanding that it takes hard work. You gotta do the right things and there's a right and a wrong way to do everything," Brown said.

For more information about Brown Church Development Group, click here.