JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Perhaps there was no one better.

Scratch that -- there was definitely no one better.

West Virginia redshirt senior quarterback Jarrett Brown, who will play in his final college game Friday against Florida State in the Gator Bowl, was the perfect person to field the question:

"So, what advice would you give a college quarterback who is just starting out in his career?"

Brown's answer was ideal, largely because it was so autobiographical.

"Take advantage of your opportunities," he said. "Because you don't know how many you're going to get."

There might not be anyone, since 1891 when West Virginia University began playing football, who could speak to taking advantage of limited opportunities better than Brown.

After redshirting in 2005, then spending the three seasons as a backup behind Pat White, Brown had to funnel everything into 12 regular-season games this season and Friday's Gator Bowl. He saw two spot starts before this year -- one last season and one in 2006 -- but the strong-armed Floridian spent a whole lot of time with his helmet in his hand, standing on the sideline.

What Brown did -- waiting patiently knowing his "shot" would be just one season -- is something his teammates can't speak highly enough of.

It is also something some of them admit they would never have done.

"I don't see how he did it, I do not see how he did it," sophomore safety Robert Sands said, repeating himself for emphasis. "I mean, me? I would not have sat behind a person for four years. I would have been gone, man, gone. I would have been out of here, looking to transfer somewhere. No way I would have waited until my fifth year to be the starter.

"People don't understand he could have gone a lot of places and been the top quarterback, I play against him in practice every day, I see that, I see how good he is."

This season, Brown became the first West Virginia quarterback to post a 7-0 home record since 1993. He has an 11-3 record as a starter and earned second-team all Big East honors this year by leading the Mountaineers to a 9-3 mark.

Going into the Gator Bowl, he has 2,552 yards of offense, throwing for 2,129 and rushing for 423. He also hit on 186 of his 292 passes, threw 11 touchdown passes and ran for five more scores.

Of all the numbers that serve to define Brown, West Virginia coach Bill Stewart looks at one -- wins.

"He has a chance to be 12-3, that's not too bad," Stewart said. "Have we won them all pretty? No. Have we won them all with great style? No. But here's a guy who probably could have, well, I know he could have, and probably should have, for personal reasons, left, and never did because he wanted to be a Mountaineer.

"He and I have always had a great relationship but I've always been truthful with him. When I was his position coach, I was truthful. I said, 'I can't play you over Patrick [White]. I can't. Will you get to play? Maybe.' "

That 'maybe' became a certainty only this season.

"When the time came, he stepped up and did it," Stewart said, getting slightly emotional about Brown. "And I think he always appreciated that truth. For him to stay speaks volumes about the kind of young man Jarrett Brown is and what a fine young man his mother and dad raised."

A young man who held steadfast to a certain conviction: Once he made a choice, he was going to stick it out.

"I always told myself that I'd never regret the decisions I would make," Brown said. "I always try to make the best of my situations. That's what I did, and I did it as best as I could."

Friday

• Matchup: West Virginia (9-3) vs. Florida State (6-6), 1 p.m.

• Where: Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.

• TV: KDKA.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.