To a casual observer, it may be just a piece of cloth - a brown, red and white-colored material with No. 46 stitched on it. But to Brown University fans and the Farnham family in particular, the legacy of No. 46 is both fabled and passion-filled.

Five different Farnhams have worn the jersey in football and hockey, including a decade-long stretch from 1974-83.

“It was neat because there were so many years where there was a starting receiver No. 46,” said Mark Farnham, 51, the second family member to claim the jersey and whose son, Buddy, is now a star wide receiver at Brown. “If you missed (the ball) they didn’t know if it was Bobby, Mark or Paul. There was just a No. 46.”

It all began back at Andover High in 1971 when famed coach Dick Collins handed jersey No. 46 to a promising young receiver named Bobby H. Farnam Jr. A couple of years later, when it came time to choose a college, longtime Andover High chemistry teacher Frank Kennedy suggested Brown - and the Farnham-to-Providence pipeline was born.

Bobby Jr., the father of current Brown hockey player Bobby, lettered in football three years (1974-76). Mark Farnham followed and lettered three years (1977-79). Next came Paul, who continued the tradition by lettering three times (1980-82).

“The alumni thought it was one player hanging around for nine years,” quipped Paul, now a 48-year-old co-owner of Optimum Sportswear in Lawrence.

Both Bobby (1975-76) and Mark (1979) were first-team All-Ivy performers, while Bobby was also an honorable mention All-America at split end (1976). When Brown recognized its 125th anniversary football team in 2003, Bobby Farnham was among four receivers named, a group that included current NFL player Sean Morey and ex-Pats wideout Chas Gessner.

“It’s funny, but by no means was it by design. I just wore it and coach (Dick) Collins said give it to your brother,” said Bobby Jr., now a 54-year-old owner of a modular home factory in South Paris, Maine.

“It’s interesting how it fell. It was a constant transition to the point where we almost took it for granted.”

Presently, Brown’s storied No. 46 is worn in football by senior wideout Mark Raymond “Buddy” Farnham, while his sophomore cousin Bobby T. dons it in ice hockey. Buddy, a first team All-Ivy and All-New England performer, recently passed 200 career receptions (207), and is currently fourth among active FCS players.

“After last year, I just thought my dad, my uncles and my cousin (Buddy) all wore it,” said Bobby T., a left-shot winger who wore No. 10 as a freshman. “It’s a great feeling. I love wearing it. . . . I’m excited to be the fifth person in my family to wear it.”

Buddy Farnham considers the jersey a badge of honor.

“It’s such an honor carrying on a family tradition,” said Buddy, 22. “People think it’s a weird number for a wide receiver, but it’s something I’m very proud to wear when I put that on because I’m not only representing the school but my family, too, and I want to be a good role model and work hard.”

The No. 46 pipeline may not be over. Paul Farnham’s sons - Patrick, 17, and Cameron, 14 - are involved with football on the high school and Pop Warner levels, respectively. Naturally, they each wear No. 46.